Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 28th in 312 AD:

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

 

After Constantine's vision on the previous night, painting the shields of his soldiers and raising the Labrum banner, Constantine attacked, His forces were able to push Maxentius' forces back to the Milvian bridge, where many perished including Maxentius himeself.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's vision on October 27th in 312 AD:

 

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/constantine

This was the day before the battle of the Milvian Bridge. The writings of Eusebius record that on the evening on the 27th Constantine saw he saw a Vision of a cross in the sky.  That night he had a dream that Jesus came to him and instructed him to use the Cross as a weapon against his enemies. By the morning Constantine had the symbol painted on the shields of his soldiers and a hasty Vexillum banner (from that time known as the Labrum) was raised above his armies. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on the revolt of Asen and Peter which began on October 26 in 1185 AD:

 

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

 

This was a revolt of Bulgarians and Vlachs living in the Paristrion Theme of the Byzantine Empire. The revolt was caused by a tax increase and ended with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire, ruled by the Asen Dynasty.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 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