Phocas was a mere brutal soldier—cruel, ignorant, suspicious, and reckless, and in his incapable hands the empire began to fall to pieces with alarming rapidity. Continue reading “The reign of Roman Emperor Phocas”
The reign of Roman Emperor Phocas
Ataulf and Galla Placidia
In his Italian expedition Alaric had been assisted and supported by his brother-in-law, Ataulf. Continue reading “Ataulf and Galla Placidia”
Avaro-Slav invaders (6th c. AD) almost exterminated the Roman population over the greater part of the country north of the Balkans – The tragic end of Emperor Maurice
The Persian war was exhausting, but successful: on the northern frontier, however, the Roman army had been faring far worse, and serious losses of territory were beginning to take place. Continue reading “Avaro-Slav invaders (6th c. AD) almost exterminated the Roman population over the greater part of the country north of the Balkans – The tragic end of Emperor Maurice”
Pope Gregory the Great (6th c. AD) behaves as if he considered the Roman Emperor his suzerain rather than his immediate ruler
After the Lombard conquest the imperial dominion in Italy were administered by a governor, called the Exarch, who dwelt at Ravenna, the northernmost and strongest of the imperial fortresses. Continue reading “Pope Gregory the Great (6th c. AD) behaves as if he considered the Roman Emperor his suzerain rather than his immediate ruler”
The partition of Italy between the Lombards and the Empire (6th c. AD)
The thirty years which followed the death of Justinian are covered by three reigns, those of Justinus II [565-578], Tiberius Constantinus [578-582], and Maurice [582-602]. Continue reading “The partition of Italy between the Lombards and the Empire (6th c. AD)”
The sack of Rome by Alaric’s Goths
The fall of Stilicho was the signal for the Roman troops to massacre with brutal perfidy the families of the barbarian auxiliaries who were serving in Italy. The foreign soldiers, 30,000 of them, straightway marched to Noricum, joined the standard of Alaric, and urged him to descend on Italy. Continue reading “The sack of Rome by Alaric’s Goths”
