eugyppius

Constantine dies of the unpleasant disease known as dysentery in AD 685. His son Justinian II, who is only 16 or something, accedes. Justinian's early campaigns in the Balkans go well, but then he decides to break the Arab truce and unleashes disaster.

This happens in 692/3, he attacks east into Iraq, with an army full of Slav mercenaries. The Slavs desert and he loses. Rinse and repeat. Thereafter the constant Arab raiding into Anatolia starts up again. Good job Justinian.

After a further diplomatic faux pas involving his failed attempt to arrest the Pope at Rome (for reasons), and overmuch harsh fiscal policy, Justinian is facing a coup.

The time has now come to introduce you to the ancient world equivalent of football hooliganism. These are the demes. Think of them as hippodrome racing fan clubs with social and political influence.

It is my belief we can restore this world in which football clubs make and break emperors. I believe this.

In early Byzantium, the two rival clubs (or demes) are the Blues and the Greens. As soon as Justinian is deposed, the Blues rise up and install the genreal Leontius as emperor in his place.

Leontius rules for three years. Barely has he taken control than Carthage finally falls to the Arabs. Leontius tries to retake it in 697, and succeeds! But his forces are repulsed by the Arabs again in 698, and this time the loss is permanent.

It only deepens the political chaos of the eastern empire. The soldiers involved in the failed effort to retake Carthage mutiny. They declare their commander, Apsimar, emperor.

The fleet then sails back to Constantinople to oust Leontius and install Apsimar. (In the meantime, Apsimar has decided he would like to be called Tiberius, a name associated with the Heraclius dynasty.)

Leontius, you'll remember, was the imperial candidate favoured by the Blues. The Greens, it seems, support Tiberius Apsimar. Eventually Tiberius manages to break into the city. He has Leontius mutilated and sent to a monastery.

After many BAP-worthy adventures in exile, Justinian II suddenly bursts back onto the scene in AD 705. Apparently his nose and tongue have healed, or nobody cares about that anymore. He's made friends with the Bulgar Khan, a man named Trevel.

And he's at the head of a substantial army composed of Bulgars and Slavs. It's now "Tiberius" Apsimar's turn to be deposed. He seals up Constantinople, but Justinian and a few frens creep in through an aqueduct.

Justinian re-emperors himself. He then indulges in protracted revenge. You love to see it. He captures Apsimar and fishes Leontius out of whatever monastery he's been confined to. Has them both publicly executed.

He puts out the eyes of the patriarch, who had crowned Leontius. He institutes a reign of terror. He sends a fleet to Cherson, where he had initially been exiled, to deal death and destruction to his enemies there too.

Alas, there are new military mutinies. In the end most of Justinian's supporters abandon him. He and his son are killed. The year is AD 711. This is the end of the Heraclian dynasty, and the end of our political history.