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 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the revolt against Emperor Andronikos  I by Isaac II Angelos on September 11 in 1185 AD: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_II_Angelos#Rising_by_revolt.

 

Along with his father and brothers, Isaac II had been involved in the revolts of Nicea and Prousa, but had not been punished by Andronikos 1 for disloyalty. However, while Andronikos I was away from the capital his lieutenant Stephen Hagiochristophorites moved to arrest Isaac. Isaac killed him and took refuge in the Hagia Sophia and appealed to the populace. When Andronikos returned to Constantinople he found he had lost popular support.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all, 

On this day we commemorate the birth of the future Western Roman Emperor Honorius on in Constantinople on September 9th in 384 AD: 

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

 

He was the younger brother of Arcadius who later became Emperor of the East. Neither were considered effective rulers, but they also did no particular harm either. 

There should still be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

 Today we commemorate the rule of Emperor Leo IV (The Khazar who ruled from the 14th of September 775 AD to September 8th in 780 AD: 

 

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

 

He was the son of Emperor Constantine V and the Empress Tzitzak. He was made sole Emperor in 775 AD. In 778 he raided Abbasid Syria and defeated the Abbasid army outside of the city of Germanicia in Turkey and also repelled a later Abbasid invasion of Asia Minor. He was succeed by his wife Irene as regent and later Empress.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the Frankish General and Magister Militum Claudius Silvanus who briefly attempted to usurp Gaul from August 10th to September 7th in 355 AD:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius_Silvanus   He was a Frankish general in Gaul who had supported the Emperor Constantius II against Magentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, rising to the important rank of Magister Militum.    Constantius II tasked him with forcing the Alemanni tribe back beyond the Rhine which he managed to do, thereby restoring the eroding Roman province. Sadly the corrupt court of Constantius II then convinced the Emperor that Silvanus was plotting against him. The historian Ammianus wrote that  Silvanus discovered the plot against him and proclaimed himself Emperor briefly in self defense. There are no coins to support this as it is recorded the Imperial mint in Trier barred it's gates against him, helping to disrupt the revolt.    -Marcus Cassius Julianus www.byzantiumnovum.org

Greetings all, 

Today we commemorate the Battle of Frigidus River, fought between forces of the Western Emperor Eugenius and Eastern Emperor Theodosius I on September 6th in 394 AD: 

 

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

 

Theodosius I achieved a decisive victory.  This victory temporarily reunified the Roman Empire under a single emperor for the last time and solidified Christianity's dominance within the Empire. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org