Most of us have heard of the legend of Vlad Dracul, also known as Vlad the Impaler, and later simply as Dracula. This prince of Wallachia had a reputation for viciously impaling his defeated enemies – a brutal practice during a brutal time. Not being much of a fan of
Many medieval Byzantines did not use a surname. How the individual chose his surname remained fluid for many years. It often referred back to the area or town where the family originated, or from a family profession or trait.
I recently read a book about the city of Paris and the author mentioned that a particular hospital was the “first hospital in Europe”. I had to shake my head at his ignorance of the history of the Byzantines. However, it inspired me to make a list of a few things I know of that the Byzantines did long before the rest of Europe did.
Michael Keroularios was one of the most powerful of medieval patriarchs in Constantinople. Did he seek the emperor’s throne?
A great general, George Maniakes, is defeated by palace politics and an unlucky spear thrust.
Eudokia Makrembolitissa had many connections to the dynatoi of Constantinople.
I have mentioned a number of relatively well-known 11th century Byzantines in my previous blogs. They include Empresses Zoe and Theodora; Constantine IX Monomachos; several great historians; Nikephoros Byennios; and others. Now, I will turn your attention to some of the lesser-known individuals of that century. These men and women
The three men named Nikephoros Bryennios in 11th century Byzantium all came close to the Byzantine throne, but none reached it.
Sharing the cover of my new novel, Imperial Passions – The Porta Aurea. It tells the story of the life of Anna Dalassena, the mother of Alexios I Comnenus. It ends when her brother-in-law, Isaac Comnenus, seizes the throne. My next novel will tell her story from that time to
The husband and wife historians, Nikephoros Bryennios and Anna Comnena, had very different opinions of the same events.
Imperial Passions #1
The Porta Aurea
Buy Imperial Passions #2
The Great Palace
Byzantine History in the 11th Century
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2. It may be contentious, but I may discuss Byzantine politics from time to time. Amateurish modern politics will never be discussed.
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