Download: Episode 35 – The Lucky Break

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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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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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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.

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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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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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)

Portrait of Totila by Francesco Salviati (from Wikipedia)

With Justinian struggling with the Plague Theodora takes charge of the Empire and makes a decision with profound consequences. When Justinian does recover he is faced with an Empire collapsing around him. He has to reorganise the Empire’s finances and redirect its armies as war resumes on every front.

Hand necrosis caused by plague (from Wikipedia)

The Plague arrives at Pelusium and spreads to Alexandria where it rages for four months. By Spring 542 the Egyptians have to begin sending out the grain fleets. They export the Plague with them and Constantinople endures a nightmare summer of death and dislocation. Out in the provinces there is psychological and spiritual torment too. We then explore where the Plague came from, what it did to the body and how it spread around the Empire.

Period: 541-543

Download: Episode 27 – The Walking Dead

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