I've seen a lot of posts about World War Two, Vietnam and so on, but nothing about the civ that I'm interested in: the Byzantine Empire. So for any of you who are interested, try your luck with these questions. They start easy, but I'd like to see if anyone gets the last few! :)

1. Who founded the Byzantine Empire and when?
2. How many years - and days :p - did it last?
3. What happened to the Byzantine Empire in 1203?
4. What was the nickname of Emperor Basil II and why did he get it?
5. What was unusual about the Empress Theodora (wife of Emperor Justinian I)?
6. Why was it a (very) bad idea to go to the races in Constantinople?
7. What was rhinokopia? :flamedevi
8. Why does the Turkish flag depict a waning moon as opposed to the crescent of Islam (yes, this is related!)?

1) Constantine. He didn't found the Byzantine Empire since officially the Byzantine empire was really the Eastern Roman Empire. He just followed the normal Roman std with two emperors (one senior, one junior) ruling the western and eastern halves of the empire. Constantine chose to rule the East and made Constantinople his capital. As the yrs went by, the West fell to the barbarian hordes whilst the East survived and became the Byzantine Empire.
Not sure what yr. 411 BC?
2) Lasted until 1453 AD. Lazy to count. :p
3) The Latins sacked and occupied it while on their way to the Holy Land?
4)
5) Commoner, courtesan I think; later in power for some yrs.
6) Stampedes and riots.
7)
8) I thought this is a Byzantine quiz? Maybe the Turks wanted it to signify that they were continuing the Islamic jihad after the Arabs.

Hey, SKM, nice to see how much you know about my favourite civ! :) Here are the answers to the questions you answered.

1. Yup, you're right, Constantine really just used the same old pattern, although the split was to become permanent. The date was Monday 11 May, 330 AD (to be precise!).

2. Yes, it finally fell in 1453. That makes 1123 years and 18 days... :crazyeyes

3. Right again! The Crusaders were going to retake the Holy Land, but the Doge of Venice diverted them to conquer Constantinople so they could pay back a debt to him. Incidentally, the four bronze horses above the main door to St Mark's Cathedral in Venice were looted from Constantinople.

5. Not only was she a courtesan, but her mother was an acrobat and her father was a bear keeper. Very low rent! :lol:

6. Yup - massive riots, including the biggest one of all, on 13 January 532, when 30,000 people were killed in the hippodrome (main stadium) as the imperial troops reasserted control.

8. The symbol of Islam is commonly a crescent moon, but the Turkish flag has a waning moon. This is because the Turkish finally conquered Constantinople (which they made their capital) when the moon was in its last quarter.

I wonder if anyone will work out 4 or 7...?:D

You may be curious to know that the very word 'Byzantine' was a slur - the Western Empires (most notably the Franks) called them such to insult them. Those living in the 'Eastern Roman Empire' referred to themsleves as Romans, and their empire as Romania. But as they say, the victors write the history books... :rolleyes:

I have thought that the term Byzantine comes fr Byzantium, which was the old city that existed on the site that was to become Constantinople. Byzantine sounds cool to me. In what way was it an insult? :confused:

Diocletian created the split empire system, but with the Eastern part senior. He also was the Emperor that had a sucessfull (live) retirement.

Seems like Diocletian had a pretty tough choice: hmm... which to do, which to do? ... rule the known world or retire and grow cabbages? ... rule the known world or retire and grow cabbages?
I know! Retire and grow cabbages! :lol:

1. Who founded the Byzantine Empire and when?

Constantinius I, Roman Emperor, founded the city of Constantinople on 11. May, A.D.330. Some consider this the beginning of the Byzantine Empire, although West and East Rome were still united officially. Others think the Byzantine Empire really begins in A.D. 476 when the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed. The Byzantines considered themselves Romans, so their empire was never "founded", it found itself existing when the west collapsed.

2. How many years - and days - did it last?

If we count from the founding of Constantinople, then 977 years and eighteen days.

3. What happened to the Byzantine Empire in 1203?

Constantinople was captured by Western Crusader armies, who founded the "Latin" dynasty. All of the empire didn't collapse; resistance continued in Attica and the Balkans, eventually driving the Latins out in 1282.

4. What was the nickname of Emperor Basil II and why did he get it?

"Bulgarokthonos", "Killer of the Bulgarians". Basil II had defeated the Bulgars in 1014 at the Battle of Belasitsa Mountain, and he blinded most of the prisoners. (Despite his name, he didn't actually kill too many Bulgars.)

5. What was unusual about the Empress Theodora (wife of Emperor Justinian I)?

??? Got me here. She was the sister to the Khazar Khagan Ibuzir, that's all I know of her. Particularly ugly?

6. Why was it a (very) bad idea to go to the races in Constantinople?

Green-Blue riots.

7. What was rhinokopia?

Byzantine Emperors who weren't killed after being overthrown had their tongues and noses mutilated, as a branding.

8. Why does the Turkish flag depict a waning moon as opposed to the crescent of Islam (yes, this is related!)?

??? Don't know this one either.

*********************************************

SKM wrote: I have thought that the term Byzantine comes fr Byzantium, which was the old city that existed on the site that was to become Constantinople. Byzantine sounds cool to me. In what way was it an insult?

Byzants was a small fishing village that Constantine built his capital city on. No Byzantine ever referred to either the city or the empire as the Byzantine Empire; they considered themselves Romans. (The Bulgarian emperor Semeon called himself "Romaiokthonos", "Killer of the Romans", which Basil II copied later.) By calling the eastern Roman empire "Byzantine", the Western "Latin" Christians were implying that 1. it had no legitimacy, and 2. it was really an empire of Greek fisherman-peasants.

Well, that looks like all the questions answered, and quickly at that!:goodjob:

Vrylakas, I notice the German in your signature. Sind Sie Deutscher, oder sprechen sie die deutsche Sprache? Ich lernte Deutsch in der Schule und es macht mir gluecklich, mein Deutsch zu ueben. If you don't speak German, sorry about that! :grad:

I think that Theodora was a whore.A prostitute.
Literally.
Before marring mr emperor.

Stavro wrote: Vrylakas, I notice the German in your signature. Sind Sie Deutscher, oder sprechen sie die deutsche Sprache? Ich lernte Deutsch in der Schule und es macht mir gluecklich, mein Deutsch zu ueben. If you don't speak German, sorry about that!

Ich kann ein bischen auf deutsch verstehen, aber es ist sehr schwehr fuer mich.

I also had to learn German in school. My quote was taken more in the context of philosophy.

Years ago I was hired by an American to translate for him in East Berlin. All I had to do was get him to someone he could interview who could speak English; once we found such a person, I was scott-free. I did fairly well, given the very beleaguered state of my German - until we got to the train station on the way home. I couldn't understand a single word the ticket woman said, and I asked her to repeat it three times. Luckily someone in the line behind us spoke Polish, but it was extremely embarrassing and ever since I've been wary of using my German...

Kublai Khan wrote: I think that Theodora was a whore. A prostitute. Literally.

Ah. Thanks. You'd think as emperor Justinian could get a better date...

Actually, KK is not far off. One of the Roman emperor's wives (sorry, don't remember which one) back in the days of one empire really was a whore. BUT, the twist is that she took up the occupation after her marriage into power, iirc. Apparently she was insatiable and would work all night, outperforming the pros. The emperor must have been awfully lame in the sack.

Does anybody remember which emperor/wife this was? Lefty?

When I said that Theodora was a 'courtesan,' I meant that as a polite way of saying, well, 'whore.' In fact, just before she met her future husband, Justinian, she had had to 'work' her way back to Constantinople from Carthage, where she had just been dumped by her lover. After she married Justinian (who was, incidentally, the greatest of all Byzantine emperors), she became an effective empress - one of the most effective in Byzantine history, in fact. Go figure.:queen:

Justinian owed much of his success to the greatest general of the Eastern Roman Empire (post 476) - Belisarius.

Yes, that's true. It's also true that Justinian hated and feared Belisarius because of his success. Justinian's conquests were all short-lived - largely because he never trusted Belisarius enough to follow up on them. There is no indication that Belisarius ever wanted to overthrow him. Perhaps if Justinian had not been so suspicious, the Mediterranean would still be a Roman lake...

Originally posted by Sodak
Actually, KK is not far off. One of the Roman emperor's wives (sorry, don't remember which one) back in the days of one empire really was a whore. BUT, the twist is that she took up the occupation after her marriage into power, iirc. Apparently she was insatiable and would work all night, outperforming the pros. The emperor must have been awfully lame in the sack.

Does anybody remember which emperor/wife this was? Lefty?

It was the emperor Claudius I whose 2nd wife Messalina had an insatiable sexual appetite. According to legend she competed with prostitutes to see who could service more customers in a night and won with a total somewhere around 100 men! :eek: Known fact: She was executed for marrying her lover even though she was still married to the emperor. Ooooops! :rotfl:

I find Roman/Byzantine history fascinating. The thing I find most fascinating about the Byzantine/East Roman Empire is it's tenacity and resiliance in the face of great adversity century after century. I suspect this is in no small way due to the superb natural advantages of Constantinople's geographic setting
- a crossroads for trade and a great defensive position.

I sometimes ponder the historical 'what if' Constantine had chosen another site for his capital such as Nicomedia? Perhaps Byzantine history would have been much shorter.

Perhaps you may be on to soemthing, andycapp - look at the Turks - they have owned Constantinople/Istanbul for 550 years and have yet to be vanquished! Something about that city....

Bizantium
wasn´t a small
town
it was
a relatively
big city with 50.000 inhabitants
before
becoming Constantinopla.

Magnus, I must admit my observation is hardly original, many writers and historians have made similar observations about the placement of Constantine's capital, not least one of my favorite writers of Byzantine history, John Julius Norwich.

He wrote "Byzantium" which is a 3 part history of....er.... Byzantium [punch] . I thoroughly recommend it as a good read rather than an academic text.

One of my favourite Byzantine Emperor's is Alexius Comnenus, although not always succesful on the field of battle he was able to rebuild Byzantine strength after the steady decline following Manzikert and his handling of the unruly Crusader armies was truly a juggling act.

Admittedly, Alexius got very good historical 'press' due to the writings of his daughter Anna Comnena but that does not detract from Alexius's achievements in difficult circumstances.

Perhaps if there had been more emperors of a similar mould following Alexius the Byzantine Empire's demise would have been substantially delayed - another 'what if'. ;)

Since no else has asked any more questions, I'll take the liberty of doing so.

Some questions about the 'Battle of Manzikert'.

1. Give the date of the battle including: day of the week, month and year?

2. Name of the Byzantine Emperor and his Turkish opponent?

3. Name the commanders (at the battle) of the right and left flanks of the Byzantine Army?

4. Who was the treachorous commander of the Byzantine rear and what part did he play in the defeat?

5. What did the Turkish Sultan demand Romanus do when he was first brought before him after the battle (the next day)?

Fascinating thread :cool:

A small note: the Byzantines, which used the greek language, refered to themselves as Romioi, not Romeoi (=Romans in greek). The difference may seem minor but is significant.

There are two schools of historians when it comes to where the word Romioi came from.

One claims, as Vrylakas already pointed out, that it derives from the word "Romans".

Another school of historians claims that it derives from the greek province of Roumeli.

In any case Romioi was used to describe greek christians as opposed to greek pagans in the early days of Byzantium. The latter were simply called, amazingly enough, "Hellenes" (=greeks).

With the expansion of christianity the vast majority of the citizens of Byzantium were called, of course, Romioi including people who were not greeks but were christanized later (such as the slavs).

BTW, that's the first time I hear that the word Byzantium was used at that era. I think it was a name the historians picked up much much later as an easy way to tell apart the Western Roman Empire from the Eastern Roman Empire.

VERY interesting essay on the Vlach Connection to the Eastern Roman Empire...

http://www.friesian.com/decdenc2.htm

Thanks for the link Magnus. Yes the "Vlahoi" also were a vibrant picture of Byzantium. They still survive in today's Greece (mainly in northern Greek Macedonia IIRC - as the link says) but they are pretty much "hellenised" now.


andycapp,

2. Emperor Constantine Palaiologos. Suleyman the Magnificent.

Originally posted by andycapp
1. Give the date of the battle including: day of the week, month and year?1054.

Originally posted by Paiktis22

andycapp,

2. Emperor Constantine Palaiologos. Suleyman the Magnificent.

Paiktis22, no and no. The names you give belong to a dfferent era of Byzantine history, not the battle of Manzikert. :)

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
1054.

No. A clue, it was a later date. ;)

Stavro thats incorrect about the Turkish flag. the crescent is mentioned in the Quran and might have been being used by the Arabs already.

Another reason for the crescent stated by historians is that at the Battle of Kosovo rivers ran red with blood and the crescent was reflecting off of it. (hence the red color in the turkish flag)

nice quiz however the Byzantines were very interesting.

Battle of Manzikert:

1. March, 1071?

2. Emporer Romanus Diogenes, Sultan Alp Arslan

3. Left - Byrennias, right - Alyattes

4. Andronicus Ducas? spread rumors of Emperor's defeat, fled the field...

5. Kiss the ground so he could stand on his neck - silly symbolism...

Originally posted by MustardStew
Battle of Manzikert:

1. March, 1071?

I'll give you this because 1071 is correct although "March" is not, it was August and probably Friday 26th.

2. Emporer Romanus Diogenes, Sultan Alp Arslan

Correct. :goodjob:

3. Left - Byrennias, right - Alyattes

Correct. :goodjob:

4. Andronicus Ducas? spread rumors of Emperor's defeat, fled the field...

Correct. :gooodjob:

5. Kiss the ground so he could stand on his neck - silly symbolism...

Also correct. :goodjob:

Mustardstew, care to post some questions for us to answer?

hmmm...

Would have to think hard for some questions...

Oh, just to concur, John Julius Norwich is probably my favorite historical author - I read his Byzantium (the short version - haven't gotten the long yet), Venice.... which to me is far closer to Byzantine heritage than Italian...

Anyway, questions that are worthy of the board.....

1. Why was the Fourth Crusade sent to Conatantinople instead of Palestine? What famous sculptures were taken from Constantinople in this Crusade?

2. Who became 1st "Latin Emperor"?

3. Which Emperor became vassal to an Ottoman Sultan? Who was that Sultan?

4. What was the Iconoclasm? When did it takes place?

5. Who was the great Hungarian that many in Constantinople hoped would save Constantinople from the Ottomans?

6. What "omens" were seen in Constantinople in May 1453?

Hopefully these provide some challenge, without being impossible (first quiz-type post for me)....

Enjoy - Byzantium is fascinating!!

The strategic importance of Constantinople is huge. Just look at it on a map--you control Constantinople, you control the Black Sea. Most all trade/supply routes between Europe and Asia go through Constantinople. Furthermore, scarcely half a mile separate the shores of the Bosporus Straits, which Constantinople controls, and the Straits are difficult to navigate. You can't just "make a run for it" if you want to sneak a ship to the Mediterranean from the Black Sea, or vice-versa.

In modern times, the significance of Istanbul is even bigger, because now you've got oil in the picture. If Russia wants to export oil to the rest of the world, they have to go through either the Baltic, or Istanbul.

I dare say that if a conventional World War 3 developed (i.e. Warsaw Pact vs. NATO), Istanbul would be the single most important city of the war. More important than Berlin.

Originally posted by MustardStew

1. Why was the Fourth Crusade sent to Conatantinople instead of Palestine? What famous sculptures were taken from Constantinople in this Crusade?

Initially because Enrico Dandolo, the Venetian Doge, offered to provide transport to the Crusaders if they would assist him in the retaking of the Venetian city of Zara, which they did. It was then that Alexius (later, and briefly Emperor Alexius IV),son of the deposed Emperor Isaac put the proposal to the Crusaders for assistance in overthrowing his usurping uncle, Emperor Alexius III and in return would reward them and assist with the crusade.

The Crusaders and Venetians accepted the proposal and sailed to Constantinople, which they took and had (young) Alexius crowned as the new Emperor Alexius IV. Alas, the Crusaders and Venetians demanded payment of monies promised, which Alexius IV was unable to pay as he was in turn deposed by another Alexius (Ducas) who crowned himself Emperor Alexius V. As a result the Crusaders and Venetians decided to take Constantinople for themselves and install their own Emperor.

Amongst much other plunder, the Venetians took the four great bronze horses from the Hippodrome back to Venice where they put them above the main door of St Marks.

2. Who became 1st "Latin Emperor"?

Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault

3. Which Emperor became vassal to an Ottoman Sultan? Who was that Sultan?

John V.

Murad.

4. What was the Iconoclasm? When did it takes place?

In a literal sense means 'the smashing of icons'. A split developed within the church between those that favoured the practice of depicting religious figures and scenes through sculpture and painting (iconodules) and those that opposed such representations (iconoclasts). This struggle took place on and off over hundreds of years. It began in 726 when the Emperor Leo III smashed the great golden icon of Christ in the Chalke in Constantinople and developed into civil unrest right across the Empire.


5. Who was the great Hungarian that many in Constantinople hoped would save Constantinople from the Ottomans?

Louis The Great of Hungary

6. What "omens" were seen in Constantinople in May 1453?

A lunar eclipse and the holiest icon of the city the Virgin Mary slipped from it's platform during a parade through the city which was soon followed by an unnatually heavy thunderstorm and fog. That night St Sophia was bathed in an eerie red glow.

Good questions Mustardstew! :goodjob:

I agree with you Byzantine history is fascinating. :)

Hey thanks - good job with answers!!

Maybe its because I was never exposed to Byzantium / Eastern Mediterranean history while I was in school (all Dark Ages - shows what we know) ;) ....
but the Byzantines, Ottomans, et. al and even the Italian city-states just fascinate me - history in general does, but these relatively unexplored cultures (for me) offer such a different perspective to the Middle Ages, in contrast to "the fall of Rome, rise of fuedalism, Renaissance" approach I was taught...

Anyway, enough talking to hear myself talk (read)...
enjoying this thread immensely

1. What was the name of the battle at which Constantine effectively established control of the empire?

2. At this battle Constantine had a vision what was it? And what was the literal 'message' given to him?

3. Who could reasonably be described as the 'unluckiest' Byzantine Emperor? Hint, he won a long and hard fought campaign against a traditional foe (and recovered the 'True Cross') only to have a large part of the Empire over run by a new menace.

4. At what decisive battle were the Byzantines defeated by this new menace? And what natural event contributed to the Byzantine defeat during the battle?

5. What important provinces did the Byzantines lose as a result of this defeat?

PS. I will be on holidays for four days, at the beach :D , and so will not be able to post answers until I get back.

Andy.

2. At this battle Constantine had a vision what was it? And what was the literal 'message' given to him?A vision of the Christian cross in the sky. To go forth and conquer?

3. Who could reasonably be described as the 'unluckiest' Byzantine Emperor? Hint, he won a long and hard fought campaign against a traditional foe (and recovered the 'True Cross') only to have a large part of the Empire over run by a new menace.Heraclius?

5. What important provinces did the Byzantines lose as a result of this defeat?Egypt, Palestine, Syria?

Some more questions based on Byzantine tradition and mythomotors:

_What are the two signs that the scholars of Byzantium predicted will happen that would lead to the recapture of Constantinople and Asia Minor from the Ottomans?

_Also where and which is the Gate that remains closed since the capture of the capital of Byzantium from the Ottomans and was said by Byzantine scholars that will be opened only by Christian hands?

_According to tradition and myth what were the last words of the last King of Byzantium right before he fell by the Ottoman scimitars in the royal chambers?

Knight-Dragon's answer to Q2
Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
A vision of the Christian cross in the sky. To go forth and conquer?

Close enough, allegedly the inscription was Hoc Vince (Conquer by This)

Knight-Dragon's answer to Q3
Heraclius?

Correct :goodjob:

Knight-Dragon's answer to Q5
Egypt, Palestine, Syria?

Correct :goodjob:

Questions 1 and 4 are still unanswered.

Paiktis22, might I suggest that people wait until all questions previously asked, are answered, before asking more themselves - just an idea to make things more workable. :)

In answer to your questions:

- priests in the church of the Holy Wisdom gathered up the most precious icons and miraculously disappeared as the Turks stormed into the church. It is said they will reappear when Constantinople becomes a Christian city again.

- don't know

- in fact the last Emperor Constantine fell in battle (not in the "royal chambers") after throwing of everything that might identify him as the Emperor - what the myths are surrounding his death, I'm not aware.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by andycapp
[B]1. What was the name of the battle at which Constantine effectively established control of the empire?

Battle of the Milvian bridge?

Originally posted by Kennelly
[QUOTE]Originally posted by andycapp
[B]1. What was the name of the battle at which Constantine effectively established control of the empire?

Battle of the Milvian bridge?

Correct :goodjob: This battle is probably best remembered as the battle that established Christianity as the dominant religion of the Roman empire.

Still Q4 unanswered.

Originally posted by andycapp


4. At what decisive battle were the Byzantines defeated by this new menace? And what natural event contributed to the Byzantine defeat during the battle?

Andy.

Puh,battle of Yarmouk,I think. (636)

But I have no idea about the natural event.A flooding?

Originally posted by Kennelly


Puh,battle of Yarmouk,I think. (636)

But I have no idea about the natural event.A flooding?

Correct, it was the battle of Yarmuk. The natural event I was referring to was a violent sandstorm that swept up from the south and gave the Muslim General Khalid the opportunity to charge the Byzantine troops blinded by the sandstorm, which resulted in the anihilation of the Byzantine army.

Kennelly, care to ask some questions? :)

Only a few easy one:

1.What was the "Two-Emperor-Problem"?

2.Who lost the main battle against the seldschuks in 1176?Where?

3.Who was the first Emperor of the Palaiologes dynasty(sp.)?

Sorry,don?t know more or harder questions.