In 674, a large Arab fleet arrives off Constantinople & blockades the city. Then it has to withdraw & shelter for the coming winter, before returning again. And again, and again. The Arabs never succeed.
Show this thread
-
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.
Show this thread
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.
Show this thread -
Justinian II has his nose and tongue slit. Mutilations were thought to make a candidate unsuitable for future imperial office. Then he's banished to southern Crimea (Cherson). Picrelated, from a late medieval (latin) manuscript.pic.twitter.com/oE9Mc9e9t8
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.)
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
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.
Show this thread -
Will conclude with some imperial portraits. Here's Constantine IV, from a mosaic in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare (Ravenna).pic.twitter.com/aFOo43PS5c
Show this thread -
And here's the fantastic Justinian II, from the same basilica.pic.twitter.com/tmk1TxBmKX
Show this thread -
Indeed they minted solidi with the image of Leontius. Here he is having a beard:pic.twitter.com/njCyoCr4D0
Show this thread -
-
Next thred will be about Monophysites. Why anyone care, were they just eastern 'nationalists,' did they overlap with the Green football hooligans, what about the theology tho, etc After then I promise we get to conspiracies.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.