Greetings all,

Today we celebrate the birth of Emperor Leo IV (The Khazar) on January 25th in 750 AD:

 

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

 

There should be cake!  :)

 

He was the son of Constantine V. Leo IV became sole Emperor after his fathers death in September of 775. He fought a successful campaign against the Abbasids before himself succumbing to illness in 780 AD.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, a fascinating article about the extensive Justinian I era tunnels that have been found under the Hagia Sophia: 

 

https://en.protothema.gr/2026/09/22/the-underground-secrets-of-hagia-sophia-in-constantinople-hundreds-of-meters-of-tunnels-designed-by-justinian-himself-video-photos/

 

They seem to have been incorporated in the building plan to help the Hagia Sophia withstand earthquakes, but they were also secret passages that led to the imperial palace. Who knows how many secrets they held over time? 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we celebrate Empress Euphemia (the wife of Justin I) being crowned on September 23rd in 518 AD:

 

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. She ruled from 518 to 524 AD and founded a church in to her namesake, Saint Euphemia. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

Greetings all,

 Today we commemorate the Emperor John VII Palaiologos who ruled various Byzantine territories from 1390 to September 22nd in 1408 AD:

 

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

He was supposed to become the Eastern Roman Emperor but was deposed by his uncle Manuel II. John VII never gave up claim to the throne and the two had a difficult relationship. 

 

However, John VII successfully defended Constantinople for over three years against a long Ottoman siege while Manuel II went to Europe for military aid. After the siege ended John VII was given rule over Thessalonica as "Emperor of all the Thessaly" and there John VII proved to be an able and well liked ruler.

 

 -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

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the marriage of Emperor Alexios III of Trebizond and the Empress Theodora Kantakouzene on September 20th in 1351 AD:

 

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

 

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

They were both about 13 at the time and this would have been an event with public celebration and feasting. The marriage was a successful one - the couple had seven children together, one of whom was the Emperor Manuel III. 

 

There should be cake!  :)

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

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