Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect with sadness on the Byzantine defeat at the Battle of Heliopolis on July 6th in 640 AD:

 

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

 

The loss to Islamic forces led to the permanent loss of Egypt as a Roman province. Egypt had been added to the Roman Empire by Augustus after the defeat of Cleopatra in 30 AD, so Egypt had been part of the Roman Empire for 610 years.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate the official opening of Constantine's Bridge across the Danube, which was ceremonially done in the presence of Emperor Constantine himself on July 5th in 328 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine's_Bridge_(Danube)

It is believed that the Emperor Valens used the bridge to cross the Danube during his campaign against the Goths in 367 AD.

 

Interestingly, coins minted by Constantine with a bridge on the reverse were long thought to represent the Milvian Bridge. However the  Milvian Bridge is still standing and the bridge on the coins looks nothing like it, so they probably represent Constantine's Bridge which was built on pontoons instead of being an arched bridge. Truly this was a marvel; it was the longest river bridge in all of antiquity being 2,434 meters in length!

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

Today we commemorate Aelia Pulcheria becoming Regent and Empress after 13 year old Emperor Theodosius II willingly yielded the throne to her on July 4th in 414 AD:

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

 

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

 

Aelia Pulcheria reigned for three years until her death by natural causes. Theodosius II thereafter became full Emperor. Aelia Pulcharia is canonized as a Saint in the Orthodox Church and her Feast Day is September 10.

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the victory of Constantine I over the forces of Licinius in the Battle of Adrianople on July 3rd in 324 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adrianople_(324)

The result was a resounding victory for Constantine I. Licinius fled to Byzantium (soon to be Constantinople) and Licinius was defeated again in the battle of Chrysopolis on the 18th of September.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

www.byzantiumnovum.org