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Our final batch of questions for this century includes queries about the Hippodrome, diplomatic marriages, national identity and political legitimacy. We also enjoy an update on the Crimea, the Jewish communities of Byzantium and the Varangian Guard. I also talk about the perception of time and rank some dynasties.

Pic: Augustus. Does his dynasty compare favourably to the Komnenoi?

Stream: Questions XIII

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Nathan Websdale is a PHD candidate at Oxford University and President of the Oxford University Byzantine Society.

His work is focussed on ethnic identification, social inclusion and self-determination in the Byzantine World, c.1200-c.1230.

Nathan graduated with a BA (First Class) in History from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2016 and an MA (Merit) in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies from the Intercollegiate University of London in 2017.

I talk to Nathan about the thorny issue of provincial separatism before and after the Fourth Crusade.

Picture: A map showing the areas which were not under Byzantine control before the sack of Constantinople in 1204. The shaded areas were being held by provincial rebels or foreign powers. From the article ‘La decomposition de l‘empire byzantin’ by Nicolas Oikonomides (from the book Byzantium from the Ninth Century to the Fourth Crusade)

Stream: Provincial Separatism with Nathan Websdale

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I answer listener questions about the Fourth Crusade. This episode focuses on the big picture. Who is to blame? Was it inevitable?

Pic: The Venetians climb the sea walls from thecollector.com

Stream: Questions IX

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I’m sure you’ve heard about the horrific earthquake which struck Turkey on the 6th February. As I’m recording this over 25,000 people have been confirmed dead. Many, many more will be reported so in the coming weeks. Tens of thousands have been injured. And the UN is now saying that at least 870,000 people need food urgently. While millions of people across Turkey and Syria have been made homeless.

This is an appeal for you to donate to one of the various charities who are rushing to the scene at this moment to help the survivors. You have a number of options. You may have campaigns being run in your country by reputable organisations. So here in the UK the Disaster Emergency Committee have launched an appeal that has raised millions. This is an organisation which brings a group of charities together. In this case Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and Islamic Relief amongst many others.

dec.org.uk/appeals/

To help specific groups directly:

The White Helmets are volunteers who have been operating in Syria for many years. They help evacuate people from dangerous areas and offer medical help.

https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/

AKUT Search and Rescue Association. They are a non-governmental organisation offering emergency and disaster relief to people caught up in natural disasters in Turkey.

https://www.akut.org.tr/en/donation

AHBAP an independent civilian organisation who offer disaster relief to communities in need across Turkey. This is the organisation that the kind listener who prompted me to make this appeal recommends.

https://ahbap.org/disasters-turkey

International Red Cross

https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/syria-emergency

Turkish Red Crescent

https://www.kizilay.org.tr/Bagis/BagisYap/404/pazarcik-depremi-bagisi

St Mark’s Square – an imitation of a Byzantine forum. St Mark’s Basilica is prominent with the bronze horses taken from the Hippodrome.

The ‘Pillars of Acre’ (from the Church of St Polyeuktos) and the Porphyry statue of the Tetrachs. Both sit outside St Mark’s Basilica in Venice and both were taken from Constantinople.

We discuss what happened once the Latins started looting. How were the Byzantines treated? What was taken and what has survived?

Period: 1204

Pic: The Colossus of Barletta. Most likely this is the Emperor Leo I (457-74 AD)

Stream: The Sack

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‘The Taking of Constantinople’ by Palma Le Jeune (1544–1620)

‘Conquest of Constantinople’ by David Aubert (1449-79)

Fire Damage at Constantinople 1203-4 from Michael Angold’s book ‘The Fourth Crusade Event and Context’

The Latins assault the city and Alexios Angelos Komnenos flees. Alexios Angelos becomes Emperor and empties the treasury into the Crusaders’ hands. But when he runs out of money the two sides face an inevitable confrontation.

Period: 1203-4

Pic: Alexios V Doukas – “Mourtzouphlos.” (Miniature portrait from a 15th-century codex containing a copy of the Extracts of the History by Joannes Zonaras))

Stream: The Fourth Crusade (Part 2)

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The Crusaders camped opposite the Blachernae Palace (above)

Pope Innocent calls for a new Crusade to retake Jerusalem. A group of French Knights decide to form an expedition to Egypt and make a deal with Venice to transport them. But when they can’t pay the bill the mission goes awry and ends up at Constantinople.

Period: 1198-1203

Pic: Dandolo brings the plan for the Fourth Crusade to the people of Venice (by Gustave Dore)

Stream: The Fourth Crusade (Part 1)

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The routes of the German, French and English Kings during the Third Crusade (from erenow.net)

As soon as news reached the West that Jerusalem had fallen a new Crusade was called. The German, French and English Kings all led armies East but only Frederick Barbarossa went by land. He led a large army across the Balkans towards Constantinople and Isaac Angelos had to decided whether to treat him as friend or foe.

Period: 1188-89

Stream: The Third Crusade (part 1)

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