Personally, I've always had a soft spot for John II Komnenos. While you could argue he had it easy, since he inherited a stable empire from his father, he is just such an admirable figure in every way.
I wouldn’t say stable at all. Asia Minor on the map was under Roman control in reality the whole thing could collapse in an instant. He was methodical and careful. But yeah one of the top for sure.
I really enjoyed your list! Some interesting choices, and I can completely understand the argument for Anastasius being number 1. Such a capable administrator. I also quite liked how you limited the emperors from 476 till 1204. I personally prefer to rank the emperors all the way from 330 to 1453 (spoiler: Constantine I is the best imo) but I thought I'd try and copy you and limit my own top 10 to your specified timeframe:: 10) Justinian I (just about) 9) Basil I 8) Manuel Komnenos 7) John Tzimiskes 6) Alexios Komnenos 5) Basil II 4) Leo III 3) John II Komnenos 2) Anastasius 1) Constantine V
I must say with the criteria stated the list just fits. also the choice of time period to judge emprors from being the 'hegemony of Constantinople' fits very well with the concept of greatest byzantine emperors. nice on both of those fronts
Listened to it on Spotify already (with my walk). However, since I cannot be bothered to write an email at the moment (this will be changed in the next few days). I would like to start by saying, I love the post-amble. I also got really scared I missed some content, when you said after the narrative. Additionally, the list is truly good. I definitely think it's a surprise, and definitely a realistic list. I like that you added Heraclius. I'll do a top 10 Byzantine Emperoers (up to 1204) and then a post period when the narrative is fully complete. I will probably also do another "all roman emperorers" list at some point. (Spoiler, Augustus will take the top of that list, due to bias, but also due to the ability to become an emperor as well as the political talent and the war know-how, along with Agrippa). I'm starting around 457 A.D (to keep within the byzantine podcast period) Anywho, thanks as always, a phenominal episode Robin, thank you for all that you do. 10. Phokas 9. Anastasius I 8. Constantine VII 7. Tzimiskes 6. Basil I 5. Romanos I 4. Alexios I 3. Leo III 2. Manuel I 1. Basil II (who's surprised)
What a great episode. Really liked your list! You should someday do top 10 most interesting emperors. I feel like people want to see Justinian on this list just because he is a really interesting character. Thank you Robin for making in my opinion the best history podcast out there
Yes, lots of people seem to conflate interesting with good when assessing an emperor. I think Justinian's interesting, but then I also think Justinian II and Andronikos Komnenos are too. And they were far from good emperors lol
I would add that job performance must be also seen relative to the circumstances. Basil 2 had only his power play with magnates to handle, while Leo 3 had Maslama ante portam from day 1, Manuel had new world order and non-state which could only be held together by the emperors personal excellence, no institutions or widely adopted social contract in place whatsoever. So our Basil 2 could prolong his suffocating of Samuils state piece by piece forever, never be decisive, and always save some work for the next year to conveniently place him out of the vipers nest and always by his army. Question for Robin, and all of you who made your lists: How many of those on the list would have appeared on the SPQR goat list? Top 10 from Cleopatras deathbed to Dandolos swan song. No need to add pre-Christian ones, just how many of our boys would have made it?
Caveats: I haven't studied that earlier period and it probably isn't very fair to compare different eras. But I would guess that Augustus, Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Aurelian, Diocletian and Constantine would probably all be on a Top 10 list. Which only leaves room for 3 others :-(
@@TheHistoryofByzantiumPodcast I must admit, it completely twisted my perception when I was listening to professor Kaldellis answering your question about excluding Heraclios from his list, whom I had firmly in top 5 until that point. I think that same logic would probably exclude at least Marcus Aurelius, maybe even Hadrian. But for you, as Anastasios fan, it does make sense, even though Anastasios totally dwarfs them both in my opinion, taking over after the whole 476 non-event, and very eventful Zeno circus, and leaving the conquest capable powerhouse 20 years after. None of them had such challenge to overcome, let alone overcome it with such stellar performance. Thanks for enabling us to talk about these things. I was born and raised just a few kilometers from Justinians birthplace, and never had a chance to discuss these things before you created this community!
Very interesting ranking. But even you have the prosopography of justinian although not include him in the list. Justinian was not the best character in history, but for sure is in the top ten Byzantine emperors if not number 1. The plagues and the dark years from the volcanic eruptions were not on his side other wise the course of history might be very different and now the people of spania might speaking Greek. Nice job though. Cheers!
The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) may have "started " in 330 with the inauguration of Constantinople ( Byzantion), but as a matter of fact was already running since 284 after Diocletian's partition. 476 is a wrong narrative since the West, a great deal of it, was recovered by Justinian I some 60 years later. Odoacer and Theodoric were under the higher authority of the (Eastern) Roman Emperor in Constantinople and they were serving as Regents, not independent Kings. When they decided to act in an anti-Roman manner and independently, were eliminated. 1. Basil II 2. Justinian I 3.Heraclius (heretical) 4. John II 5.. Alexios I 6. Anastasius I (heretical) 7. John I 8. Nikephoros II 9. Leo III (heretical) 10. Constantine V (heretical)
Justinian was one of the greatest rulers in human history ... I think he qualifies to crack the more narrow "The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors". Not quite like leaving Jesus and Muhammad off the list of the top 10 most influential religious leaders, but close.
Personally, I've always had a soft spot for John II Komnenos. While you could argue he had it easy, since he inherited a stable empire from his father, he is just such an admirable figure in every way.
I wouldn’t say stable at all. Asia Minor on the map was under Roman control in reality the whole thing could collapse in an instant. He was methodical and careful. But yeah one of the top for sure.
Leaving a comment for the algorithm. UA-cam channel is criminally underrated
A very interesting list, with a number of interesting people on it.
ΥΕΑΗΗΗΗΗΗΗΗΗΗΗ ΒΑΒΥΥΥΥΥΥΥΥΥΥΥ WE HAVE BEEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE EPISODE 1a
Nice to have some Nikephorous Phokas representation on there
I really enjoyed your list! Some interesting choices, and I can completely understand the argument for Anastasius being number 1. Such a capable administrator.
I also quite liked how you limited the emperors from 476 till 1204. I personally prefer to rank the emperors all the way from 330 to 1453 (spoiler: Constantine I is the best imo) but I thought I'd try and copy you and limit my own top 10 to your specified timeframe::
10) Justinian I (just about)
9) Basil I
8) Manuel Komnenos
7) John Tzimiskes
6) Alexios Komnenos
5) Basil II
4) Leo III
3) John II Komnenos
2) Anastasius
1) Constantine V
I must say with the criteria stated the list just fits. also the choice of time period to judge emprors from being the 'hegemony of Constantinople' fits very well with the concept of greatest byzantine emperors. nice on both of those fronts
I like your no 1 and no 8. Quietly competent emperors should get more credit
Listened to it on Spotify already (with my walk). However, since I cannot be bothered to write an email at the moment (this will be changed in the next few days).
I would like to start by saying, I love the post-amble. I also got really scared I missed some content, when you said after the narrative. Additionally, the list is truly good. I definitely think it's a surprise, and definitely a realistic list. I like that you added Heraclius. I'll do a top 10 Byzantine Emperoers (up to 1204) and then a post period when the narrative is fully complete. I will probably also do another "all roman emperorers" list at some point. (Spoiler, Augustus will take the top of that list, due to bias, but also due to the ability to become an emperor as well as the political talent and the war know-how, along with Agrippa). I'm starting around 457 A.D (to keep within the byzantine podcast period)
Anywho, thanks as always, a phenominal episode Robin, thank you for all that you do.
10. Phokas
9. Anastasius I
8. Constantine VII
7. Tzimiskes
6. Basil I
5. Romanos I
4. Alexios I
3. Leo III
2. Manuel I
1. Basil II (who's surprised)
Love the content
What a great episode. Really liked your list! You should someday do top 10 most interesting emperors. I feel like people want to see Justinian on this list just because he is a really interesting character. Thank you Robin for making in my opinion the best history podcast out there
Yes, lots of people seem to conflate interesting with good when assessing an emperor.
I think Justinian's interesting, but then I also think Justinian II and Andronikos Komnenos are too. And they were far from good emperors lol
I’m something of a Isaac Angelos enjoyer myself
Cant wait to listen to this!
I would add that job performance must be also seen relative to the circumstances. Basil 2 had only his power play with magnates to handle, while Leo 3 had Maslama ante portam from day 1, Manuel had new world order and non-state which could only be held together by the emperors personal excellence, no institutions or widely adopted social contract in place whatsoever. So our Basil 2 could prolong his suffocating of Samuils state piece by piece forever, never be decisive, and always save some work for the next year to conveniently place him out of the vipers nest and always by his army.
Question for Robin, and all of you who made your lists:
How many of those on the list would have appeared on the SPQR goat list? Top 10 from Cleopatras deathbed to Dandolos swan song. No need to add pre-Christian ones, just how many of our boys would have made it?
Caveats: I haven't studied that earlier period and it probably isn't very fair to compare different eras. But I would guess that Augustus, Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Aurelian, Diocletian and Constantine would probably all be on a Top 10 list. Which only leaves room for 3 others :-(
@@TheHistoryofByzantiumPodcast I must admit, it completely twisted my perception when I was listening to professor Kaldellis answering your question about excluding Heraclios from his list, whom I had firmly in top 5 until that point. I think that same logic would probably exclude at least Marcus Aurelius, maybe even Hadrian. But for you, as Anastasios fan, it does make sense, even though Anastasios totally dwarfs them both in my opinion, taking over after the whole 476 non-event, and very eventful Zeno circus, and leaving the conquest capable powerhouse 20 years after. None of them had such challenge to overcome, let alone overcome it with such stellar performance.
Thanks for enabling us to talk about these things. I was born and raised just a few kilometers from Justinians birthplace, and never had a chance to discuss these things before you created this community!
Omg no Justinian?? Or Manuel K? Very sad 😢
Very interesting ranking. But even you have the prosopography of justinian although not include him in the list. Justinian was not the best character in history, but for sure is in the top ten Byzantine emperors if not number 1. The plagues and the dark years from the volcanic eruptions were not on his side other wise the course of history might be very different and now the people of spania might speaking Greek. Nice job though. Cheers!
Justinian is not on the list?!? 😢
The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) may have "started " in 330 with the inauguration of Constantinople ( Byzantion), but as a matter of fact was already running since 284 after Diocletian's partition. 476 is a wrong narrative since the West, a great deal of it, was recovered by Justinian I some 60 years later. Odoacer and Theodoric were under the higher authority of the (Eastern) Roman Emperor in Constantinople and they were serving as Regents, not independent Kings. When they decided to act in an anti-Roman manner and independently, were eliminated.
1. Basil II
2. Justinian I
3.Heraclius (heretical)
4. John II
5.. Alexios I
6. Anastasius I (heretical)
7. John I
8. Nikephoros II
9. Leo III (heretical)
10. Constantine V (heretical)
Very good explanation and list, but you misspelled 'based' as 'heretical'
@@Onezy05 thanks. Corrected.
Basil II as first is peak pop history. Dude literally allowed the state to crumble beyond repair by not worrying about the succesion
@@AndreLuis-gw5ox True! Too busy to recover lost territory ☹
Justinian was one of the greatest rulers in human history ... I think he qualifies to crack the more narrow "The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors". Not quite like leaving Jesus and Muhammad off the list of the top 10 most influential religious leaders, but close.