Greetings all,

Today we reflect with sadness on Arab forces taking the city of Antioch after the Battle of the Iron Bridge on  October 30th in 637 AD:

 

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

 

The battle took its name from a bridge over the Orontes river which had iron gates. After the loss of Antioch by the Byzantines the Rashidun Caliphate captured most of north-western Syria, easily defeating what little Byzantine and Christian Syrian resistance they faced. 
 

Antioch was not fully recaptured by the West until 968 AD under the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas. 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Today we commemorate the Emperor Constantine formally entering Rome after the 

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

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventus_(ceremony)

 

He was officially greeted at the city gates by the Senate, and then acclaimed by cheering crowds in a grand procession through the city.  This practice must have been part Triumph and part show of loyalty to end all hostilities.  

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

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