In a period of 50 years (920s-976), the Romans reconquered Melitene, Theodosiopolis, Crete, Cyprus, Cilicia, Northern Syria, Eastern Bulgaria and even temporarily a bit of the coast of the Levant. How did this happen? Find out in this video. (Spoilers the answer is the infusion of an aggressive spirit and the gradual shift of the Roman Army from a band of part time farmer soldiers to a disciplined, professional army with daring, charismatic commanders at its head).
Even though I just spoiled the reason for you, you might wanna watch the story unfold, which is what I narrate in this video. It all started when Emperor Romanos Lekapenos appointed his friend Ioannes Kourkouas as the Domestikos ton Scholon (commander of the whole Roman army) in 923. Kourkouas was a brilliant general who led the Romans for 2 decades on offensive in the East, conquering border emirates and reducing the power of the Arabs. These foundations he laid for the next generation of Roman Reconquerors, namely Nikephoros Phokas, the “Pale Death of the Saracens”, and Kourkouas’ own grand-nephew Ioannes Tzimiskes. These two generals seized power from the Macedonian Dynasty and legitimized their rule with fantastic military victories, but neither lived long, and by Tzimiskes’ sudden death in 976, the legitimate Macedonian prince, Basileios, came to power… but the story of the legendary Boulgaroktonos is for the next time.
For the reigns of Nikephoros and Tzimiskes we have a great primary source, the history of Leon the Deacon, but the campaigns of Kourkouas, as with the reigns of Romanos Lekapenos and Konstantinos Porphyrogennetos, are a bit more obscure so I had to dig a little deeper into other sources, which is why this video took so long to finish.
The music in this video are by @Farya Faraji and @Tyler Cunningham Music. Check out their channels for historical bangers:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2_JOhJf-VAQm5VRqjY40Rw/featured
https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerCunninghamMusic
Tracks used:
Farya Faraji – Dance of the Akritai https://youtu.be/HR7KbTdjZjU
Tyler Cunningham – Sons of Constantinople https://youtu.be/VGMX8JFdXVE
Farya Faraji – Theophano’s Wedding https://youtu.be/w9iMaaqZQDc
Tyler Cunningham – Charge of the Cataphracts https://youtu.be/YGtSoik0ing
If you’re interested in hearing me explain the workings of the Nikephorian army, (and watching a hypothetical battle between the ancient and medieval Romans), check out my collab “Rome VS Byzantium” with @Untold History Animations : https://youtu.be/bD_4B8kEZvc
As always thanks for watching.
#byzantine_empire #romanempire
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Varangian Guard time Yey
Yizss
omg I'm so excited to see the next video 😀 The middle Byzantine empire is such a fascinating time to research, as for a brief moment there was hope of Rome becoming the powerhouse it once was, if only :'(
woww…..great work man…..i recently found your channel and by God I haven't stopped watching your vids……Great work dude…..keep it up….very excited for the next one……
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AND THE RETURN OF THE VARANGIANS!! I LOVE IT!
oh yeah, back to the good stuff!
Poor Nikephoros deserved better, maybe he was a bad politician but he shouldn't have been murdered, but hey, at least Tzimitzkes didn't do a Phokas (the original) and completely fuck up the empire.
Can't wait for the Bulgarslayer himself!
OMG i love your channel, Byzantine Empire, i mean, the real Roman Empire in Middle Age. The best emperor is coming, fear bulgars!!!!
Summarizing such an eventful era isn't easy, but you've done a very good job! Looking forward to your next video
The Romans went on the offensive during this era to reconquer territories lost in the 7th century.
Great work, i like your efforts.
I have to points i want to mention,
i am from Germany so not a native speaker and it is hard to follow you because of your speed. I would like Videos with longer length and there for slower and clearer speaking. 🙂
Long live the emperor! ;D
Love the art but the kiddy voice is hard to understand sometimes.
And, again, only the true Roman emperors ruled from Constantinople.