SoA Forum

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AM

Title: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AM
https://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/

What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!  ;)
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Ian61 on Jun 11, 2026, 06:59 AM
Quote from: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AMhttps://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/

What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!  ;)

Given us the name Basil. 😁
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Martin Smith on Jun 11, 2026, 09:54 AM
Quote from: Ian61 on Jun 11, 2026, 06:59 AM
Quote from: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AMhttps://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/

What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!  ;)

Given us the name Basil. 😁

And a useful descriptive word for sneaky, underhand politics*...🙂

* which begs the question, is there any politics which isn't....🙃
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Nick Harbud on Jun 11, 2026, 12:12 PM
Of course, one should always remember that history is written not so much by the victors as the literate who, at this time were largely associated with various ecclesiastical establishments.  In particular, western churchmen always had major differences of opinion with their eastern counterparts, both before and after the Great Schism.  This undoubtedly coloured their opinions.  I mean, look how ecclesiastic writers treated Reynald de Châtillon whose only crime was to hang the Archbishop of Antioch outside his castle window until the latter agreed to contribute towards fighting the Saracens.

 :P
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Jim Webster on Jun 11, 2026, 03:51 PM
Quote from: Nick Harbud on Jun 11, 2026, 12:12 PMOf course, one should always remember that history is written not so much by the victors as the literate who, at this time were largely associated with various ecclesiastical establishments.  In particular, western churchmen always had major differences of opinion with their eastern counterparts, both before and after the Great Schism.  This undoubtedly coloured their opinions.  I mean, look how ecclesiastic writers treated Reynald de Châtillon whose only crime was to hang the Archbishop of Antioch outside his castle window until the latter agreed to contribute towards fighting the Saracens.

 :P


In the CofE hanging your Archbishop is considered an honest aspiration  ;)
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Nick Harbud on Jun 11, 2026, 04:14 PM
Do they call that retirement or martyrdom?

At least they've stopped burning them at the stake.    ;D
Title: Re: The western view of Byzantium
Post by: Jim Webster on Jun 11, 2026, 04:59 PM
It's our Australian cousins who are big with the Barbie nowadays. We don't have the weather for it  ;)