The History of Byzantium

Young Theophilus becomes Emperor at a rare moment ofinternal peace. We look at his domestic policies across his 13 yearreign and touch on his non-Anatolian foreign policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rapacious behaviour of the Normans in Italy brings together an alliance against them. The Byzantines and the Papacy try to get on the same page but discover that they may never be able to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicephorus stays at home to administer his realm and manages to alienate every strata of society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover the Bulgarian uprising of 1040 and the events elsewhere in the Balkans which led up to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Pecheneg Wars the Roman treasury was empty. We look at Constantine Monomachos' response to this and other Imperial expenses which may have exacerbated the situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justinian II tries to return to vigorous action but things quickly fall apart. The Arabs advance in the east and a rebellion in Cherson blows up. We meet our fourth, fifth and sixth Emperors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our eighth Kickstarter backers reward episode features questions about the use of Greek Fire on land. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An army revolt leads to Constantine becoming sole ruler. But soon Irene is back in the palace while her son searches in vain for military glory. Eventually though her desire to rule again overwhelms her love for her son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Nicephorus Phokas in charge of the military the Romans win a string of victories against Sayf al-Dawlah. Constantine VII decides to attack Crete again but dies before the expedition sets off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our sixth Kickstarter backers reward episode features questions about the institutions which influenced Byzantine life and the legal punishments for everyday crimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

948-954. We return to the frontier where the Phokas family inflict a series of sharp defeats on Sayf al-Dawla. Sayf starts again by restoring his border fortresses and driving off Roman attacks. When Constantine Phokas is captured alive the war begins to escalate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We review the players in the impending struggle over the throne. And answer some more listener questions on the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine VII seeks peace in the east but Sayf al-Dawla is not interested. The Emperor presses on with the attempted pacification of Crete. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look at the former Roman Provinces of Gaul and Spain and see what the Franks and Goths have been up to in the last century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irene rules alone but the search for her successor undermines her. Then I recap the century and look at what Iconoclasm really represents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicephorus turns his attention to the Balkans and begins settling colonists in the Peloponnese. His plans for Macedonia though are thwarted by the Bulgars. The Emperor organises a mass migration from Anatolia to Europe and reorganises the Themes and the finances of the state to make the new venture a success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Tzimiskes faces down the Phokas rebellion and then marches for Bulgaria to take on the Rus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in the tent with Symeon and Nicholas we learn that a title was granted that day. Symeon wanted to be hailed as Emperor. Wrangling over this title would lead to another decade of war before the two sides could come together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Emperor Anastasius deals with more riots along with an invasion in the West by the Bulgars and the East by the Persians. He then begins to give in to his monophysite sympathies and is almost toppled after allowing his Patriarch to interfere with the O Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I flesh out some details and answer your questions about the Roman army in 800AD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.