Republicanism in the Medieval Roman Empire

[Dirk_Pitt]

I'm playing with an EUIV mod that allows you to reform the Roman Republic and that got me thinking of Republicanism in the Medieval Roman/Byzantine Empire.

Was there a movement there in support of republicanism?

Mind it doesn't have to be popular. Could just be one man with his talking horse named Mr. Ed.

 

[Caffeinated Duck]

Well, there was the Commune of Rome that occured in Rome, which was an attempt to "recreate" the Roman Republic, having short lived success by driving out the Pope and many nobles, and instituting a government that resembled that of ancient Rome. Over the course of about 50 years, the Popes came and went with a number of uprisings and rebellions against both his and the nobilities power. However, this is the only radical instance of Republicanism that occured during this period the I can think of right now, so you should read up the Wikipedia page about it, because I honestly can't think of any Byzantine/"Roman" republican movements.

 

[Timaeus]

Byzantine republicanism is... somewhat difficult, to say the least. for one thing, the institutions of Rhomania are definitely geared towards Monarchy, like the Church and army and bureaucracy. and the examples of republics during the period have... quite unflattering portraits. the Republic of Rome was this oligarchy of corrupt, scheming politicians against powerful military strongmen, the Athenians were pretty much the same as Rome, and the Italian republics were just as bad, and that's not considering the Venetians with their Fourth Crusade. too much trauma in that department.

 

[HistorianofAlt]

You also have to consider the religious problems for the Byzantine Empire as the Emperor was seen as having a special place in the church.

 

[Basileus Giorgios]

Was there a movement there in support of republicanism?

Not really, no.

Some philosophers of the eleventh century, most prominently Psellos, worked on some quite sophisticated and subtle critiques of the imperial office, but nobody ever really suggested an alternative. The whole ideology of the Roman state was from as early as the first century AD but especially from the third and fourth centuries based around the divine Emperor: first as a God, and then as God's representative.

There was one monk in the last years of the Palaiologan state who apparently argued for the abandonment of Constantinople and the setting up of an ascetic Spartan-style state in the Peloponese: can't think of his name though.

 

[Wanderwecken]

Not really, no.

There was one monk in the last years of the Palaiologan state who apparently argued for the abandonment of Constantinople and the setting up of an ascetic Spartan-style state in the Peloponese: can't think of his name though.

If you're not thinking about Gemistos Plethon, then it would be Bessarion, although the former was definitely closest to the idea.

 

[Faeelin]

The Byzantines, alas, were oriental despots whose subjects did not understand liberty or the rule of law.

 

[Dirk_Pitt]

The Byzantines, alas, were oriental despots whose subjects did not understand liberty or the rule of law.

What if a time traveling group introduced those concepts?

Add to the list an Emperor that is emotionally insecure and paranoid because at the age of five a usurper arose declaring him a woman. Yeah, the mod had some interesting moments.

Also the PoD is in the 1290s.

 

[Magnum]

Zealots of Thessalonica...

 

[Deleted member 67076]

Zealots of Thessalonica...

No they were firmly monarchist. Sided with the Regency forces and welcomed Alexios Apokaukos (acting as regent for the emperor) with open arms initially.