I was wondering if any historically minded Kiwis could help me understand a thing or two about the Byzantine Empire.
1. I understand that the Byzantine is a label applied by historians rather than by them themselves. Did they really consider themselves Romans, called themselves Romans and see the direct link between themselves and the ancient empire?
2. This being so, why didn't they get more respect? Again, not an expert, but I know of Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire tried to claim the legacy of Rome and many people did for all the Dark Ages. Constantinople was sacked by Crusaders. Why weren't the Byzantines afforded any of the respect or honour even though the legend of Rome was alive in the aristocracy of Europe? Was it to do with Orthodox Christianity or them speaking Greek? Or were the finer details of legal succession just not appreciated at the time?
1. They considered themselves roman. I believe the most common totle was rhomanion or something similiar.
2. They were referred to by the rest of the west as The Greek Empire or the empire of the greeks, the lack of respect largely came from strained diplomatic ties following the not so much the great schism but the later iconoclast controversy within the empire from about 700-860 ad although really it was a matter of strength. While the empire was strong up to manzikert and again immediately after the alexiad they were respected. Enough indeed to prompt the crusades and indeed the byzantine legacy remained prestigious- princesses of imperial trebizond were highly sought after for generations after the sack of byzantium and the fall of the komnenus.
As others have pointed out the sacking of constantinople by the forth crusade was the result of the byzantines attempting to limit venetian trade. The venetians were supplying the transport for the crusade and that was the price they demanded. Interestingly venice itself was technically part of the byzantine empire although it had been defacto independent for about 200 years. The reason the venetians elected a doge was that their first native ruler was appointed both anthypatos and doux, that is proconsul (a civil office, typically elected from the patrician class) and dux (a military officer with imperium).
What was the title of the Byzantine Emperor?
The title of the emperor changed overtime from augustus imperator to basileus autokrator. Basileus meaning sovereign and autokrator being the route of the modern title autocrat.
Edit to add:
To understand the byzantine empire you have to understand that the roman empire divides into five distinct periods, with ranks, offices and titles changing both name and function greatly between them.
1. The Principate: 30ad- 3rdcentury- in the early period the emperors while dictators ruled what was still recognisably an oligarchy rather than an autocracy or rather was not all that more autocratic than the late republic and its series of Dictators-for-life. This is the empire most people think of when they think of rome.
2. The dominate: third century -seventh century- here the trappings of roman oligarchy were done away with, and the empire was split in two between two (or occasionally four) autocratic emperors who portrayed themselves as absolute rulers in a manner distinct from the principate. The urban roman aristocracy largely disappears from the military in this period becoming the equivalent to the modern .01% in the us. Their place in the military and administration is taken by provincials and barbarians loyal to their general and the emperor rather than rome.
3. The Thematic Empire: seventh century- 1071 following the loss of the west the east entered into a number of administrative reforms which ended with an autocratic emperor with a divine right to rule, over a military aristocracy and complex civil bureaucracy. This period saw the codification of roman law and the move from latin to greek. The practice of creating parallel regional military and civil hierarchies jointly answerable to the emperor created a system that gives rise to 'byzantine' as a descriptor for something complex in the modern world. The system generated considerable intrigue however while the empire both expanded and contracted in the period it generally remained the most economically and militarily powerful force in europe. The theme system collapsed in disaster at manzikert in 1071.
4. The Komnenian Restoration.-1071-1203 The reconquest of anatolia and subsequent defeats of the turks by the Komnenian dynasty saw a reversal of previous decline however this state was organised much more along the lines of a traditional early medieval feudal kingdom despite retaining many titles and offices of its imperial past the practical power and structure was essential feudal in nature albeit with a superior who had a degree of personal power that wouldn't be seen in the west until the absolute monarchies of the renaissance. Despite the reversal in fortune accomplished by the komnenian emperors this period saw the empire fall from preeminence in europe as the frankish successor states formed the basis of modern europe and rose in power and importance. The fall of the komnenian dynasty saw the reborn empire slide into a series of civil wars that left it weekend enough to fall to the fourth crusade in 1203.
5. The palaiologos revival 1261-1453. In 1261 the greek successor state of nicea retook constantinople from the crusaders and re established the empire. Despite some early successes this empire was feudal in nature and did not possess the advanced economy or administration of previous regimes. The emperors in this period relied on mercenaries and political machinations including forcing orthodox bishops to submit to rome. The mercenaries bankrupted the empire resulting in high taxes and the religious issues culminated in a rump state with very little support from its inhabitants. The image of byzantium as a hopeless, decadent ruin comes from this period although in truth depopulation of constantinople meant the wealth and economic importance of the empire was gone long before the city fell as the italian merchant republics completed their takeover of med trade.
The last three parts are all referred to as the byzantine empire although each is in reality very distinct which makes understanding the subject
byzantine.
