Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the life of Emperor Constantius II ruled from the 9th of September in 337 AD to November 3rd, 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 Persians 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

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Today we reflect on the Empress Irene being deposed on October 31st in 802 AD: 

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

She was the wife of Leo IV. After his death Irene was left as sole ruler, and during this time she ended the practice of Iconoclasm. She was forced from the throne by Nikiphoros I, and was exiled. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

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

www.yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantine formally entering Rome after the 

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

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventus_(ceremony)

 

He was officially greeted at the city gates by the Senate, and then acclaimed by cheering crowds in a grand procession through the city.  This practice must have been part Triumph and part show of loyalty to end all hostilities.  

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 28th in 312 AD:

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

 

After Constantine's vision on the previous night, painting the shields of his soldiers and raising the Labrum banner, Constantine attacked, His forces were able to push Maxentius' forces back to the Milvian bridge, where many perished including Maxentius himeself.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's vision on October 27th in 312 AD:

 

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/constantine

This was the day before the battle of the Milvian Bridge. The writings of Eusebius record that on the evening on the 27th Constantine saw he saw a Vision of a cross in the sky.  That night he had a dream that Jesus came to him and instructed him to use the Cross as a weapon against his enemies. By the morning Constantine had the symbol painted on the shields of his soldiers and a hasty Vexillum banner (from that time known as the Labrum) was raised above his armies. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the revolt of Asen and Peter which began on October 26 in 1185 AD:

 

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

 

This was a revolt of Bulgarians and Vlachs living in the Paristrion Theme of the Byzantine Empire. The revolt was caused by a tax increase and ended with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire, ruled by the Asen Dynasty.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org