The younger Heraclius became one of the most significant Byzantine emperors, reigning 610-641. In the interval between the declaration of the revolt and the crowning of Heraclius as emperor rare coins were issued that showed the two Heraclii not as Augusti or even as Caesars, rather as Consuls. Building a fleet and gathering allies took almost two years, but when he got to Constantinople in 610 there was no battle-Phocas was dragged into his presence two days later and executed. In 608 the elderly Exarch of Carthage, Heraclius, revolted and put his son, also named Heraclius-the one who became the next emperor-in charge of the navy. His reign of terror provoked plots against him, several of which were exposed, which led to even more torture and deaths. Phocas turned out to be a drunken and cruel ruler who tortured and executed many of his closest associates, including his brother, his son, and his best general. Furthermore, Phocas initiated religious persecutions that inflamed the Byzantine population of the east against each other. Also, the Balkans were under attack from the Slavs and Avars. By 608 much of Asia was overrun and a forward part of the Sasanian army was across the straits within sight of Constantinople. Chosroes used the overthrow of his benefactor Maurice as excuse to invade. Maurice had helped the Sasanian King Khursru II (aka Chosroes II) gain his throne. The "Є" is "5" in Greek and is the number of the officina (workshop of the mint). This coin is ANNO (year) XIII (13) which is 539/540. He increased the size, changed the busts which had been profile busts to facing busts, and added the regnal-year date. Justinian reformed the copper coinage in his year 12, 538/9. We can understand why a historian would praise a ruler in power, but we don't know why Procopius decided to rewrite the same story in the most extreme negative light. He was the subject of a favorable biography by his contemporary Procopius and later subject to the most damning biography possible ("Secret History") by the same author! Those two books prove that history is not fixed, but can be "spun" by authors. The plague raged in the empire several times during his reign, which also experienced earthquakes and a war with the Sasanians. He survived the "Nika Revolt" with the help of his beautiful wife Theodora. He reconquered North Africa, Sicily, and Italy from the Vandals and Goths. He built the magnificent Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Justinian is one of the most interesting rulers of all time. He was frugal and died peacefully leaving the treasury with 320,000 pounds of gold-enough to finance most of the grandiose plans of the second-next emperor, Justinian. The widow of his predecessor Zeno selected Anastasius to be the next emperor. Skip down to 582, Maurice, or 610, Heraclius, or 717, Leo III (beginning the iconoclastic period) or 813, Leo V, or 829, Theophilus, or 867, Basil I, or 886, Leo VI, or 969, John I, or 1081, Alexius I.Īnastasius (491-518). There is a page about recommended reference works. There is a page " Byzantine-coin legends. is " Late Byzantine AE, 1059-1204" (Constantine X to the fall of Constantinople to the crusaders.) This page has links to maps of the empire every 100 years. The current page is page 3 which covers emperors from 491- c. is " Byzantine-Coin Letters, Numerals, Denominations, and Dates." Other pages: outlines the coinage and discuss dates and mints. 18: Constantine V alone on a small M piece, Sear 1555. What's new on this page? 2023, June 27: More on Basil I, including a type with Basil alone.Ģ023, June 17: Michael III, The Drunkard, alone.Ģ023, March 15: Revolt of the Heraclii (608-610).Ģ023, Feb. Very large coins have their relative image sizes reduced, and very small coins have their relative image sizes increased. Note: Larger coins have larger images, but not in proportion. I highly recommend the history books by Norwich which tell the stories of the emperors. This page is page 3 of this site and shows some typical copper coins in chronological order. Byzantine Emperors on Coins, AD 491-c.1118.
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