ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
The general result of inquiries into the size of the army after its radical re-organization by Diocletian and Constantine is that its total strength was between 600,000 and 650,000. Continue reading “Comparative size of the Roman and German armies before and during the Invasions – The Germanic penetration of the Empire”
Foreign mercenaries made up a substantial part of the Byzantine armies long before the late thirteenth century. Despite the high cost of their maintenance, their constant readiness and mobility made the employment of mercenaries an attractive option. As long as they proved themselves a competent force on the battlefield and were well handled by the government, the sources do not doubt the expediency of employing them. Continue reading “Mercenaries in the Late Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire, as viewed by the Sources”
This post is a photographic presentation of monuments from Gongchuan, Fujian, China. Continue reading “Gongchuan – Fujian – China”
The configuration of an elite force directly attached to the imperial office had many implications. Given that this was initially an arithmetically rather small corps and, therefore, could not campaign individually against the enemies of the empire, its primary purpose was to circumscribe the loyalty of the provincial armies. Continue reading ““The army is the glory of the Emperor”; evolution of military power in the Roman East (Part 2)”
“Don’t allow your army to be broken up or to become poor, or you will become poor yourself, and consider yourself very wretched. The army is the glory of the Emperor, and the power of the palace. For, if there is no army, the state (Treasury) cannot stand firm, but anyone who wants to will by all means oppose you. Endeavour, at all times, (to see) that the fleet grows, and that you have it at full strength; for the fleet is the glory of the Roman realm”. (lines from the late 11th century so-called Strategikon of Kekaumenos) Continue reading ““The army is the glory of the Emperor”; evolution of military power in the Roman East (Part 1)”
Ancient medical knowledge and Christian theology were connected in Byzantium as the person became their central objective and physical welfare equal to spiritual salvation. In that way the first hospitals were developed to provide medical care for the physically and mentally ill. Continue reading “Uterine cancer in the writings of Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) physicians”
Novo Scriptorium 