Narses: The Eunuch General Who Defeated the Ostrogoths
When people think of great Byzantine generals, names like Belisarius often come first. Yet, in the middle of the 6th century, another commander, seemingly the opposite of the ideal warrior, …
Belisarius: Byzantine Empire’s Greatest Military Genius
Belisarius is considered one of the most remarkable military commanders in history. He was a man who commanded the army and fought to restore the glory of Rome when most …
Burn the City or Save the Empire: The Nika Riots of 532
On a cold January day in 532 AD, the heart of the Byzantine Empire—Constantinople—was burning. The air was full of smoke from torched buildings, and screams echoed through the streets. …
How did the Eastern Romans try to Retake their former Empire?
During the third century, the Roman Empire faced growing instability and division, eventually splitting into distinct eastern and western halves. While the Western Roman Empire faded, the Eastern part, later …
The Re-Conquest of Africa (AD 533)
by Gary Julian It is as if there is a “code of silence” among Historians in general, and Military Historians in particular, on the career of Count Belisarius of the Eastern …
The Persian Wars of Heraclius
by Kurs In this article, I will try to throw some light on the Persian campaigns of the emperor Heraclius (who reigned AD 610 – 641), which in most historical …
The Sack of Constantinople
The Conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in AD 1203/1204 Background of the Fourth Crusade In the years from 1201 to 1202 the Fourth Crusade, sanctioned by pope Innocent III, …
Emperor Basiliscus
Life: AD ? – 476 Became emperor AD 475. Wife: Aelia Zenonis (three sons; Marcus, Leo, Zeno). Died AD 476. Basiliscus was the brother of Aelia Verina and hence emperor …
Emperor Zeno
Life: AD ? – 491 Early Life Zeno was from Rosoumblada in the province in south-eastern Asia Minor known as Isauria. The emperor Leo called him to Constantinople as the …
Emperor Leo the Great
Life: AD 401 – 474 Leo was born in AD 401, a member of the tribe of the Bessi in Thrace. At the death of Marcian his son-in-law Anthemius appeared …
Emperor Marcian
Life: AD 392 – 457 Name: Marcianus Born in AD 392. Became emperor March AD 450. Died at Constantinople, AD 457. Marcian was born in AD 392, the son of …
Emperor Theodosius II
Life: AD 408 – 450 Early Life Theodosius II was born in AD 401, the son of Arcadius and Aelia Eudoxia. Already in January AD 402, he was proclaimed co-Augustus …
Emperor Arcadius
Life: AD c. 377 – 408 Early Life Arcadius was born in Spain around AD 377, the son of Theodosius the Great and Aelia Flavia Flaccilla. His father raised him …
Constantinople
Period: AD 326 – 1453 Byzantium had first been reconstructed in the time of Septimius Severus not just as a Roman city, but modelled on Rome itself, on and around …