I Seek the Wisdom of Byzantophiles!

Wolfpaw

Banned
I was big into the Byzantine Empire when I was younger (Norwich ftw!) but I've always had two questions that have tugged at the back of my brain and I was hoping you chaps (and ever-rare chapettes) could finally put my mind at ease :p

1.) How long did chariot races at the Hippodrome last? I know that the Hipp was in a bad way after 1204, but did chariot racing (or any big festivity for that matter) ever pick back up again under the Palaiologoi?

2.) Were the Varangian Guard around until the end of the Empire? I've heard various claims about them not making it past the Fourth Crusade, yet I've also read of their defense of Constantinople in 1453 and apparently they're the fellows in the white boat-like caps behind the emperor in this image of John VI Kantakouzenos produced in the 1370s.
 
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err Varangoi perished after 4th crusade.
About Hippodrome yes it was still used till the end of the empire although after fourth crusade it was in terrible condition.
 
The Hippodrome was a ruin after 1204, though I think it was used for public entertainment of some sort. During the Palaiologan interlude, though, there were so many open spaces in the city that public entertainment could be held virtually anywhere.

As for the Varangians, no, I don't think so.
 
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