Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantius II entering Rome in Triumph on April 28th in 357 AD:

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

This was in celebration of his victory over Magentius in the battle of Mons Seleucus after three years of civil war. It was the first time Constantius II had visited Rome, and this celebration was an attempt to again solidify and unify the Roman Empire after civil war.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on the Byzantine defeat at end of the Siege of Bari on April 15th in 1071 AD:

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

The city of Bari in Apulia was the last Byzantine possession in Italy. The siege by the Normans had begun on August 5th in 1068, and on this day the city was surrendered to Robert Guiscard. This ended the 536 year long Byzantine presence in Italy. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect with sadness on the Latin crusaders taking the last parts of Constantinople on April 13th in 1204 AD:

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

They had breached the seaward walls at the Golden Horn the day before. Once they were inside the walls it was impossible to hold them from capturing the remainder of the city. This temporarily ended Byzantine rule in the city for the next half century.

In the wake of this event the Byzantines established the Despotate of Epirus, the Empire of Nicea, and the Empire of Trebizond which lasted until 1479, 1264, and 1461 respectively. This resourcefulness became proof that the Byzantine Empire can always be continued. 

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate Anthemius being raised as Emperor of the West on April 12th in 467 AD:

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

Antheimius was born in Constantinople to a noble family. He served both as Consul and Magister Militum, and was appointed as Caesar of the West by the Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I. Anthemius being raised to Emperor in the West was celebrated with a public panegyric. He was successful in battle against both the Ostrogoths and the Huns, and is considered by many to have been the last capable Western ruler. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate John II Komnenos on the anniversary of his passing on  April 8th in 1143 AD: 

 

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

 

He was cut by a poisoned arrow in a hunting accident on April 1 and died of infection. He is considered the best of the Komnenos emperors, having done much to help Byzantium recover from the disastrous battle at Manzikert.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate with sadness the beginning of the final Siege of Constantinople on April 6th in 1453 AD:

 

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

 

At the beginning of the siege, Mehmed sent out some of his best troops to reduce the remaining Byzantine strongholds outside the city of Constantinople. The fortress of Therapia on the Bosphorus and a smaller castle at the village of Studius near the Sea of Marmara were taken within a few days.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus