The History of Byzantium · [email protected]

Episode 303 - Pinch Me

July 17, 2024·22 min·2 clips

Why did a high-ranking official pull hairs from his beard in anguish when Constantinople was retaken by the Romans?

This episode explores the complex aftermath of Constantinople's recapture by Michael Palaiologos in 1261, examining the anxieties of Nicaean officials about moving the capital, the geopolitical and religious challenges of reintegrating the city, and the debate over whether the Roman Empire truly survived the 1204 sack. It highlights how the return to Constantinople exposed deep fractures in imperial authority and identity.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The History of Byzantium