Greetings all, 

Today we reflect on the usurper Eugenius being raised as Emperor of the West on August 22nd in 392 AD: 

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

He was elevated to this position by the Arborgast, the Magister Militarium of the Western Empire.  Eugenius was a former Rhetor (teacher) who Arborgast felt would be a candidate acceptable to the Eastern Empire.  

Although Eugenius was a Christian, he appealed to the discontented Pagan factions in Rome. He restored the Temple of Venus and Roma, and also restored the Altar of Victory to the Roman Senate. He was the last Roman to raise Pagan standard in battle. He was defeated by the Emperor Theodosius I after half his troops defected to the other side the night before the battle of of  Frigidus in 394 AD. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

Today we commemorate the Emperor Tiberious II Constantine who passed on this day -  August 14th in 582 AD:

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

Tiberius II worked to restore the empire after the generally unpopular reign of Emperor Justin II. He fought both the Persians and the Avars, and also made efforts to strengthen remaining Byzantine territory in the west.  Certainly a reign worth some positive reflection!  

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 Greetings all,

On this day we reflect on the death of the Western usurper / Emperor Magentius on August 11 in 353 AD:

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

He had been the commander of the Imperial guard, who had proclaimed him Emperor after becoming disillusioned with the Emperor Constans. He quickly gained control over Western and African territories. Magentius was defeated by Constantius II, first at the Battle of Mursa Major, and again in the Battle of Mons Seleusus where he fought bravely but was finally forced to fall on his sword to avoid capture. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this Day - August 10th in 1030 AD, the Battle of Azaz fought between the armies of Romanos III and the Mirdasid Emirate of Aleppo ended with a Byzantine defeat:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Azaz_(1030)

Romanos III insisted on leading the Byzantine army even though he had no military experience, and refused Arab peace envoys and even a Mirdasid offer to pay tribute. The Arab forces were much smaller but consisted mostly of Bedouin cavalry, which were able to destroy a Byzantine reconnaissance force and then harass the Imperial camp. Cut off from foraging supplies the Byzantines suffered from thirst and hunger. They were later attacked while trying to withdraw, and the withdrawal turned into a rout. Romanos III only barely managed to escape through the intervention of his bodyguard.

In retrospect, he probably should have accepted the peace and tribute. Obviously the Romans had forgotten the old lesson of Crassus' desert defeat at Cannae!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

Greetings all, 

In the news, a mosaic inscription to the Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora have been discovered in Kosovo, in the Roman city of  Ulpiana 


https://archaeology.org/news/2025/08/08/mosaic-inscription-connects-justinian-to-ancient-city-in-kosovo/

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


The city was called Justinia Secunda during the Byzantine period, and this is the second Justinian related mosaic to have been found at the site. Interesting!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

On this Day - June 3rd in 350 AD, in one of the most bizarre episodes of Roman history, the Usurper Nepotianus took over the city of Rome...

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

He did it with a troop of gladiators, no less!  At this time Rome was still the capital of the Western Empire - and still a major world city. This was a bit like taking over the modern city of Paris with the equivalent of a couple of Rugby teams... 

 
Nepotanius was the son of Constantine's half-sister, Eutropia. As a minor member of the Constantinian Dynasty had at least as much right to the throne as Magentius, the usurper who held Rome at the time. He even managed to hold the city for nearly a month before troops loyal to Magentius returned to the city to deal with him.

Nepotianus may not have been the smartest would-be Emperor in the pool, but he was nothing if not brave. He even stayed to fight it out at the end. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all, 

Some good news today - it seems that the lost Byzantine city of  Tharais  has been rediscovered in the Jordinian desert: 

https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/29/lost-byzantine-city-rediscovered-in-jordanian-desert/

This city was listed on ancient maps but the exact location was lost. This is good news, we're putting the Empire back on the map!  :)

Yes, there should be cake. Welcome back to the world, Tharais!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus