A short history of Byzantium: No. 21 They raised him on their shields in a moment of great happiness and triumph!
The astounding success of Julian’s rise in five short years, from a bookworm to Caesar, was genuinely celebrated by hisContinue Reading
Tag: Constantius II
A short history of Byzantium: No. 19 Julian the Apostate.
By the end of Constantine’s reign, there were an estimated twenty-four million Christians living in the Roman Empire. These numbersContinue Reading
A short history of Byzantium: No. 18 Constantius II, the Byzantine autocrat (Part 2)
The real danger to the Roman empire often came, not from its citizens, nor the Christians, as some would likeContinue Reading
A short history of Byzantium: No. 16 Constans: champion of the Trinity or enemy of Gaul?
Last time we left Constans, he had emerged triumphant against his older brother Constantine II in 340 AD. It mayContinue Reading
A short history of Byzantium: No. 15 “Instant Karma”!
The solidus of Constans, as pictured above, was probably struck on the occasion of the celebrations of the Quinquennalia ofContinue Reading
A short history of Byzantium: No. 14 Like Father, Like Son.
“And close kinsmen as we were, how this most humane Emperor (Constantius) treated us ! Six of my cousins andContinue Reading
Rearview Mirror 