alternatehistory.com
Chapter 43: A Triumph for the Levant
In this update, I shall cover heirs of Constantine VII, and then I shall speak more of the the functioning of the Rhomaic state during the ninth century.
Conquest of the Levant
Constantine VII was succeeded by his son Romanos II. (945-959). While he himself was a rather hedonistic ruler, marrying an innkeepers daughter called Anastaso; and he left the matters of the state in hands of competent ministers: the military was under the command of his brother Leo and Nicephoros Phocas. Nicephoros originated from Cappadocia.
Nicephoros Phocas sought to stablish full Rhomaic control over the Eastern Mediterranean; so that it would have been a Rhomaic Mare Nostrum. The only opposing force were the Phoenician city-states of Beirout and Tyre and the County of Galilee. In 960, the campaign against Phoenicia began; a brilliant naval victory to the southeast of Cyprus, followed by a land invasion from Tripoli very well ended with the Phoenician republics. The Counts of Galilee, seeing the winning side accepted Rhomaic suzerainty after the fall of Berytos.
After the death of Romanos II., the imperial office passes into the hands of Nicephoros II. Phocas, reigning from 963 to 969. Nicephoras would have liked to “tidy up” the western borders of the Empire. This would have meant the consolidation of imperial holdings in Italy: especially irritating was the existence of the Duchy of Salerno, cutting off Naples, Calabria and Apulia from each other. The second issue in the west was the divided island of Sicily; this should be united as soon as possible under the Rhomaic banner.
The liquidation of the Duchy of Salerno was no big deal: rather it could be well described as large-scale military manoever. Diplomatically, Salerno has gained support from Otto, the German emperor in the north, however it was too far off for the Germans to intervene, before having to acknowledge fait accompli.
From 964 to 965 Nicephoras decided to strike eastwards once more: to conquer Aram and Nabatea, ruled by the Yabroudid dynasty from Damascus. This campaign was rather successful, for the Yabroudid dynasty could only hope for their allies in Hejaz; the Syriac kingdom in Gozarto dared not to provoke the wrath of the Empire unto themselves. Nicephoras promised Palmyra some territorial gains in the desert regions should they join him in the war, as well as more commercial opportunities. To this they agreed, and thus the Rhomaic empire could rely on masters of desert warfare to counter the Yabroudids.
The heir of Nicephoros Phocas was John I. Tzimiskes (969-976), of Armenian descent, from the region of Cappadocia.
Tzimiskes turned the attention of imperial troops northwards, doing away with the independence of Serbia (Rashka) in the Morava valley. In 972, he once more took the army to the Levant, and waging war on the sole independent kingdom on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean: Israel. The Samaritans and Jews and Ebionites would put up a heavy resistance in the mountains and the desert, with skirmishes and guerrilla tactics used frequently by the defenders. The Rhomaic army, on their part, would have won battles in the open and secured major cities.
The newly conquered areas of the Levant were automatically incorporated into the Diocesan structure of the Empire. The whole region was rearranged, esulting in the following structure:
· Diocese of Cilicia (Tarsus)
· Magistrate of Antioch
· Diocese of Syria (Beroea)
· Diocese of Osroene (Edessa)
· Diocese of Phoenicia (Tyre)
· Diocese of Aram (Emesa)
· Diocese of Palestina (Akko)
After Tzimiskes, the Empire would receive again a very capable ruler named Basil II. (1)….To be featured in some other update
(1) Not named Bulgar slayer, because, well the job has been done before already
State Administration
In the Rhomaic Empire, one can view three major institutions, each with their own territorial organization: the State, the Church and the Military. The unity of the empire is however, best manifested in the person of the Emperor.
The Emperor himself would be titled Basileus in all major occasions. Sometimes, the emperors would use the title Porphyrogennetos, to emphasize their legitimacy (meaning born in purple) and Autokrator meaning self-ruler.
The sons of the emperor would bear the title Despotes, meaning Lord. This would not have any territorial connections to it however.
Equivalent to the Frankish majordomus was the Rhomaic kouropalates, literally the one who takes care of the running of the palace. This position was of great prestige, and should the Emperor have other issues he is dealing more urgently with, the responsibility to solve the daily affairs would most likely be upon the kouropalates.
The State administration, or civil administration has been reformed by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos. The Empire itself was divided into Dioceses, headed by a Vicar , which would further be divided into “nomos” or prefectures. Each Diocese would also have a council of its own, to deal with local affairs, as advisory body to the Vicar.
The Military was also structured territorially. Parallel to the diocesan structure of civil administration, there would exist a theme system: the themes would have been military districts which were tied to specific military units. The districts would be replentishment and recruitment zones; their borders were drawn so, that they do not match the borders of the Dioceses, as to prevent a rebellion.
As for the Church, of course, the State-sanctioned denomination was the Chalcedonian Church. With the reconquests of the Macedonian dynasty, the Empire would once more get a substantial population of non-Chalcedonian denominations.
The core regions of the Empire would be included under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, with its southern border being at the ridges of the Taurus Mountains. The subordinate Metropolitans to Constantinople would be, as follows:
a. Kaisareia
b. Ephesus
c. Herakleia
d. Ankyra
e. Kyzikos
f. Sardis
g. Thessalonica
h. Nikomedeia
i. Nikaia
j. Chalkedon
k. Korinthos
l. Side
m. Sebasteia
n. Amasia
o. Athinai
p. Tyana
q. Gangra
r. Klaudiopolis
s. Neokaisareia
t. Pessinous
u. Myra
v. Patras
w. Staroupolis
x. Laodikeia
y. Synnada
z. Ikonion
aa. Antiocheia in Pisidia
bb. Perge
cc. Larissa
dd. Philippopolis
ee. Traianopolis
ff. Rhodos
gg. Adrianoupolis
hh. Hierapolis
ii. Choniai
jj. Kotyaion
kk. Trebizond
ll. Serrai
mm. Philippoi
nn. Neupaktos
oo. Thebes
pp. Gortyn
qq. Philippopolis
rr. Dristra
ss. Naissus
tt. Akrid
uu. Dyrrhacion
vv. Tarentum
ww. Hagia Severina
xx. Rhegium
yy. Catania
zz. Syrakusa
aaa. Rus´
bbb. Servia
Furthermore, the majority of the Levant, as well as Armenia would come under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch.
a. Seleukia in Isauria
b. Anazarbos
c. Tarsus
d. Beroia
e. Laodikeia ad Mare
f. Edessa
g. Hierapolis
h. Apamea
i. Edessa
j. Tyre
k. Berythos
l. Tripoli
m. Mopsuestia
n. Damascus
o. Constantia on Cyprus
p. Bostra
The Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria would be restored to a large degree after the incorporation of Cyrenaica and Alexandria to the Empire. Its structure would be as follows.
a. Alexandria
b. Thebais (Kemet)
c. Cyrenaica
d. Neukratis
e. Pelusium
f. Kabasa
g. Paraetonium
h. Ptolemais
i. Berenike
j. Antipyrgus
Ultimately, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem would have remained mostly unchanged
a. Metropolitanate of Caesarea
b. Metropolitanate of Scythopolis
c. Metropolitanate of Nazareth
d. Metropolitanate of Ptolemais/Acre
e. Metropolitanate of Bostra
f. Metropolitanate of Petra
g. Metropolitanate of Neapolis (Nablus)
h. Metropolitanate of Gaza
Outisde of the Church would remain still some surviving Paulicians in Rhomaic Armenia (although some were resettled to Thrace), a mainly Maronite-populated Phoenicia, the Coptic Church in Cyrenaica and Alexandria to a large degree, and the Syriac Church in Aram. Furthermore, there would have been Jews, Samaritans and Ebionites in Israel, and Miphysites on the Palestinian coast.
As for imperial policy, the attitude differed from case to another. In general, the Macedonian dynasty did not stick their nose into religious affairs, that much. In general, Jews and Samaritans were not „encouraged“ to convert, but rather offered to resettle in Paristrion; and many jews were relocated to that particular region, which needed to be populated by settlers needing Rhomaic protection.
The „competing churches“ : Coptic and Syriac Jacobite, would be allowed to continue to operate even inside of Rhomaic jurisdiction, although they would be „tolerated“ and the chalcedonian chuches „preferred“. Especially in Cyrenaica, there was issued a ban on doing Miaphysite liturgy in Greek – and new Chalcedonian dioceses were created in the region, hoping to convert the Cyreneian Greeks to Chalcedonianism. As for Phoenicia, no action was taken to actively convert the population.
The Ebionites and Marcionists would be however actively persecuted.
Conquest of the Levant
Constantine VII was succeeded by his son Romanos II. (945-959). While he himself was a rather hedonistic ruler, marrying an innkeepers daughter called Anastaso; and he left the matters of the state in hands of competent ministers: the military was under the command of his brother Leo and Nicephoros Phocas. Nicephoros originated from Cappadocia.
Nicephoros Phocas sought to stablish full Rhomaic control over the Eastern Mediterranean; so that it would have been a Rhomaic Mare Nostrum. The only opposing force were the Phoenician city-states of Beirout and Tyre and the County of Galilee. In 960, the campaign against Phoenicia began; a brilliant naval victory to the southeast of Cyprus, followed by a land invasion from Tripoli very well ended with the Phoenician republics. The Counts of Galilee, seeing the winning side accepted Rhomaic suzerainty after the fall of Berytos.
After the death of Romanos II., the imperial office passes into the hands of Nicephoros II. Phocas, reigning from 963 to 969. Nicephoras would have liked to “tidy up” the western borders of the Empire. This would have meant the consolidation of imperial holdings in Italy: especially irritating was the existence of the Duchy of Salerno, cutting off Naples, Calabria and Apulia from each other. The second issue in the west was the divided island of Sicily; this should be united as soon as possible under the Rhomaic banner.
The liquidation of the Duchy of Salerno was no big deal: rather it could be well described as large-scale military manoever. Diplomatically, Salerno has gained support from Otto, the German emperor in the north, however it was too far off for the Germans to intervene, before having to acknowledge fait accompli.
From 964 to 965 Nicephoras decided to strike eastwards once more: to conquer Aram and Nabatea, ruled by the Yabroudid dynasty from Damascus. This campaign was rather successful, for the Yabroudid dynasty could only hope for their allies in Hejaz; the Syriac kingdom in Gozarto dared not to provoke the wrath of the Empire unto themselves. Nicephoras promised Palmyra some territorial gains in the desert regions should they join him in the war, as well as more commercial opportunities. To this they agreed, and thus the Rhomaic empire could rely on masters of desert warfare to counter the Yabroudids.
The heir of Nicephoros Phocas was John I. Tzimiskes (969-976), of Armenian descent, from the region of Cappadocia.
Tzimiskes turned the attention of imperial troops northwards, doing away with the independence of Serbia (Rashka) in the Morava valley. In 972, he once more took the army to the Levant, and waging war on the sole independent kingdom on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean: Israel. The Samaritans and Jews and Ebionites would put up a heavy resistance in the mountains and the desert, with skirmishes and guerrilla tactics used frequently by the defenders. The Rhomaic army, on their part, would have won battles in the open and secured major cities.
The newly conquered areas of the Levant were automatically incorporated into the Diocesan structure of the Empire. The whole region was rearranged, esulting in the following structure:
· Diocese of Cilicia (Tarsus)
· Magistrate of Antioch
· Diocese of Syria (Beroea)
· Diocese of Osroene (Edessa)
· Diocese of Phoenicia (Tyre)
· Diocese of Aram (Emesa)
· Diocese of Palestina (Akko)
After Tzimiskes, the Empire would receive again a very capable ruler named Basil II. (1)….To be featured in some other update
(1) Not named Bulgar slayer, because, well the job has been done before already
State Administration
In the Rhomaic Empire, one can view three major institutions, each with their own territorial organization: the State, the Church and the Military. The unity of the empire is however, best manifested in the person of the Emperor.
The Emperor himself would be titled Basileus in all major occasions. Sometimes, the emperors would use the title Porphyrogennetos, to emphasize their legitimacy (meaning born in purple) and Autokrator meaning self-ruler.
The sons of the emperor would bear the title Despotes, meaning Lord. This would not have any territorial connections to it however.
Equivalent to the Frankish majordomus was the Rhomaic kouropalates, literally the one who takes care of the running of the palace. This position was of great prestige, and should the Emperor have other issues he is dealing more urgently with, the responsibility to solve the daily affairs would most likely be upon the kouropalates.
The State administration, or civil administration has been reformed by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos. The Empire itself was divided into Dioceses, headed by a Vicar , which would further be divided into “nomos” or prefectures. Each Diocese would also have a council of its own, to deal with local affairs, as advisory body to the Vicar.
The Military was also structured territorially. Parallel to the diocesan structure of civil administration, there would exist a theme system: the themes would have been military districts which were tied to specific military units. The districts would be replentishment and recruitment zones; their borders were drawn so, that they do not match the borders of the Dioceses, as to prevent a rebellion.
As for the Church, of course, the State-sanctioned denomination was the Chalcedonian Church. With the reconquests of the Macedonian dynasty, the Empire would once more get a substantial population of non-Chalcedonian denominations.
The core regions of the Empire would be included under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, with its southern border being at the ridges of the Taurus Mountains. The subordinate Metropolitans to Constantinople would be, as follows:
a. Kaisareia
b. Ephesus
c. Herakleia
d. Ankyra
e. Kyzikos
f. Sardis
g. Thessalonica
h. Nikomedeia
i. Nikaia
j. Chalkedon
k. Korinthos
l. Side
m. Sebasteia
n. Amasia
o. Athinai
p. Tyana
q. Gangra
r. Klaudiopolis
s. Neokaisareia
t. Pessinous
u. Myra
v. Patras
w. Staroupolis
x. Laodikeia
y. Synnada
z. Ikonion
aa. Antiocheia in Pisidia
bb. Perge
cc. Larissa
dd. Philippopolis
ee. Traianopolis
ff. Rhodos
gg. Adrianoupolis
hh. Hierapolis
ii. Choniai
jj. Kotyaion
kk. Trebizond
ll. Serrai
mm. Philippoi
nn. Neupaktos
oo. Thebes
pp. Gortyn
qq. Philippopolis
rr. Dristra
ss. Naissus
tt. Akrid
uu. Dyrrhacion
vv. Tarentum
ww. Hagia Severina
xx. Rhegium
yy. Catania
zz. Syrakusa
aaa. Rus´
bbb. Servia
Furthermore, the majority of the Levant, as well as Armenia would come under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch.
a. Seleukia in Isauria
b. Anazarbos
c. Tarsus
d. Beroia
e. Laodikeia ad Mare
f. Edessa
g. Hierapolis
h. Apamea
i. Edessa
j. Tyre
k. Berythos
l. Tripoli
m. Mopsuestia
n. Damascus
o. Constantia on Cyprus
p. Bostra
The Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria would be restored to a large degree after the incorporation of Cyrenaica and Alexandria to the Empire. Its structure would be as follows.
a. Alexandria
b. Thebais (Kemet)
c. Cyrenaica
d. Neukratis
e. Pelusium
f. Kabasa
g. Paraetonium
h. Ptolemais
i. Berenike
j. Antipyrgus
Ultimately, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem would have remained mostly unchanged
a. Metropolitanate of Caesarea
b. Metropolitanate of Scythopolis
c. Metropolitanate of Nazareth
d. Metropolitanate of Ptolemais/Acre
e. Metropolitanate of Bostra
f. Metropolitanate of Petra
g. Metropolitanate of Neapolis (Nablus)
h. Metropolitanate of Gaza
Outisde of the Church would remain still some surviving Paulicians in Rhomaic Armenia (although some were resettled to Thrace), a mainly Maronite-populated Phoenicia, the Coptic Church in Cyrenaica and Alexandria to a large degree, and the Syriac Church in Aram. Furthermore, there would have been Jews, Samaritans and Ebionites in Israel, and Miphysites on the Palestinian coast.
As for imperial policy, the attitude differed from case to another. In general, the Macedonian dynasty did not stick their nose into religious affairs, that much. In general, Jews and Samaritans were not „encouraged“ to convert, but rather offered to resettle in Paristrion; and many jews were relocated to that particular region, which needed to be populated by settlers needing Rhomaic protection.
The „competing churches“ : Coptic and Syriac Jacobite, would be allowed to continue to operate even inside of Rhomaic jurisdiction, although they would be „tolerated“ and the chalcedonian chuches „preferred“. Especially in Cyrenaica, there was issued a ban on doing Miaphysite liturgy in Greek – and new Chalcedonian dioceses were created in the region, hoping to convert the Cyreneian Greeks to Chalcedonianism. As for Phoenicia, no action was taken to actively convert the population.
The Ebionites and Marcionists would be however actively persecuted.
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.4k