Romanos Lekapenos | Byzantine History
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- Опубліковано 27 лип 2024
- The Macedonian dynasty held sway over the Eastern Roman Empire for 189 years, yet for twenty-five years in that era another dynasty shared the throne. These upstarts were the Lekapenoi; their founder, Romanos, was a usurper. Usurpers were not novelties in Constantinople, but his mercy certainly was - as was his ability to juggle crises, and bring calm to a trouble state. This was just as well, for in the early tenth century the Byzantine Empire was a troubled state indeed.
00:00 Intro
00:47 Chaos in Constantinople
02:30 The Emperors
07:15 Romanos vs Simeon
13:24 A Permanent Peace?
18:33 Eastern Expeditions
22:40 The Kyivan Rus Attack!
25:38 Questions of Guilt
27:51 The Rightful Ruler's Return
32:23 Lekapenos' Last Years
35:41 Outro
Please don't stop man. A lot of people stop because they think their new videos aren't getting enough views, disregarding their loyal audience who loves the series. Keep uploading, the series will grow, I promise.
I've been quite busy this past year, and unfortunately for the near future I'll be getting even busier - but I haven't forgotten this channel, and have big plans for the future.
I hope to finish the "middle period" Byzantine history series first, before moving onto a very big video
@@Serapeum Yes, we are always going to be there to support you, you won me over when you referred to the Syrian Dynasty as Syrian and not Isaurian lol, but fr, jokes aside, your content is amazing!
Theophylact had the best nickname in Eastern Roman History
Man Romanos I was a good emperor he did everything he could to protect the crumbling Roman empire. His legacy and policies kinda pave the way for the rise of great emperors like Nikephoros II, John I, and Basil II. I gave this guy 6.9 out of 10 only because he lost some territory to the Bulgarians.
Romanos Lekapenos appointing his 16 year old son as Patriarch of Constantinople was really the most based thing he did as emperor
This is a really good channel with depth and clarity. One criticism: once in a while, there is some moralizing in the scripts which are given without context or worse - through the prism of modern views. Case in point: the persecution of the Khazars. Romanos is described persecuting them in some extraordinary manner. But the Khazars themselves were just another rapacious steppe horde and a terror to the many other tribes of the steppe and civilizations on the periphery. The Khazars enslaved and raided in pagan, Christian, and Islamic lands - as most notable players in a geopolitical arena often did. The implication they were somehow singled out because of the faith they adopted is bogus, as is the implication that any moves against them were somehow unwarranted. History is best when it is delivered as purely as possible, and the wider context is always considered. Keep up the great work!
Definitely the best channel on UA-cam to learn Byzantine history
I would argue Eastern Roman History is a better source, however this channel is indeed also, a good source for Byzantine History.
This channel was truly an underrated gem. I know Byzantine history isn’t as popular as classical Roman history, but I do hope you return.
It's your lucky day
Great job! When I was a boy, I knew him as the man who lost the battle of Aheloy to Simeon in 917.
Hello Serapeum Historia! Is there any way we to contact you? You can also contact us via email :) Thanks!
@Knowledgia Hello! I have sent you an email :) and I've created a business-email for my own channel as well now
@@Serapeum you haven’t posted in a while, I hope things are going ok?
@@Serapeumwow! Getting hit up by bigger channels. Maybe this channel isn’t as underrated as I thought!
The man on the thumbnail isn't Romanos Lekapenos, but Bulgarian Emperor Simeon the Great.
I know, he just looks so cool; the coin is Romanos
@@Serapeum can't blame you, the way he's painted goes so hard (feel free to screenshot)
@@ejoji4245 Well, Simeon is very relevant to Romanos' reign so it does fit pretty well.
@@Serapeumsure but it misinforms the less educated viewer
@@user-yq3fv3fd1eNot really. Romanos is still in the thumbnail (the coin)
Just recently found your channel good sir you are criminally underrated
Hello! I saw the video before this was your most popular, this one did not compare, and now you haven’t uploaded in months. I know this can be a demotivating feeling but you can make videos that will do better. Please don’t quit ur channel is great.
Best Byzantine channel!
I really like Romanos Lekapinos. I recently heard about him in the History of Byzantium podcast. He did well by getting himself and his family into power while also preserving the Macedonian dynasty.
I've got to study more maps when reading up on history, hearing how large Bulgaria was in the Balkans is one thing, but seeing it own all of Macedonia and Thrace is another. Really shows how threatened Constantinople was from the West.
Bulgaria and Thace were two disproportionately extended territories with a very low population.
The only ressource the Kakahns of B'lgary was the extension of the forrests and mountains allowing infinite possibilities of embuscades.
As history clearly showed, they had not any military superiority, no cavalry, no fleet, no idea how to win Constantinople's fortifications and greek fire. As emperor Basileios II sent 10.000 blinded b'lgur prisoners back to their Kakahn, this one died in rage and desperation.
beautiful video, this might be your best one yet (with the Eumenes series at a close second)
as a footnote, the name is romanian, with the accent falling on Mátei Stoián (instead of Matéi Stóian), but it was a worthwhile attempt :)
I'm just rewatching all ur vids while waiting for the next
Wonderful video and like always excellent story-telling and explanation 10/10
Can you do a video of what happened after 1204 to the fall of Gallipoli?
Your videos are incredible in every aspect. Good work. You deserve much more attention!!
Love this channel !
Yessssss. just what i needed, thanks Serapeum.
Brilliant content keep up the good work!!👍
Great video!
Great video keep it up you're doing amazing things 😁👍
Great video, i love your channel good job my friend!
A masterful documentary. Besides your voice and narration, I enjoy the video's aesthetic.
Romanos I is discussed in many Greek sources, but NONE of them calls him an Armenian. His father was Theophylaktos Abastaktos, who is also never called an Armenian in the one report of him that still exists. Only one western European source refers to Romanos as an Armenian (don't remember which one right now) probably because he came from the village of Lakapa, which again according to experts was situated in the theme of Armeniakon and not in Armenia.
Many emperors have been "baptized" Armenians by simply having some sort of relation to the Armeneiakon theme, but the Armeneiakon theme was not Armenia and was actually populated by both Greeks and Armenians.
Awesome video as always, your editing is getting so good dude!!!! Keep up the work! Was thinking that we could perhaps do a collaboration together, or at least a shoutout?
"The Romans and the Bulgarians viewed each other as distinct people, and many among the latter, especially the former ruling class, desired freedom from “GREEK oppression".”
"Later medieval Bulgarians called the Byzantine period “the GREEK slavery".”
Anthony Kaldellis, "Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade", pp. 174
This makes sense when you consider that the Romans and Bulgarians had a long history of warfare and hostility prior to that point. I’d imagine the conquest by Basil II wouldn’t just magically remove the stigmas and Xenophobic views that many Greeks had against Bulgarians.
I see you're a fan of the Macedonian emperors
Who isn't?
Just in time for my birthday!
vikings in england : "omg we are going to get conquered by them"
vikings in the roman empire : "what are these barbarians doing in the harbour?"
Sorry but just can't get over that name.
What are the citations?
Could you cover the Doukas?
Great long form vid. Loved it. Why I no longer have history Chanel. Real history. Not aliens 😂
A tiny correction from a Greek:
Basileus means king, autokrator means emperor.
Nowadays, basileus (vasilias) does mean "king" in Greek, but back in the Byzantine era it meant "emperor"
BASILEUS means "Master of the Universe"
Steven Runciman worte a pretty good book on Romanus.
During this period, how much control did the emperors exercise over the strategoi of the themata?
👍👍👍
To be honest though how dare Constantine VII mock his father-in-law just because he is an illiterate man
Cover Constantine V Kopronimus - great emperor
Please do a Bulgarian history.
Goated channel fucking hell
Where do you get your maps
The whole of byzantine history could make an excellent game of thrones style show, but lakepenos up to basil II specifically
the late empire is so interesting
I found this video after finding out I’m a direct descendant of this guy through my link to Edward III of england😂 crazy.
One small Correction, The character on the left in the thumbnail is Samuel, a Bulgarian Ruler, Not Romanos I Lekapenos.
Simeon the Great
Romanos I is on the right in the thumbnail (the coin)
It is always a pleasure for me to remind myself about the history of the medieval Roman Empire, of its resilience in the face of many enemies, of its astute diplomacy, of its remarkable military victories and its downfalls. Throughout all of the vicissitudes which were thrown at it, the Empire endured, flourished and prospered, spreading the light of Christendom and of Roman culture to the Slavs, the Bulgarians, the Armenians, the Georgians and other peoples.
Romanos I Lakapenos is an intriguing person, one who showed that formal education does not make a good ruler, but mercy, agility, concern for the plight of his subjects, and a good eye for management are what grace him.
As a side note, the Slavic Царьградъ was not an interpretation of the Norse Miklagard (Great City), but of the Romaic Βασιλὶς Πόλις (Imperial/Sovereign City).
"In this respect, it is noteworthy that early-medieval written evidence from the Bulgar realm testifies to a Bulgar preference to the ethnonym Graikos (Greek), instead of Rhomaios (Roman), by the designation of the Eastern Romans.
The use of the former ethnonym seems to have been predominant among the other Slavic peoples of the Balkans as well, should we consider the textual evidence in their languages that originates, however, from the late Middle Ages."
Yannis Stouraitis, pp 130, "Byzantine Romanness: From geopolitical to ethnic conceptions: Early Medieval Regions and Identities"
@@vangelisskia214What does this have to do with the original comment?
@@iDeathMaximuMII The original comment speaks of 'Roman culture' and I simply wanted to point out that according to primary written evidence, the Slavs already from the early mediaval period mainly reffered to the 'eastern Romans' as Greeks.
this a remake?
Yar. Since I am slowly covering this period, I didn't really want to have my newest videos alongside a really old, out-of-date one
@@Serapeum makes sense this one seems much better than what I remember
After Emperor Constantine VII had his own son who is named after his father-in-law, does the Church of Constantinople at the time considered Romanos II as illegitimate too or is he a legitimate child?
Romanos II was legitimate, and bore the title of porphyrogennetos as a result.
@@Serapeum Thanks for the reply! Also, have you ever seen How To Train Your Dragons? I re-watched them recently. And I just cannot helped but wondering how much of a chance Constantinople has when it comes to fighting the Dragons' Army.
@@lerneanlionConstantine V was a Dragon slayer, so if they attacked during his reign Constantinople would have been fine.
@@mcbeaty3971 The movies were setting in either late 9th or early 10th centuries. And Emperor Constantine V lived in the middle of the 8th century. You know that, right?
@@lerneanlion Know when the movies are set? No, I don’t give a fuck lol.
If I was any earlier my name would be Romulus.
The guy from the thumbnail came pretty close to being a Byzantine emperor but he's still Simeon I of Bulgaria
@Vlado Mitkov
Simeon I had no means to conquer the east Roman empire, other than calling the arabs, Khatars and Petchenegs for help.What he did , without succes. Just imagine the catastrophe that the conquest and destruction of Constantinople by the B'lgurs would have been for our occidental culture !
Romanos is next to Simeon on the right
Why I wonder the Byzantine survived this era ? Even when userpers were all around the empire but after 1081 ad no retarded emperor were allowed any mistake will lead to disaster like after manuel death in 1180 ad here is my theory :
First the lost of Anatolia was too big lost for empire it was gateway of hell any break in wall and not fixed early was dangerous
Second : the military and civil aristocracy growing devidness the civil aristocracy were snobs and degenerate but excellent biocracts
They know how to run the empire even in time of degenerate emperors such as Michael the 3rd
The military aristocracy was build on hard and tough mind most of them from Anatolia mostly militaristic people they are muscles of and main defence of the Byzantine territory but their lack of civil biocracy and diplomacy when ever the military want something they have it and like to take everything to strong emperor meaning most of hard task must be taking to by emperor himself
Very unfortunate last name he had though. But let's just say this is me being childish right now.
Bro provide me a map where Anatolia is Greek, there is no such thing yet people are determined to say that Anatolia was never Greek
Emperor Justinian was an lllyrian/ Dardan/ Albanian, and the Byzantium was an Illyrian Empire!
Emperor Constantin was an lllyrian/ Albanian, and the Byzantium was an Illyrian Empire!
Komnenians Dinasty was Illyrian/ Albanian!
Alexander the Great was Illyrian/Albanian!
The history must be rewritten!