Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the life of Emperor Constantine VII who passed on this day - November 9th in 959 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_VII

He was one of the most learned Emperors, and the author of four books: De Administrando Imperio, De Ceremoniis, and De Thematibus . His De Ceremoniis gives us nearly all of what we know about the Royal Court of Constantinople and its ceremonies.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the birth of Emperor Constans II on November 7th in 630 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constans_II

Constans II was the son of Emperor Heraclius and he was the last Emperor to serve in the office of Consul, although the office continued to exist on record until 886 AD. In 663 he  visited Rome for 12 days and was the first Eastern Emperor to have visited there since 476 AD.

The first Byzantine Themes were created during the rule of Constans II.

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all, 

 A new Byzantine style instrumental song... enjoy! 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the life of Emperor Constantius II who passed on November 3rd in 361 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantius_II

His reign was marked by continued border warfare with Persia and by civil wars and usurpations. Constantius II was a competent military leader; while he was stalemated against the Persions he was very successful within the Empire, putting down all rivals who faced him.

He passed away from a fever in the city of Mopsuestia in Cicilia (Anatolia, Turkey). He was leading his legions to join battle with the forces of his young cousin Julian who he had named as Caesar of the West, after the Western legions had proclaimed Julian the Western Emperor.  On his deathbed Constantius II was baptized, and declared Julian to be his rightful successor. This left Julian II as Emperor of both the Eastern and Western empires.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the last fully Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, who was crowned on October 31 in 461 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_Augustulus

Although he was deposed he was allowed to retire with a stipend. It is quite possible he lived to see Rome retaken by the forces of Emperor Justinian I, in 536 AD. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on Arab forces taking the city of Antioch after the Battle of the Iron Bridge on  October 30th in 637 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Iron_Bridge

The battle took its name from a bridge over the Orontes river which had iron gates. After the loss of Antioch by the Byzantines the Rashidun Caliphate captured most of north-western Syria, easily defeating what little Byzantine and Christian Syrian resistance they faced. 

Antioch was not fully recaptured by the West until 968 AD under the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, Byzantine tombs in the city of Nicea: 

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/turkiyes-nicaea-excavation-charts-300-years-of-roman-early-byzantine-burial-rites-3208801

Some interesting archaeology, and they plan to make the site into an open-air museum.  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this Day - October 18th in 1009 AD, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed by the Fatimid Caliphate:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre

It was hacked down to bedrock. It was rebuilt by Emperor Constantine IX in 1048 AD and still stands today. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

  

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, Greece has announced plans to restore the church at the site of the ancient Byzantine city of Maximianopolis, in Thrace: 

https://greekreporter.com/2025/10/16/greece-rediscovers-forgotten-city-byzantine-thrace/

It seems this will be "archaeological restoration" meaning minor restoration to key features and preventing further degradation of the site. 

All I know is I'm glad I don't have to try cheering the name of the city during a sports event...  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the victory of Count Ricimer over the Emperor Avitus at Piacena on October 16th in 456 AD:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricimer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avitus

 

This left Ricimer the master of the Western Empire. However the Emperor Leo I later appointed Majorian as Emperor of the West.

*Some have thought Avitus was just an usurper, and Maorian was the legitimate Emperor recognized in the East by Leo I.  Though Avitus was sketchily appointed by Theodoric and crowned in the West, he was the only candidate at the time. Majorian, the Comes Domesticorum, initially supported Avitus' bid for Emperor.

That changed when Avitus lost support of the Aristocracy in Rome. Thereafter Ricimer opposed him, and Majorian made his own bid for the throne, and was legitimately recognized as Emperor only after Avitus was already dead. For these reasons Avitus doesn't appear on the usual lists of Roman Usurpers.  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate with sadness the invasion of the Roman Province of Hispania by the Vandal and Alans tribes, which they took from Roman control on October 13th in 509 AD: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania

 

In 551 AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, part of Hispania would later be briefly re-taken from the Visigoths by an army under the command of Petrus Marcellinus Felix Liberius.This reconquest recovered an area along the Mediterranean coast roughly corresponding to the ancient province of Baetica, known as Spania.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania_Baetica

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the ending of the Byzantine-Venetian war on October 4th in 1302 AD:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine-Venetian_War_(1296-1302)

In that year a fleet of 28 Venetian galleys sailed to Constantinople and flogged captives within sight of the city walls. The incident induced the Byzantines to propose a peace treaty. Venice returned most (but not all) of the islands captured during the conflict and Byzantium agreed to pay for Venetian losses incurred in 1296.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

Greetings all,

 

 Today we commemorate Heraclius the Elder taking power from the Emperor Phocas in the culmination of the Heraclian revolution on October 3rd in 610 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclian_revolt

Heraclius had been the Exarch of Carthage during the ruinous reign of the Emperor Phocas, and finally rose into rebellion. He cut off the grain supply and with his brother Gregorius sailed to Constantinople. Upon entering the city on this day he was greeted by the people as their deliverer.

His son, Heraclius the Younger was crowned Emperor on October 10th.

Heraclius the Elder was named a Hero of Byzantium Novum in 2018.  Heraclius the Younger was named a Hero of Byzantium Novum in 2019. 

There should be cake!  :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this Day - September 23rd in 518 AD, Euphemia, (the wife of Justin I) became Empress:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemia_(empress)

She originally had the Roman name Lupicina and took the name Euphemia upon becoming Empress. She became an equal ruler with her husband and was admired by many.  She and Justin I were both in their later years when they gained the throne. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the life and legacy of the Roman general Flavius Aetius, who was killed through court intrigue on September 21st in 454 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavius_Aetius

 

Known as "The last of the Romans", Flavius Aetius had stopped Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Aetius was the most influential man in the Empire for two decades and his untimely death greatly weakened the Western Roman Empire.

Let us celebrate his impressive victories and accomplishments, and reflect on his example of Romanitas.

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

  

 

Greetings all,

 Today we commemorate the anniversary of the marriage of Emperor Alexios III of Trebizond and the Empress Theodora Kantakouzene on September 20th in 1351 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexios_III_of_Trebizond

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora_Kantakouzene

They were both about 13 at the time and this would have been an event with public celebration and feasting. The marriage was a successful one - the couple had seven children together, one of whom was the Emperor Manuel III. 

There should be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the birth of Emperor Leo VI the Wise born on  September 19th in 866 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_VI_the_Wise

He was well read, which led to his epithet. During his reign there was a renaissance of letters and learning and he himself wrote several works, including a 6 volume set of 60 works, known as the Basilika. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the life of the Emperor Constantine II who was assassinated on September 15th, in 668 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constans_II

 

 

Sadly his reign was one of difficulty as the province of Egypt lost under his rule. Constans II was the last Emperor to actively serve in the office of Consul, and during his reign there was contact with the Tang Dynasty of China. He also visited Rome, and was the first Emperor to do so since the Western Empire had fallen.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate with joy the Emperor Heraclius' triumphant return to Constantinople on September 14th in 629 AD after his victory over the Persian Empire:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius

He had recovered the True Cross and it remained on display in Constantinople for two years before being returned to Jerusalem. Pieces of it are kept there in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to this day.

Let all take joy in the memory of this important historical event, which gave new heart to the Byzantine Empire!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the life of the Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos who was killed on September 12th in 1185 AD, the day after he had been deposed:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andronikos_I_Komnenos

He was the last Emperor of the Komnenos Dynasty, Although he was a strong and capable leader his reign was a turbulent one. His work to end excesses and curb the power of the nobility made him unpopular and contributed to his being toppled from the throne.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the removal of Romulus Augustus as the final Emperor of the Western Emperor on September 4th in 476 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_Augustulus

Popularly known as "Romulus Augustulus" because of his young age, his life was actually spared by the barbarian general Ordoacer. Romulus was granted a stipend equal to the annual income of a wealthy Senator, and he retired to the Villa of Lucullus in Naples. Little is known of his life after that. It is commonly thought he may have eventually become a monk, and he may well have lived to see the return of Roman rule to Italy when the Byzantines returned in the time of Justinian the Great.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the life of the Empress Theodora Porphyrogenita, who passed on August 31st in 1056 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora_(11th_century)

 

She was the daughter of Constantine VIII and was the younger sister of the Empress Zoe. Theodora only became involved in politics in her later years and was sole Empress (and a strong ruler) for 16 months until this day. She was the last ruler of the Macedonian line which had ruled Byzantium for 200 years.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on the Byzantine defeat in the Battle of Manzikert, fought between the armies of Emperor Romanos IV and Seljuk forces on August 26th in 1071 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manzikert

"The brunt of the battle was borne by the professional soldiers from the eastern and western tagmata, as large numbers of the mercenaries and Anatolian levies fled early and survived the battle. The fallout from Manzikert was near disastrous for the empire, with subsequent numerous civil conflicts and an economic crisis severely weakening the empire's ability to adequately defend its borders. This led to the mass movement of Turks into central Anatolia and by 1080, an area of 30,000 square miles (78,000 km2) had been lost to the empire. It took a decade of internal strife before Alexios I Komnenos (1081 to 1118) brought stability back to the empire."

Interestingly historians now agree that the battle was not the massacre it was once thought to be. While the Byzantines were routed, most military units survived and were fighting elsewhere within a few months. The capture and captivity of Romanos IV seem to have helped turn the battle into legend. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we celebrate the Emperor Julian's victory in the Battle of Strabourg against the Almanni tribes under King Chnotmar on August 25th in 357 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Strasbourg

The Roman forces were heavily outnumbered but won through superior infantry and tactics. This battle allowed Julian to re-establish the Roman forts along the Rhine which had largely been destroyed during the Roman civil war. This protected the province of Gaul from further devastation. Julian had been appointed Emperor of the West by Constantius II and would later become Emperor of the East as well. 

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all, 

Today we reflect on the usurper Eugenius being raised as Emperor of the West on August 22nd in 392 AD: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenius

He was elevated to this position by the Arborgast, the Magister Militarium of the Western Empire.  Eugenius was a former Rhetor (teacher) who Arborgast felt would be a candidate acceptable to the Eastern Empire.  

Although Eugenius was a Christian, he appealed to the discontented Pagan factions in Rome. He restored the Temple of Venus and Roma, and also restored the Altar of Victory to the Roman Senate. He was the last Roman to raise Pagan standard in battle. He was defeated by the Emperor Theodosius I after half his troops defected to the other side the night before the battle of of  Frigidus in 394 AD. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Tiberious II Constantine who passed on this day -  August 14th in 582 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_II_Constantine

Tiberius II worked to restore the empire after the generally unpopular reign of Emperor Justin II. He fought both the Persians and the Avars, and also made efforts to strengthen remaining Byzantine territory in the west.  Certainly a reign worth some positive reflection!  

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the death of the Western usurper / Emperor Magentius on August 11 in 353 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnentius

He had been the commander of the Imperial guard, who had proclaimed him Emperor after becoming disillusioned with the Emperor Constans. He quickly gained control over Western and African territories. Magentius was defeated by Constantius II, first at the Battle of Mursa Major, and again in the Battle of Mons Seleusus where he fought bravely but was finally forced to fall on his sword to avoid capture. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this Day - August 10th in 1030 AD, the Battle of Azaz fought between the armies of Romanos III and the Mirdasid Emirate of Aleppo ended with a Byzantine defeat:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Azaz_(1030)

Romanos III insisted on leading the Byzantine army even though he had no military experience, and refused Arab peace envoys and even a Mirdasid offer to pay tribute. The Arab forces were much smaller but consisted mostly of Bedouin cavalry, which were able to destroy a Byzantine reconnaissance force and then harass the Imperial camp. Cut off from foraging supplies the Byzantines suffered from thirst and hunger. They were later attacked while trying to withdraw, and the withdrawal turned into a rout. Romanos III only barely managed to escape through the intervention of his bodyguard.

In retrospect, he probably should have accepted the peace and tribute. Obviously the Romans had forgotten the old lesson of Crassus' desert defeat at Cannae!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, a mosaic inscription to the Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora have been discovered in Kosovo, in the Roman city of  Ulpiana 


https://archaeology.org/news/2025/08/08/mosaic-inscription-connects-justinian-to-ancient-city-in-kosovo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulpiana


The city was called Justinia Secunda during the Byzantine period, and this is the second Justinian related mosaic to have been found at the site. Interesting!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

On this Day - June 3rd in 350 AD, in one of the most bizarre episodes of Roman history, the Usurper Nepotianus took over the city of Rome...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotianus

He did it with a troop of gladiators, no less!  At this time Rome was still the capital of the Western Empire - and still a major world city. This was a bit like taking over the modern city of Paris with the equivalent of a couple of Rugby teams... 

 
Nepotanius was the son of Constantine's half-sister, Eutropia. As a minor member of the Constantinian Dynasty had at least as much right to the throne as Magentius, the usurper who held Rome at the time. He even managed to hold the city for nearly a month before troops loyal to Magentius returned to the city to deal with him.

Nepotianus may not have been the smartest would-be Emperor in the pool, but he was nothing if not brave. He even stayed to fight it out at the end. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Some good news today - it seems that the lost Byzantine city of  Tharais  has been rediscovered in the Jordinian desert: 

https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/

This city was listed on ancient maps but the exact location was lost. This is good news, we're putting the Empire back on the map!  :)

Yes, there should be cake. Welcome back to the world, Tharais!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today May 22nd in 337 AD, the Emperor Constantine died:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great

He had been ill for some time and had prepared his resting place in the Church of the Holy Apostles. 

 

Constantine passed in Nicomedia, and was baptized shortly before his passing. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Honorius (brother of the Eastern Emperor Arcadius) signing an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces on May 8th in 413 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorius_(emperor)

Rome itself had been sacked in 410 AD, and Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria had also all been plundered by the Visigoths. 

This tax relief was an effort to help the provinces rebuild. Both Honorius and Arcadius have poor historical legacies for not being strong emperors, but they did provide some competent administration in some ways at least!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus