In this post we present selected parts of the very interesting paper titled “The Soldier’s Life: Early Byzantine Masculinity and the Manliness of War“, by Michael Ed. Stewart, 2016. Continue reading “The Manliness of War in the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire”
Roman Emperor Heraclius: a medieval “Alexander the Great”
Heraclius, a very gifted and active emperor, seemed practically a model ruler after the tyrannical Phocas. Continue reading “Roman Emperor Heraclius: a medieval “Alexander the Great””
Justinian ascends to the Imperial throne – The “Sedition of Nika”
The Emperor Anastasius died in 518 A.D. at the ripe age of eighty-eight, and his sceptre passed to Justinus, the commander of his body-guard, whom Senate and army alike hailed as most worthy to succeed the good old man. Continue reading “Justinian ascends to the Imperial throne – The “Sedition of Nika””
‘Divine Providence’ saves the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (408-518 A.D.) – Pulcheria becomes the first woman Empress – Successful reconstruction of the Roman military forces
Arcadius died in A.D. 408, at the early age of thirty-one; his imperious consort had preceded him to the grave, and the empire of the East was left to Theodosius II., a child of seven years, their only son. Continue reading “‘Divine Providence’ saves the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (408-518 A.D.) – Pulcheria becomes the first woman Empress – Successful reconstruction of the Roman military forces”
Emperor Zeno’s reign; the last German danger in the East
The last danger which the Eastern Empire was to experience from the hands of the Germans fell into the reign of Zeno. Continue reading “Emperor Zeno’s reign; the last German danger in the East”
How the Eastern Romans escaped the Gothic danger (4th-5th cen. A.D.)
Valens was succeeded on the throne by Theodosius, a wise and virtuous prince, who set himself to repair, by caution and courage combined, the disaster that had shaken the Roman power in the Danube lands. Continue reading “How the Eastern Romans escaped the Gothic danger (4th-5th cen. A.D.)”