Who was the last emperor to visit Rome?
Listener Allison asked which emperor had the distinction of being the last Roman sovereign to set foot in the ancient capital city. It was the uninspiring John VIII who visited in 1423 to beg for help...
View ArticleWhy did the Byzantines mutilate so much?
Reader Karen asked why the emperors seemed so fond of mutilation. Believe it or not this was actually seen as a more humane practice of dealing with potential usurpers than the standard treatment of...
View ArticleHow did the Byzantine army change over 1000 years?
Listener Detlef asked if I could give a brief overview of the Byzantine army and describe the changes it went through during the history of the empire. The operative word here is brief but 1.) we’re...
View ArticleHow hard was it to see a Byzantine emperor in person?
Almost impossible. The emperors were removed from the masses both as a security measure and a means to emphasize their distinct and sacred nature. For the select few, however, it was possible. The...
View ArticleSecrets from the Stacks
Today I happened upon a copy of the Synopsis of Histories, an 11th century chronicle by the monk John Skylitzes. In it was the full inscription that the bishop of Melitene wrote on the sarcophagus of...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....