MEDIEVAL - Helm History

Constantine Porphyrogenitus and the early Serbian presence in the Balkans

In his work De administrando imperio, Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus describes the Serbs. According to his statements, Serbs are descended from the so-called White Serbs, settled on the other side of Turkey (Hungary). Serbs call that country Bojki/Boiki. According to some historians, it is Bohemia, the Czech Republic, but these claims are not reliable. But how […]

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EMPEROR CONSTANTINE AND THE CROATS: A BYZANTINE PERSPECTIVE

MEDIEVAL

Constantine Porphyrogenitus (913-959) , the Byzantine emperor, in his work De Administrando Imperio gives instructions to his successors about how and in what way they should deal with their subjects and the peoples that surround them. Among other things, the emperor gives a description of the province of Dalmatia and its inhabitants. The most numerous

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Liutprand of Cremona’s Byzantine Diplomacy

MEDIEVAL

Liutprand of Cremona was a Lombard diplomat born in the early 10th century into a noble Lombard family. As a young man, he distinguished himself at the court of the ruler Hugo of Arles (926-945) with his knowledge and diction. He received his education at the court in Pavia, and later became a deacon of

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Byzantium to the world: The Influence of Byzantine Education

MEDIEVAL

Byzantium, also known as The Byzantine Empire was the heir of ancient Greece in terms of education and culture. The only significant difference was religion, which partially changed and influenced education. The first level of education started at the age of 6-7. Children learned to write and read, to count and to sing. The basic

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The Goths: Exploring The Gothic Footprints in The Balkans

MEDIEVAL

The Goths, a Germanic people known for their major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire, played a significant role in the history of the Balkans. When talking about their early history we use Roman sources such as Jordanes. Jordanes work called Getica ( De origine actibusque Getarum) is a crucial source that

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Constantinople: Building the New Rome On The Bosphorus

MEDIEVAL

At the beginning of the 4th century, Roman Empire found itself in a very critical situation. The empire had four emperors in the year 311. This system showed its weakness very quickly and the empire was suddenly in the middle of the civil war. Constantine, who would later be known as Constantine the Great, emerged

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Blood Revenge in the Balkans: A Historical and Cultural Perspective

MEDIEVAL

The custom of blood revenge was popular in many cultures, but the Balkan cult of revenge stands out. Even during the Middle Ages, in the Balkans, people knew this custom as “vražda”. King Milutin settled these feuds with monetary payment. In King Tvrtko I’s documents, the expression ‘to draw blood’ appears as compensation for murder.

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Slavs In Anatolia: Historical Migrations And Byzantine Wars

MEDIEVAL

The reign of Constans II (641-668) faced early obstacles, with the most significant pressure coming from Arabs in the east. Things changed when chaos took over the Arab world, and the civil war between Mu’awiya I and Ali broke out. Mu’awiya became caliph in Syria, while Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, held power in

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Death and Rituals among Aromanians

MEDIEVAL

In the traditional Vlach/Aromanian communities of Timočka Krajina, the passing of a loved one is marked by a series of rituals and customs. This article explores the poignant moments surrounding death and rituals that define this cultural experience. Death and Rituals When someone passes away in a Vlach/Aromanian household, a poignant ritual unfolds. The oldest

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LANGUAGES OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

MEDIEVAL

The Byzantine Empire’s language dynamics reflect diverse social phenomena. Byzantium witnessed a diverse population, significant movements, and fluctuations in numbers. The absorption of foreign populations into the Empire, compared to its assimilation power, was notable. In the early Byzantine era, Greek prevailed in the eastern part. From the 2nd century BC, Latin influences varied, dominating

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