Author Archives: thehistoryofbyzantium

Episode 37 – The Army of the Strategikon

Posted on October 4, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
Late Roman infantry with a Labaarum standard (www.durolitum.co.uk)

Late Roman infantry with a Labarum standard (www.durolitum.co.uk)

Belisarius scouts the terrain with a Hun bowman looking ahead Byzantine cavalry from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

Belisarius scouts the terrain with a Hun bowman looking ahead from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

We look at how the Roman army has changed up to the end of the 6th century. To guide us we are using the Byzantine army manual the Strategikon. We learn how the army fought, who fought, what they looked like and how they were organised.

Period: 500-602

Download: Episode 37 – The Army of the Strategikon

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Byzantine cavalry from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

Byzantine cavalry from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

Categories: Podcast | 16 Comments

The schedule of the end of century podcasts

Posted on September 27, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium

Hey everyone,

There is a slight delay to Episode 37 on the army. It should be with you next week instead of this weekend.

With all your questions to answer and specific topics to research the whole process has taken me longer than I thought it would.

So I won’t be saying “in two weeks time” on any of the next few podcasts. I’m going to just go away and do the work and write the episodes and release them when they are ready. So there might be a three or four week pause. But I suspect that once I’ve had time to do some serious reading the episodes will come fairly quickly. So hopefully it’s a case of a few weeks off and then an episode a week or more until the narrative moves forward again.

Thanks for your patience and support,
Robin

Categories: News | 6 Comments

Episode 36 – The End of Legitimacy

Posted on September 13, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
Coins depicting the legitimate King of Kings Khosrau II

Coins depicting the legitimate King of Kings Khosrau II

Maurice has a tough decision to make about his role in the Persian civil war. Once that is over he turns his attention to the Balkans. Success in the field is ruined by the cost of paying the army.

Period: 589-602

Download: Episode 36 – The End of Legitimacy

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Categories: Podcast | 6 Comments

Episode 35 – The Lucky Break

Posted on August 30, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
Maurice by Emilian Stankev (from 'Rulers of the Byzantine Empire' published by KIBEA)

Emperor Maurice by Emilian Stankev (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

The new Emperor Maurice continues fighting on the Eastern front trying to convince the Persians to sign a peace treaty. But they won’t. Meanwhile Slavic settlers spread throughout the Balkans and the Avars continue to demand more money. The Emperor begins to fear for the Empire’s solvency and attempts to cut the pay of his army.

Maurice, 15th century miniature from the Modena manuscript of the chronicle of John Zonaras

Emperor Maurice, 15th century miniature from the Modena manuscript of the chronicle of John Zonaras

Period: 582-589

Download: Episode 35 – The Lucky Break

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Categories: Podcast | 12 Comments

Episode 34 – Overbalancing

Posted on August 16, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
A model of the city of Sirmium. You can see its strategic importance as it sits over the two rivers (The image is from Wikipedia and the model is in the Visitors Center in Sremska Mitrovica).

A model of the city of Sirmium. You can see its strategic importance as it sits over the two rivers (The image is from Wikipedia and the model is in the Visitors Center in Sremska Mitrovica).

The new Emperor Tiberius II decided to throw the Empire’s strength into the war with Persia. He spends liberally and recruits new men to bolster the Eastern Empire. His General Maurice wins him great victories in the East but the Avars and Slavs are quick to take advantage of the weak Danube frontier. Justin II and Khosrau both leave the stage.

Period: 574-582

Download: Episode 34 – Overbalancing

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Categories: Podcast | 14 Comments

Episode 33 – The Madness of Justin II

Posted on August 2, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium

A Solidus of Justin II

A Solidus of Justin II

The new Emperor Justin II comes to power with the conviction that the Roman Empire should not be paying tribute to anyone. But after cancelling subsidies to the Avars, the Ghassanids and the Persians he finds himself with war and disaster on all sides.

Period: 565-574

Download: Episode 33 – The Madness of Justin II

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Categories: Podcast | 2 Comments

Episode 32 – The True Believer

Posted on July 19, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
St. Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai in Egypt. The Monks complained to Justinian about raiders and so he built them these impressive walls which still stand today.

St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai in Egypt. The Monks complained to Justinian about raiders and so he built them these impressive walls which still stand today.

Was Justinian a good Emperor?

Period: 565

Download: Episode 32 – The True Believer

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I thought it was appropriate to end Justinian's reign on this image. It's reflective of the scale of his building and his commitment to his faith. But it also shows you the vulnerability of the 6th century Byzantine world. The walls are impressive but in an earlier age they would not have been needed.

I thought it was appropriate to end Justinian’s reign on this image. It’s reflective of the scale of his building and his commitment to his faith. But it also shows you the vulnerability of the 6th century Byzantine world. The walls are impressive but in an earlier age they would not have been needed.

Categories: Podcast | 20 Comments

Episode 31 – Getting the Band Back Together

Posted on July 11, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
The remains of the Long Walls in Thrace (panoramio.com/photo/20959714)

The remains of the Long Walls in Thrace (panoramio.com/photo/20959714)

A series of natural disasters and domestic disturbances mar the final years of Justinian’s reign. We also meet the Avars, bring silk to Byzantium and give Belisarius one last chance to shine.

Period: 550-565

Download: Episode 31 – Getting the Band Back Together

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If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:

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Categories: Podcast | 7 Comments

Episode 30 – Age before Beauty

Posted on June 28, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent, 565

Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent, 565

The men Justinian puts in charge of his military operations keep getting older or more unlikely as the 550s unfold. However they bring success in Italy, the Balkans, Lazica and then most surprisingly in Spain. The peace these victories bring allow the Emperor one last chance to bring the Orthodox and the Monophysites together.

Period: 550-555

Map: The map shows the political distribution of states and nations in 565 AD.

(Author: Thomas Lessman, Source Website: www.WorldHistoryMaps.info.)

Download: Episode 30 – Age Before Beauty

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If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:

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Categories: Podcast | 8 Comments

Episode 29 – The Nightmare Decade

Posted on June 14, 2013 by thehistoryofbyzantium
Church of San Vitale Mosaic panel - Justinian

Church of San Vitale Mosaic panel – Justinian

Church of San Vitale Mosaic panel - Theodora

Church of San Vitale Mosaic panel – Theodora

With the sack of Antioch, the Italian conquest falling apart and the Plague, the years 540-45 were like a nightmare for Justinian. The next five years would continue to bring bad news as war continues on every front and members of the Imperial family begin to pass away.

Period: 545-550

Download: Episode 29 – The Nightmare Decade

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Church of San Vitale Apse (you can see the Imperial couple either side of the windows)

Church of San Vitale Apse (you can see the Imperial couple either side of the windows)

Categories: Podcast | 1 Comment

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