Uncategorized – The History of Byzantium

I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire.

In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side.

I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective.

Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present.

Stream: State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey

Download: State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey

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To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II.

My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.

In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil’s day which may shed light on his intimate life.

Picture: Basil II by J Foliveras

Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world.

Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire
Routledge (2022)

Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood
The Ohio State University Press. (2014)

Stream: The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson

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Andronikos III Palaiologos takes charge of a Roman state still recovering from the loss of Anatolia and the raids of the Catalans.

He takes on the challenge with enthusiasm and tangles with the Turks, Latins and Serbs. He also reunites Epiros and Thessaly with Constantinople.

Pic: Andronikos III Palaiologos, 14th century miniature from the State Library of Württemberg, Stuttgart.

Check out my episodes on the First Crusade which have been turned into videos by @Empire-Builders

Period: 1328-41

Stream: The Last Hurrah

Download: The Last Hurrah

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Pic: The Deesis mosaic from the gallery of the Hagia Sophia. Created after the return to Constantinople in 1261.

Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on five fronts simultaneously.

Period: 1261-5

Stream: The Return from Exile

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We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now?

Period: 1204-61

Pic: Saint Constantine I

Stream: Questions XIV

Download: Questions XIV

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We talk about the challenges which Michael Palaiologos and the Nicaens faced as they prepared to move back to Constantinople.

Period: 1204-61

Stream: Pinch Me

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Pic: Chlemoutsi Castle (in Andravida in the Peloponnese) was built by the Latin rulers of the Principality of Achaea. 

We talk about the Latin occupied parts of Byzantium. What was life like for the conquered and the conquerors? Was the occupation a colonial enterprise?

Period: 1204-61

Stream: Colonial Occupation

Download: Colonial Occupation

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Picture: Crusaders attack the tower of Damietta in a painting by Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen

Professor Nicholas Morton returns to tell us the story of the Fifth Crusade.

Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East is available now.

In it he offers a panoramic account of the Mongol invasions of the Middle East during the thirteenth century, examining these wars from the perspectives of the many different societies impacted by their conquests, including of course Byzantium. In its pages you can also find out more about the drama of the Fifth Crusade.

Period: 1218-19

Stream: The Fifth Crusade

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Picture: Justinian | Heraclius | Basil II | Alexios Komnenos, from thecollector.com

For our 300th episode I decided to do something different. I chose my 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors.

Stream: The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors

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While Epirus was rising and falling, Nicaea was consolidating. John Vatatzes, the new Emperor, was competent at home and abroad. After years of consolidation he decided to besiege Constantinople. But he didn’t act alone he invited an unlikely ally to join him.

Period: 1215-37

Pic: John III Vatatzes from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by Kibea

Stream: The Forgotten Siege

Download: The Forgotten Siege

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