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