The Middle Byzantine Military (610-1204)

The most Glorious Era of Byzantine History.

This is a place for posting everything related to middle Byzantine period,and its military aspect.
Military organization ,tactics,strategy,arms,armor,battles,units..etc.

Soldiers at the Arrest of Christ,represented as Varangian Guards.(in ceremonial costumes)
Nea Moni-Chios Monastery-1040's.


Guards hold maces,axes and double-axes.

did those byzantines conquered more land that they have already inherited from The Roman Empire?

And here is a representation of a Varangian Guard.(1000-1050)



This man is of Scandinavian origin ,migrated in Kievan Rus kingdom.
The shield depicts the crow-symbol of god Odin and he holds Danish Axe.

Greaves,hand protection ,chest leather strips and pteryges ,are obviously Byzantine,borrowed by the imperial arsenal.

Originally posted by Batu did those byzantines conquered more land that they have already inherited from The Roman Empire?

I'm not sure what you mean. Justinian reconquered lost Roman lands in Africa, Italy,and Spain in the 500's but most of those were later lost to the Arabs. Heraclius pushed east against the Sassanids in the mid-600's but those gains were also lost to the Arabs. The Byzantines retook Crete, E. Anatolia and parts of Syria under Nikephorus Phokas and John Tzimiskes  in the 10th. c. and Byzantine suzerainty was imposed over Armenia. This was going to be the greatest extend of Eastern Roman territory in the post-Justinian years and smaller than the Roman Empire at its heigh, of course.
In the Balkans faltering Imperial authority during the 6th-8th c. was restored somewhat and to various degrees of succes from 850-1100 and then being lost for good post-1204.
Generally the years 680-900 are considered low-ebb. The great Iconoclastic controversy tore the byzantines internally whereas abroad the empire was besieged by enemies: Slavs had overun most of continental Greece, Bulgarians in the North, Constantinople had to withstand great sieges laid by Avaro-Slavs and Arabs. They bounce back in the 10th c. with the "Macedonian" dynasty.

 
 


Edited by konstantinius - 14-Nov-2006 at 04:56

Originally posted by konstantinius Nice photo!

@Emperor

I m not sure that these on the shields are letters or inscription. They seem to be signs.
As for the tunic and the cloak,i would disagree with u.I think they are typically Byzantine,and his all clothing must be ceremonial.
It's also interesting the meander on the shield-ancient greek motive.
I guess the "Scandinavian nature" of the centurion, could be betrayed by his thick beard and the really big sword.(and the shield as u noticed).
The Osprey pic,comes out of this mosaic (see details of the plate)

The drawings come of a series of Books ,monographs.
Esp from the book "Vyzantinos Stratos" (Byzant. Army)-Dimitris S. Belezos by "Periskopio" editions -(its in greek)

This "mummy" wrappings are depicted quiet often in frescos.I guess it was a part of the shoe/boot ,but maybe they had a protective role as u mentioned.
-ps the Excubitor dates at 870 AD.

Varangian Guard (?) decapitated!

(Manuscript from Mount Athos-11th century.)

The man lies dead,wearing a chainmail cuirass.His big battle axe (danish?)(the characteristic weapon of Varangians) lies beside him and he carries on his right shoulder a sword which he didn't manage to draw.(Varangians were sometimes described as "those who carry their sword on the right shoulder")
A red round shield lies on his left and his helmet on his right.
The man has beard and mustache.

All the above show that this man should be a Varangian guard.



Edited by Brainstorm - 04-Dec-2006 at 02:41

Originally posted by Byzantine Emperor Wow, a very interesting illustration indeed!  In what context is the Varangian portrayed?  A battle?  Perhaps an execution?

It's a vivid battle scene.Unfortunately problems-again-didnt allow me to post it.
Another interesting scene is where a horse archers shoots back-He wears a shirt similar to nomadic horse archers.

Not that I am disputing you or anything, but is this not a depiction of scale mail?  It looks like the scale mail depicted in some Western frescos, or in some Byzantine depictions of Western-style armor such as that worn by Normans from Sicily.

Yes it could be.But chainmail is also usually  depicted like this in Byzantine art,so it's not easy to decide.

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