It is rare to see a virtuous individual reach the pinnacle of power in any era. Byzantine rulers were no exception, with many rough and determined characters sitting on the throne in its eleven centuries. Some were brutal, but three (in my humble opinion) stand out for remarkable cruelty unleavened
In the 4th century Constantine the Great built the Hippodrome of Constantinople to hold as many as 100,000 spectators. Remnants of the building survived into the Ottoman period that began in 1453, but the stadium was little used following the depredations of the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
Many people who died over the centuries probably succumbed to now easily treatable conditions.
In March 2016 I finally realized my dream of visiting Istanbul, bringing along my husband and our youngest daughter. I scrupulously planned out our 10-day visit. I scheduled a number of tours for sites that I thought would require an experienced guide, while for other sites we got the audio
On this, the second weekend in July, a reminder of the Tomos Unionis, handed down for over a thousand years. Basil II was one of the best known Byzantine emperors. He was the son of Romanos II, grandson of Constantine Porphyrogenitos, and great grandson of Leo VI the Wise and
The Battle of Manzikert, like the Battle of Hastings fought five years earlier, began momentous changes to its country. This book (https://www.amazon.com/Road-Manzikert-Byzantine-Islamic-527-1071/dp/1848842155) covers a wide swathe of Byzantine military history – from Justinian’s wars, to early battles between the Byzantines and Islamic armies, to Manzikert in 1071. The epilogue briefly
These two distant civilizations impacted each other in important ways in the 11th century. They also fought pivotal battles whose consequences are felt even today.
History has been a lifelong interest of mine, although I arrived late to the Byzantine party. The gradual accretion of knowledge of the Roman empire in the west, and English history – my early favorites – as I grew up gave me bits and pieces of history at a time,
The fans of the eastern Roman empire, known popularly as the Byzantine Empire, will often quibble about its capital’s name – insisting on continuing to call it Constantinople rather than Istanbul. Their loyalty to the old empire is estimable, but perhaps misplaced so far as the city’s name is concerned.
Imperial Passions #1
The Porta Aurea
Buy Imperial Passions #2
The Great Palace
Byzantine History in the 11th Century
1. You will not receive more than one email from me each month.
2. It may be contentious, but I may discuss Byzantine politics from time to time. Amateurish modern politics will never be discussed.
copyright 2018 Eileen Stephenson | designed by Avalon Graphics.
