John the Orphanotrophos

Michael Psellos – A Life Examined

This is the first of three posts on Micheal Psellos and his impact on medieval Byzantium. Michael Psellos – Secular Byzantine? The Byzantines have a well-earned reputation for religious devotion and fondness for theological arguments throughout their history. They had little tolerance for deviation from religious orthodoxy at any time. However, history records that its …

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Lesser Known 11th Century Byzantines John the Orphanotrophos and his Brothers

Lesser Known 11th Century Byzantines – Part 1: John the Orphanotrophos and his Brothers

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 were important in the empire’s …

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