Greetings all,
Here is the Byzantium Novum status report for June, 2010:
Although the Summer months are traditionally the slowest for the Internet, Byzantium Novum is continuing to do well.
We currently have a total of 65 Citizens, which is an average of 11 Citizens per month since our official founding. That number is well above average for micronational projects. With that number of citizens and our stable and growing infrastructure (including a professional web site, active forums, and professional advertising) we're easily already in the top 25 percent of the most successful MicroNations in world history. Not bad for our first six months!
Our biggest success in the last month has been Citizen participation in advertising Byzantium Novum in their local area on Craig's List. This has raised our public profile considerably and we've gained several new Citizens as a result. THANK YOU to everyone who has been willing to participate! Byzantium Novum will continue to grow if we continue to do this... :)
We have continued to advertise in other places as well, and as of this morning Byzantium Novum has 1,090 "friends" on Facebook. We're doing what we can to get the word out that Byzantium is coming back to life!
There will be at least some small updates to the main website shortly, and I'm working on getting a map up to show where we now have Citizens all over the world.
In other good news we have Citizens working on forming at least three Provinces now. Effort is continuing to bring Byzantium Novum into the "real world". Local, face-to-face Byzantine community is crucial to all of this so it's great to see interest in building locally. It is my sincere hope that by this time next year, local gatherings and meetings will be happening regularly in some of our Byzantine Provinces!
In closing I'd like to give my sincere thanks to everyone who is participating, and just as importantly, to everyone who is continuing to be patient as Byzantium Novum grows. We grow and become a bit stronger every month... but we're still in a precarious position. Our community still exists mostly on the Internet, where "instant gratification" is the standard. It has been wonderful to see that folks here understand that building a community takes time and regular participation. Thank you all! :)
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
Senator
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
New Militarium Sodalitas
Byzantium Novum now has a Militarium Sodalitas, which is being run by Senator Marcus Minucius Audens who holds the position of Praefectus Castorum in the Militarium.
The Sodalitas Militarium is dedicated to the study and historical reenactment of the military aspects of the Byzantine empire. Join today - Byzantium Novum needs YOU!
The Militarium list is located here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ByzantiumNovumMilitarium/
The Militarium page of Byzantium Novum is here:
http://www.byzantiumnovum.org/militarium.htm
The Sodalitas Militarium is dedicated to the study and historical reenactment of the military aspects of the Byzantine empire. Join today - Byzantium Novum needs YOU!
The Militarium list is located here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ByzantiumNovumMilitarium/
The Militarium page of Byzantium Novum is here:
http://www.byzantiumnovum.org/militarium.htm
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
New Latin Language Sodalitas
Byzantium Novum now has a Latin Sodalitas (special interest group): Sodalitas Latinas Byzantia, located at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SodalitasLatinaByzantia/
This Sodalitas is for people wanting to learn, study, read and share the Latin Language in a group setting.
The ancient Eastern Roman Empire was primarily Greek - however it's governmental language was Latin. Latin was also used throughout Byzantine history for communicating with the West, and one was not considered fully educated until they knew both Greek and Latin.
This first language group is an excellent addition to the cultural content of Byzantium Novum, and we hope that Citizens will make use of this wonderful resource!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SodalitasLatinaByzantia/
This Sodalitas is for people wanting to learn, study, read and share the Latin Language in a group setting.
The ancient Eastern Roman Empire was primarily Greek - however it's governmental language was Latin. Latin was also used throughout Byzantine history for communicating with the West, and one was not considered fully educated until they knew both Greek and Latin.
This first language group is an excellent addition to the cultural content of Byzantium Novum, and we hope that Citizens will make use of this wonderful resource!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Biblotetheca Byzantia - New Byzantine Literature Sodalitas
Byzantium Novum now has a Literature Sodalitas, Biblotetheca Byzantia, dedicated to exploring primary and secondary resources of Byzantine Literature.
Participants are encouraged to delve in the subjects of all facets of Literature regarding the Byzantine Empire. Including the following: History, Poetry, Fiction, and also the works of writers famous within that time period. Members are also encouraged to write and post their own written work.
You are invited to check out this new group! Biblotetheca Byzantia is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiblotethecaByzantia/
Participants are encouraged to delve in the subjects of all facets of Literature regarding the Byzantine Empire. Including the following: History, Poetry, Fiction, and also the works of writers famous within that time period. Members are also encouraged to write and post their own written work.
You are invited to check out this new group! Biblotetheca Byzantia is located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiblotethecaByzantia/
Monday, April 5, 2010
Byzantium Novum is now on Facebook
Byzantium Novum is now on Facebook!
This great resource is helping to spread the word about Byzantium Novum! Check us out at:
http://www.facebook.com/ByzantiumNovum
We're always looking for new Friends with an interest in Byzantine history and civilization so we hope to see you!
This great resource is helping to spread the word about Byzantium Novum! Check us out at:
http://www.facebook.com/ByzantiumNovum
We're always looking for new Friends with an interest in Byzantine history and civilization so we hope to see you!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
March updates...
So far this month several of the Byzantium Novum pages have had small updates. Work on the Consitituion and the historical Byzantine magistracies is ongoing in the Senate. Some new Citizen introductions are being done in the main forum... if you're a member of the Byzantium Novum list be sure to introduce yourself!
New Citizens have continued to join, and Byzantium Novum has expanded some of its online advertizing to keep this new Nation growing. We gained 20 new Citizens in our first month which is excellent!
New Citizens have continued to join, and Byzantium Novum has expanded some of its online advertizing to keep this new Nation growing. We gained 20 new Citizens in our first month which is excellent!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Under Construction: Byzantine Government
We are currently discussing some ideas for setting up a restored Byzantine Government on the main Nova Byzantium list. Here are some updates on ideas being debated:
1. We are considering setting up a division between the concept of state and government. In other words the State would be the expression of Byzantium itself, while government would be the day-to-day business of administration of the nation.
With this idea the State would be mostly concerned with identity and symbolism and would be presided over by an Emperor and/or Empress, who would have a public role but would not be in control of the government. The Governement would be presided over by the Senate and magistracies, and would do the business of running and administrating Byzantium Novum.
This is a departure from ancient Byzantium which was both ruled and goverened by the Emperor and levels of advisors. However, it both retains ancient positions and allows a modern representative system of government to flourish in the new Byzantine world.
2. We have also been discussing appointing a "Steward" to fill the role of Emperor or Empress for the present, so that the position of full ruler could be held open for an actual descendent of Byzantine Nobility. Having a member of a legitimate ancient family as Emperor or Empress would ensure continuity between ancient and "new" Byzantium... but the seat of state leader would not remain empty until the position could be properly filled.
3. We are also beginning to discuss magistracies. These changed quite a bit over the more than thousand years of Byzantine history! We are not duty bound to choose from only one era, but will try to make a rational blending of all periods using what works best for our actual needs.
Once the basic positions of government are decided on, we will be creating the first Constitution of Byzantium Novum. We intend to make the Constitution as simple and straightforward as possible. An ongoing goal of Byzantium Novum is to keep "laws and lawmaking" to a minimum. Instead our hope is to focus on growth and manifesting Byzantine civilization in the real world.
In the meantime it is good to see positive discussion in the forums, and so far everyone seems to be "on the same page" with things. Byzantium Novum is so far doing quite well!
1. We are considering setting up a division between the concept of state and government. In other words the State would be the expression of Byzantium itself, while government would be the day-to-day business of administration of the nation.
With this idea the State would be mostly concerned with identity and symbolism and would be presided over by an Emperor and/or Empress, who would have a public role but would not be in control of the government. The Governement would be presided over by the Senate and magistracies, and would do the business of running and administrating Byzantium Novum.
This is a departure from ancient Byzantium which was both ruled and goverened by the Emperor and levels of advisors. However, it both retains ancient positions and allows a modern representative system of government to flourish in the new Byzantine world.
2. We have also been discussing appointing a "Steward" to fill the role of Emperor or Empress for the present, so that the position of full ruler could be held open for an actual descendent of Byzantine Nobility. Having a member of a legitimate ancient family as Emperor or Empress would ensure continuity between ancient and "new" Byzantium... but the seat of state leader would not remain empty until the position could be properly filled.
3. We are also beginning to discuss magistracies. These changed quite a bit over the more than thousand years of Byzantine history! We are not duty bound to choose from only one era, but will try to make a rational blending of all periods using what works best for our actual needs.
Once the basic positions of government are decided on, we will be creating the first Constitution of Byzantium Novum. We intend to make the Constitution as simple and straightforward as possible. An ongoing goal of Byzantium Novum is to keep "laws and lawmaking" to a minimum. Instead our hope is to focus on growth and manifesting Byzantine civilization in the real world.
In the meantime it is good to see positive discussion in the forums, and so far everyone seems to be "on the same page" with things. Byzantium Novum is so far doing quite well!
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