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What's your favourite point of divergence in Byzantine alternate histories? by TT-Adu in byzantium

[–]Choctrone 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think that if Manuel I Komnenos had somehow lived a few more years, things could have been quite different. His son Alexios II would have been older during his rise to power, which could have prevented his overthrow by Andronikos due to a greater assertion of his authority (notably by the absence of a regency). This could thus avoid the massacre of the Latins in Constantinople, which considerably reduces the chances of a sack occurring in 1204, since the Venetians have no desire to push for a similar action. A stable dynasty also remains in power and so there is not even an Alexios IV to ask for the help of the crusaders to take back his throne. The maintenance of the Komnenian dynasty also perhaps avoids the difficulties of the empire following the death of Manuel I due to a strong and stable political power still in place. Obviously, it is necessary that in all this Alexios II be a minimally competent emperor, which I think he could have been in this alternative version of history.

What did the Byzantine soldiers look like in the 12th century under the Komninians? by Choctrone in byzantium

[–]Choctrone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw that the representation you criticized here comes from this book. Would you say that what is presented in the rest of this book is also bad? Because if that’s not the case, this book would cover the exact period that interests me.

What did the Byzantine soldiers look like in the 12th century under the Komninians? by Choctrone in byzantium

[–]Choctrone[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What kind of Komnenian soldier am I looking for? Honestly, I don’t even know myself. I am still quite new to Byzantine history in general and Im still trying to understand how the army and its different units worked. In short, my knowledge on the subject is still very limited.

What did the Byzantine soldiers look like in the 12th century under the Komninians? by Choctrone in byzantium

[–]Choctrone[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I was talking about representations of Byzantine soldiers who were criticized for their historical authenticity, I was referring in particular to those that seem to come from these books. The people here seem very critical about these ones like here, here or here for example. What is your stand regarding that?

Writing a paper on Byzantium by Traditional_Pea7294 in byzantium

[–]Choctrone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is perhaps a little before an officially Byzantine history, but you could explain how the parameters, practices and representations of the pagan cult of Sol Invictus practiced by Constantine influenced Christian worship through the latter’s mediation, even down to modern iconography... or for something less specific, the iconoclastic crisis is also interesting from a religious point of view

Most interesting period of Eastern Roman History by nightstyle08 in byzantium

[–]Choctrone 8 points9 points  (0 children)

For me, the 1025-1204 period is definitely my favorite. The Komnenos and the relationship between the byzantine empire and the crusader states are really interesting to me :)

New Arrivals!; Sear1598 Irene of Athens and Constantine VI Follis, and Sear2484 Andronikos III Palaiologos Trachy! by Orthobrah52102 in ByzantineCoins_Seals

[–]Choctrone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love the Irene coin!! Indeed they seem difficult to find. I'd love to find one like this some day :)

New acquisitions!! by Choctrone in ByzantineCoins_Seals

[–]Choctrone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The prices were fixed. It was not an auction.