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. 

 

There should be cake! :)

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's victory over Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis on September 18th in 324 AD with the celebration of the Ludi Triumphales: 

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

Licinius had been defeated at the Battle of the Hellespoint, and retreated to Chalcedon in Bithinia. Constantine's forces followed and attacked, routing Licinius' forces.  Licinius escaped and fled with 30,000 troops to Nicomedia, but this defeat established Contantine's sole rule over the Empire and the end of the Tetrarchy. 

After this event, today was the date of the Ludi Triumphales, public games inaugurated by the Emperor Constantine to commemorate this event: 

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

Today would have been marked with games in the Hippodrome and public feasting - celebrations continued until September 22nd. 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Today we commemorate with sadness the Byzantine defeat in the battle of Myriokephalon on September 17th in 1176 AD: 

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

The Byzantine army led by Manuel I Komnenos were ambushed by Seljuk Turks while traveling through a narrow pass. This ended Byzantine hopes for saving Anatolia for the Empire. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all, 

In the news, researchers analyzing ancient roadways have concluded that from around 150 AD onward, more roads lead to Byzantium than to Rome: 

 

https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/09/not-all-roads-led-to-rome-scientists-discover-byzantium-was-the-empires-real-hub/

 

Even before it became the capital of Rome and renamed Constantinople, it seems that "all roads led to Byzantium" because of trade. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the life of the Emperor Constans II who ruled from November in 641 AD to 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

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In September 629, after six years of campaigning, Heraclius returned to Constantinople. The True Cross—recovered from the Persians—had already been sent ahead and exalted in the city. The emperor himself was received at Hiereia on the Asian shore by his son Heraclius Constantine, Patriarch Sergius, and crowds carrying lamps and olive branches:

 

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

 

This was not the later Western legend of a proud emperor barred from Jerusalem’s gate until he walked barefoot. In the capital it was a carefully staged adventus: victory, relic, and restored order after the long Persian war. Months later, in March 630, Heraclius would personally restore the Cross to the Holy Sepulchre. The Constantinople reception marked the moment the relic first re-entered the heart of the empire. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Byzantine victory at the  battle of Ad Decimum on September 13th in 533 AD:  

 

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

 

Ad Decimum was fought between Vandals under King Gaesric and Byzantine forces under General Belisarius. It happened around the site of ancient Carthage, as did other engagements that year.

 

This This Byzantine victory marked the beginning of the end for the Vandals and began the reconquest of the west under the Emperor Justinian I. 

 

There should be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org