Author Archives: thehistoryofbyzantium

Left Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ by Kibea. Right pic: Statue of Charles of Anjou by Arnolfo di Cambio c. 1277

The Pope responds with despair to the news of Constantinople’s fall. He calls for a Crusade to restore the Latin position. The man who answers is the brother of the King of France, Charles of Anjou. Michael Palaiologos is willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. This means he must agree to church union.

Period: 1261-82

Stream: Church Union

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Pic: The Deesis mosaic from the gallery of the Hagia Sophia. Created after the return to Constantinople in 1261.

Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on five fronts simultaneously.

Period: 1261-5

Stream: The Return from Exile

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We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now?

Period: 1204-61

Pic: Saint Constantine I

Stream: Questions XIV

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We talk about the challenges which Michael Palaiologos and the Nicaens faced as they prepared to move back to Constantinople.

Period: 1204-61

Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos. Miniature portrait in a manuscript of George Pachymeres’ Historia, early 14th century

Stream: Pinch Me

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Pic: Chlemoutsi Castle (in Andravida in the Peloponnese) was built by the Latin rulers of the Principality of Achaea. 

We talk about the Latin occupied parts of Byzantium. What was life like for the conquered and the conquerors? Was the occupation a colonial enterprise?

Period: 1204-61

Stream: Colonial Occupation

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Picture: Crusaders attack the tower of Damietta in a painting by Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen

Professor Nicholas Morton returns to tell us the story of the Fifth Crusade.

Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East is available now.

In it he offers a panoramic account of the Mongol invasions of the Middle East during the thirteenth century, examining these wars from the perspectives of the many different societies impacted by their conquests, including of course Byzantium. In its pages you can also find out more about the drama of the Fifth Crusade.

Period: 1218-19

Stream: The Fifth Crusade

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Picture: Justinian | Heraclius | Basil II | Alexios Komnenos, from thecollector.com

For our 300th episode I decided to do something different. I chose my 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors.

Stream: The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors

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With Constantinople back in Roman hands we explore the one vantage point we’ve ignored: the last Latin Emperor Baldwin II. Dr John Giebfried returns to give us Baldwin’s biography.

Pic: Seal of Baldwin II

John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia State College, and since 2022 has been a faculty member at the University of Vienna, where he teaches History and Digital Humanities. His academic work focuses on the Crusades, the Crusader-States, and European interactions with the Mongols.

Period: 1215-61

Stream: Baldwin II with John Giebfried

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Map: The Nicaean Empire in 1257 from The Byzantine Hellene by Dimiter Angelov

Theodore Laskaris II beds down his father’s conquests in Europe. But his early death sees his family sidelined by Michael Palaiologos. The new Emperor needs some victories to legitimise his seizure of power and the fates reward him beyond all expectations.

Period: 1255-61

Stream: The Providence of God

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Picture: Silver Coin (Aspron trachy) of John III Vatatzes

With the Bulgarians and Turks hobbled by the Mongols the field is clear for Nicaea. John Vatatzes annexes a huge swathe of European territory and is widely recognised as the true Roman Emperor.

Period: 1237-54

Stream: The Rise and Rise of Nicaea

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