The History of Byzantium

Why did the Romans lose control of their Eastern provinces so easily? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justinian II comes to power aged 16 and begins imitating his namesake in ambition and productivity. He orders campaigns in east and west, begins building and taxing and calls for an Ecumenical Council. All the while though his popularity  plummets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine IV calls an Ecumenical Council to discuss the issue of Monotheletism. He also has to deal with an invasion of the Balkans by the Bulgars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine IV inherits his father's throne together with his ceaseless war with Muʿāwiyah. As the Caliph builds a fleet to threaten Constantinople the Emperor responds with the weapons at his disposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constans II uses the Muslim civil war to reorganise the Roman military in the East. Then he travels to the West making a new home for himself in Syracuse in Sicily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius' family fall out with each other over the succession. The crown eventually comes to rest on the head of the fourteen year old Constans II. He is left with an Empire under attack in Egypt, Armenia and the Mediterranean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Arabs march on into Mesopotamia and Egypt. Meanwhile the bad news keeps piling up for Heraclius as he nears his final days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Muslim Arabs invade Syria and begin to sweep away Roman resistance. Heraclius gathers the Army of the East for what he hopes will be a decisive battle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius surveys his shattered realm and plans how to remake things. We deal with three issues specifically - the Imperial title, the Empire's Jews and the Monophysites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius takes the winter off to plan what to do next. He needs to buy off the Avars as he removes all the remaining troops from the Balkans. After training the last Roman army left in the Empire, Heraclius prepares to march East and either restore the old borders or never return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.