Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the Emperor Marcian and the Empress Pulcheria attending the Council of Chalcedon on October 25, 451 AD:

 

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

 

This was the Sixth session of the Council. On this day the Definition of Faith was formally decreed - both reaffirming the decisions of earlier Councils but also addressing religious controversies of the day. This set a foundation of modern Orthodox faith. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on Michael VII Doukas becoming sole Emperor on October 24 in 1071 AD:

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

 

 He should have become Emperor in 1067 AD at age 17 when his father Constantine X died, but he seemed to have little desire to rule and a regency was appointed. The court should have paid attention to his apathy for the job - Michael was a very poor Emperor and after a series of misfortunes for the Empire he retired in 1078 AD. 

 

One interesting thing he did do was send an embassy to Song Dynasty China bearing gifts, one of the few official contacts to the Far East.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect on Valentinian III being crowned Emperor of the West on October 23 in 425 AD: 

 

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

 

He was the son of Gallia Placidia, (the daughter of Theodosius I) and the Western Roman Emperor Flavius Constantius. Valentinian III was 6 years old at the time. Although he later proved to be a very poor Emperor, it is difficult not to wonder how his regency and upbringing must have affected his personality and life.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, an article about Byzantine "minuscule script" and how it revolutionized the preservation of Greek knowledge: 

https://greekreporter.com/2026/10/21/byzantine-revolutionized-greek-writing-minuscule-script/

Its ease of use allowed many more ancient manuscripts to be copied and saved. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, an interesting Byzantine era mosaic in the Church of the Four Rivers in Hadrianopolis,  depicting Garden of Eden mosaics as personified Classical deities: 

https://greekreporter.com/2026/10/15/ancient-byzantine-mosaics-reveal-greek-influence-biblical-garden-eden/

This was an ancient style that was continued through much of the Byzantine era. Even the Byzantine Senate had a personification! This was a classical world means of giving more personal meaning and symbolism to abstract or hard to depict concepts. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect with sadness on the Vandals, led by King Genseric, taking the city of Carthage in North Africa on October 19th in 439 AD:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Carthage_(439)

  

This was a serious blow to the Eastern Roman Empire as this portion of Africa had been a major source of wheat to the Roman world for centuries. The Empire did manage to retake Carthage in 534 AD.  

 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, Byzantine jewelry and cosmetic tools have been found in the graves of Avar women in Hungary: 

https://arkeonews.net/byzantine-cosmetic-tools-and-jewelry-found-in-1400-year-old-avar-womens-graves/

The fines date from the 7th century and are an interesting testament to trade and cultural exchange during the period. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org