Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the crowning of Emperor Zeno on March 9th in 474 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_%28emperor%29

His first reign lasted until January of 475 when he was temporarily deposed by the revolt of Basiliscus. Zeno reigned the throne again and reigned from 476 to 491 AD. Zeno's reign saw the end of the Western Roman Empire, following the deposition of Romulus Augustulus, and the death of Julius Nepos.  

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantine I declaring Sunday the Dies Solis Invicti (Sun-day) as a day of rest in the Empire on 7th in 321 AD:

 

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

 

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

 

He can therefore be credited with officially inaugurating the weekend! :)

Interestingly this may be an early attempt by Constantine to get the citizens of the Empire all on the same page. Sunday was already a holy rest day for Christians. His declaring Sunday an official state sanctioned day associated with Sol Invictus made it a "day off" for everyone.  

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

  

 

 Greetings all,

 Today we commemorate the life of the Emperor Manuel III of Trebizond who passed on March 5th in 1417 AD: 

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

During his reign the armies of the Central Asian conqueror Tamerlaine swept through Ottoman territories and defeated them in the Battle of Ankara. 

Manuel III had contributed 20 Byzantine galleys to Tamerlaine's campaign. The shattering of the Ottomans extended the life and security of Trebizond for several decades. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all, 

Today we commemorate the life of Theodora Palaiologina, the Empress of Nicea, who passed on March 4th in 1303 AD: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora_Palaiologina_(Byzantine_empress)

The Empress Theodora was the wife of Michael Palaiologos and the mother to Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos.  She was a great patroness of monasteries, and promoted both scholarship and the production of manuscripts. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the birth of Queen Helena Palaiologina in the city of Mystras, on February 3rd in 1428 AD:

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

She was  Queen consort of Cyprus and Armenia, titular Queen consort of Jerusalem, and Princess of Antioch. As Queen of Cyprus she welcomed many refugees after the Fall of Constantinople.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today is the birthday of the Emperor Constantine: s birthday!  He was born on February 27th in 272 AD:  

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

He was born in Moesia, 1,754 years ago. 

There should be cake!  

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect on the grandees of Persia proclaiming Kavadh II as the King of Persia on February 25th in 628 AD: 

 

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

His father, King Khosrau had fled the capital in order to escape the advance of the army of Emperor Heraclius. 

Kadvah II was ill and was anxious that Heraclius should protect his infant son Ardeshir, so as a goodwill gesture he returned the stolen True Cross to Heraclius along with a negotiator to sue for peace:

 

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

 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus