Greetings all, 

Today we reflect on Procopius declaring himself Emperor of the West on September 28th in 265 AD:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procopius_(usurper)

 

He was a cousin of the Emperor Julian. and had served as a tribune and as an Envoy. During Julian's Persian campaign Procopius commanded 30,000 troops tasked with making fortifications in Mesopotamia. He later fell under suspicion of plotting revolt under Valentinian I and Valens. He at first tried to hide but ended up having to attempt to take the throne in order to save himself.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, an interesting article on the Ostrogoth kingdom formed after the fall of the Western Empire: 

https://www.thecollector.com/ostrogoth-invasions-italy/

A good overview of Odoacer and Theodoric, their relationship with Constantinople, and how Justianian finally came to retake Italy. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today  we commemorate the crowning of Tiberius II Constantius as Emperor on September 26th in 578 AD:
 

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

 

He was the first Greek speaking Emperor, and was a successful military commander, successful in both battle and negotiations. He was tall and handsome, and for the most part popular with his subjects.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

 

 

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