Greetings all, 

Today we reflect on the Battle of Piacenza in which the forces of Count Ricimer defeated the Western Emperor Avitus: 

 

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

 

Following his defeat Avitus was forced to abdicate. This left Ricimer as the "kingmaker" of the West, effectively ruling through a series of puppet Emperors in the following years. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org 

 

 

Gold solidus coin of Avitus

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate with sadness the invasion of the Roman Province of Hispania by the Vandal and Alan tribes on October 13th in 409 AD:

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

 

In 551 AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, part of Hispania would later be briefly re-taken from the Visigoths by an army under the command of Petrus Marcellinus Felix Liberius.This reconquest recovered an area along the Mediterranean coast roughly corresponding to the ancient province of Baetica, known as Spania.

 

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

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos who ruled from  May 21st in 1294 AD to October 12, in 1320 AD:

 

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

 

He reigned from 1277 to 1320 and was co-emperor for most of that time. He was a brave soldier and well liked commander who fought both the Turks and the rebellious Catalan company, although he was defeated by the Catalans in the Battle of Apros. He was the father of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos.

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

In the news - an interesting article about a Byzantine era roadside inns for travelers in Kirkinla, Anatolia: 

https://greekreporter.com/2026/10/10/ancient-greek-texts-byzantine-ruins-reveal-history-roadside-inns-anatolia/

Rock cut structures in the area we excellent for shelters, protection from bandits, and secure storage. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we reflect on Charlemagne being crowned "King of the Franks" on October 9th in 768 AD:

 

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

 

This began the path to the Holy Roman Empire. The Frankish Kingdom had retained much of it's Gallo-Roman heritage, and had preserved the last Western Roman "rump state" in the Kingdom of Soissons. Charlemagne's career would give some shadow of Roman identity back to the West, although he was never recognized by the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople.

 

The Holy Roman Empire is often dated from 800 AD. This means the Eastern Roman Empire lived with the Holy Roman Empire longer than it did the Western Roman Empire as a separate entity. Amazing! 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this Day we commemorate the Battle of Cibalae, fought on October 8th in 314 AD  between the forces of the Emperor Licinius and Constantine I:

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

The forces of Constantine had the high ground but had to venture downward to make use of cavalry. Although Licinus had secured his flanks well, a charge led by Constantine himself broke through the lines, and the forces of Licinius were routed. He was able to withdraw however, and fled first to Sirmium to gather more troops and his treasury, and then moved to Thrace.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on the Byzantine defeat against Slavic forces in the Battle of Bar, fought on October 7th in 1042 AD:

 

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

 

The Byzantine army had moved to suppress a Slavic revolt, but was trapped in mountain passes. The result was a byzantine defeat with great losses.

 

Contemporary Byzantine historian John Skylitzes described the encounter:  ""It is said that the Serbs had deliberately let them enter [Duklja], while he [Michael] took no care about their return, nor did he leave sufficiently strong guard in the gorges. After the incursion, he plundered and burned plains, while the Serbs took and kept the gorges and steep places along the road and waited for the return [of the Byzantine army]."

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org