Exam 2 IDs Flashcards
Amorians and Basil II (*** indicates a source)
Michael III
Born in 840 (parents Theodora and Theophilus), assumed the throne at age 2 so was influenced by mom for a while; alcohol issues into adulthood; then influenced by Bardas
- Victories in Kiev, over Muslims (Patronus)
- Oversaw conversion of the Bulgarians (Cyril, Methodius, alphabet) – continuing Theodora’s aggressive plans
- Conflict with the patriarch Ignatius; Photius, Photian schisim
- Life ends when he is killed by Basil (affair) because his alcohol issues worsen which worries Basil (they reigned together for 16 months)
LEGACY: Byzantines with influence over Bulgarians, Kievs, These efforts expand the Christian world but this actually increases the threat of the Bulgarians, rather than decreasing it; increased unity
Bardas
Brother of Theodora who backed her reign
- Tried to overthrow her with Theoctistus; ends with heavy influence over Michael III’s reign
- Victories in Kiev, over Muslims (Patronus)
- Oversaw conversion of the Bulgarians (Cyril, Methodius, alphabet) – continuing Theodora’s aggressive plans
- Conflict with the patriarch Ignatius; Photius, Photian schisim – Bardas in particular had a specific conflict with the Patriarch due to his love life
- End: Was suspicious of Basil’s influence over Michael but didn’t do much about it, Basil then kills Bardas in front of Michael (unsure about Michael’s knowledge of this plan)
Cyril and Methodius
Two brothers whose story overlaps with Photius as patriarch – amidst conflict about the conversion of Bulgarians
- Create the Cyrillic alphabet (a mix of Greek, Hebrew) before the bishops are sent to Moravia – also known as the slavonic alphabet
- Reached conflict over Old Church Slavonic because the German clergy was upset at the lack of Latin; went to Pope Hadrian to deal with this too who approves the new langauge
LEGACY: Beginning of the use of Christianity to bring others into your orbit; expanding religious influence with language changes; unity around one major language
Empress Theodora (Amorian Dynasty)
Mother of Michael III, wife of Theophilus; known as the restorer of Orthodoxy
- Quickly worked to dismantle iconoclasm
— Got rid of John the Grammarian and brought Methodius (a patriarch that supported the end of iconoclasm)
— Converted Theoctistus to an iconodule
Photius Defines the Powers of the Patriarch *** pg. 137, 99b
Found in the Epanagogue (law under Basil II); written by Photius
- Patriarchs are to be like teachers – justice and equality
- Reproval of unbelievers of the church
- Only the patriarch should interpret old decrees of the holy synods
- Emperor and patriarch are most important in the empire; peace in the empire requires peace from all priests
- Patriarch of Constantinople above others
Relates to the Photian schism and complications with Rome; idea that the emperor stands at the top and the patriarch of Constantinople is second
Affirmation of Papal Supremacy over the Eastern Church *** pg. 203, 147
A letter from Pope Nicholas I to Emperor Michael III (865/66) that stresses the dividing difference – papal primacy and jurisdiction over the rest of the church
- In context of the Photian schism (cries of illegitimacy of Photius vs Ignatius, complications with conversion of other people)
- Rights/priveleges of the Pope cannot be “infringed upon” or “altered” are God given and therefore cannot be taken away
- Claims that he should help Ignatius retain his seat; calls Photius a usurper
Photius Charges Rome with Doctrinal Deviation *** pg. 205, 148
Written by Photius sent to three other Eastern patriarchs amid conflict over the filioque clause (holy spirit proceeds from father vs father and son) that Photius thought was a doctrinal error in Rome
- Likely affected by Rome’s refusal to recognize Photius as the legitimate patriarch!!
- Photius explicitly questions Rome’s decisions – calls this “blasphemy”
- States that they cannot close their eyes to this doctrinal deviation because it contradicts the holy fathers
Foreign Policy of Basil II
A multitude of successes
- Arab Muslims/Asia Minor (Following Bardas wars, Arab Muslims lost a lot of land) Emperor personally on the ground defending Antioch; Basil gets Georgia with treaty that he would give Basil the land and other lands follow suit -> the end of the Armenian dynasty
- Bulgarians (Moved to resurrect themselves in the 11th century w/ Samuel, Basil moves offensive to get land back in Battle of Skulklia, Basil had power over the entire empire and divided it into two themes, abolished the Bulgarian patriarch (while leaving the church nearly autonomous))
- Kievan Rus/Russia (Previously Basil II had cut a deal with Vladimir during the Bardas Wars ; Kievan Rus convert to Christianity and Vladimir marries Basil’s sister Anna which Brings Byzantium to Russia (ideology, culture, etc) FILL THIS IN MORE W RECORDING but something about education and literacy)
- Italy (After the death of Otto III, there is no one in power in Italy, trade with Venice, Normans/Venetians in conflict with Byzantines that leaves Byzantium successful)
LEGACY: Basil II known as one of the best emperors ever due to his offensive successes
Basil had power over the entire empire and divided it into two themes, abolished the Bulgarian patriarch (while leaving the church nearly autonomous)
Domestic Policy of Basil II
- Bardas Wars
- Strictly enforces his 996 decree (hates the dynatoi — Required stolen land to be given back (since 922). It goes back to the original owner (or the government if the original owner cannot be traced)
Land before 922: Can be kept if they have legal documentation that they legally acquired the land OR they can provide a living witness that could indicate legal acquisition of the land (but most people before 922 died); Made dynatoi responsible for the land that peasant villagers defaulted on (the dynatoi who lived closest to the abandoned land); Enforced by the death penalty) - Launches major transformations of the administration — Wealthy are cleaned out, paid loyal bureaucrats are in)
Basil the Bird
Illegitimate uncle of Basil II; Relevant in the Bardas Wars (Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phocas)
- Basil II is aided in the wars by his uncle Basil the Bird (Paracomenonos) who was very loyal
- Let Bardas Phocas out of jail under the promise that he would help them defeat Bardas Skleros
- Exiled by Basil II because he feared his power too much
The Bardas Wars
- At first Basil was fighting against Skleros and Phocas is sent to jail for treason, eventually he is let out
- Then, Phocas and Skleros join forces against Basil in 987 until Phocas betrays Skleros and uses Skleros army to fight Basil; Basil joins forces with Vladimir of Kiev and defeats Phocas at the Battle of Abydos
LEGACY: Basil II hates the dynatoi as a result; he never truly forgets about what Phocas and Skleros did
Allelengyon
A household tax that was the shared responsibility of everyone in a neighborhood (the chorion); it was good for the imperial funds; the shared responsiblity was helpful when a few people left, but when a bunch of people left everyone had to pick that up and it did not help them
- Basil II makes the picking up of the lack of taxes the responsibility of the dynatoi (land policy, hatred for the dynatoi)
Vladimir’s Road to Conversion *** pg. 352, 263
Written by Vladimir, grandson of Olga, who converted to Christianity and then converted the rest of the Kievan Rus state; Outlines why he selected Orthodox Christianity over German Catholics/Islam for Bulgarians
- Vladimir says that he has to inquire about his options before he can decide on one for his people (in order to make it certain that they will praise their own possessions)
- States that he had people study Islam, Catholicism, and Greek religious practices; Saw Islams unhappy, felt no glory within catholics (which was crucial), and Greek was evil due to the beauty that would be followed by bitterness so its unacceptable (i think i’m getting that right?)
- Assertion that the decision (Christianity) rested in Vladimir even though Olga adopted Greek faith
Basil II Protects Peasant Properties (996) *** pg. 245, 174
Written by Basil himself in 996 Decree in response to previous stealing of land from peasants by the dynatoi
- Strictly enforced pre-existing land rules under Romanus the Elder; Land seized by the dynatoi since 922 had to be returned to the original owner (or government if the owner cannot be traced); land seized before 922 required valid legal documentation that the land was acquired fairly
- States that the dynatoi have acted at expense of the poor, which can no longer take place; sentiment of watching out for the poor/common folk
- Argues the current system does not allow for opportunity of legal action by the poor in response to the dynatoi
- States that this law must work retroactively in order to ensure its success in the future
- Also kicked dynatoi out of imperial government, only loyal, paid bureaucrats
- Strict enforcement that the dynatoi could not buy
from peasants, but only other members of the dynatoi
One of the most pro-peasant and anti-dynatoi documents that exist; continuation of Basil II’s hate for the dynatoi throughout his life
- Required a vigorous check on acquisition of peasant lands that didn’t really last after Basil’s death
- Death penalty used to ensure these rules were followed
Imperial Concessions to Venetian Merchants (992) *** pg. 284, 207
Increased trade between West and East, specifically with Italy; Byzantines allowed commerce between some nations in exchange for military help
- Basil II gives Venice some commercial privileges in exchange for ships to transport their soldiers to Southern Italy (to fend off Arab attacks)
- Set maximum two gold coins per ship paid to the imperial authority by ships entering Byzantium, and 15 gold coins to exit for 17 total payment (originally 30)
—-ONLY VENETIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE, no others, otherwise they lose these privileges
- Requires all members to imperial servitude and provide ships at the emperor’s request
- Venetian ships couldn’t be judged/investigated/disturbed by the public, only by imperial authority
