The Macedonian Dynasty of Byzantium

The song 'On the Rose-Bush' - Apano stin triantafylia (ΑΠΑΝΩ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΡΙΑΝΤΑΦΥΛΛΙΑ), is taken from The Guardians of Hellenism, VOL 7, Macedonia and Thassos. The song originates in Polygiros, Chalkidiki.


The Macedonian Dynasty of Byzantium (800-1100 AD) saw the tide turning, bringing victories when the Empire was receding and losing against invaders. No other time since Justinian were the borders pushed out again, and not since that time has Christian art flourished in Byzantium than in the Macedonian period. Churches, Mosaics and Icons of that period are some of the most beautiful.

Although engaged in warfare against Muslims, the Macedonian dynasty also fought against the Slavic invaders like Simeon the Great and Samuil, both Bulgarian emperors who invaded Macedonia. Despite the aggression, the Slavs became Christians and were inspired by Byzantine culture to form great Christian Empires of their own.

Byzantium was a Christian Empire itself from its inception, and its culture was overwhelmingly Greek, though it was a multi-ethnic society.

The Emperors were Greeks of Macedonia, and many also traced their origins to Cappadocia and Armenia:

Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811 - 886, ruled 867 - 886) - married the Varangian Eudokia Ingerina, mistress of Michael III; died in hunting accident (Origin: Armenian, born in Thema Makedonikon)
Leo VI the Wise (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) (866 - 912, ruled 886 - 912) -- likely son of Basil I and Eudokia Ingerina, possibly the natural son of Michael III;
Alexander (Αλέξανδρος του Βυζαντίου) (870 - 913, ruled 912 - 913) -- son of Basil I, regent for nephew
Constantine VII the Purple-born (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (905-959, ruled 913 - 959) -- son of Leo VI
Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός) (870 - 948, ruled 919 - 944) -- father-in-law of Constantine VII; coemperor, deposed by his sons and entered monastery (Origin: Armenian)
Romanos II the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (939 - 963, ruled 959 - 963) -- son of Constantine VII
Nikephoros II Phocas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς ή Νικηφόρος Β' ο Φωκάς) (912 - 969, ruled 963 - 969) -- Strategos; married Romanus II's widow, regent for Basil; assassinated (Origin: Cappadocian)
John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (925 - 976, ruled 969 - 976) -- brother-in-law of Romanus II, lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil (Origin: Armenian)
Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος) (958 - 1025, ruled 976 - 1025) -- son of Romanus II (Origin: Armenian)
Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντίνος Η')(960-1028, ruled 1025 - 1028) -- son of Romanus II; silent co-emperor with Basil II
Zoe I (Ζωή Α') ((c. 978 - 1050, ruled 1028 - 1050) -- daughter of Constantine VIII
Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Αργυρός) (968 - 1034, ruled 1028 - 1034) -- eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered
Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) (1010 - 1041, ruled 1034 - 1041) -- Zoe's second husband
Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) (1015 - 1042, ruled 1041 - 1042) -- Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (980 - 1056, ruled 1042) -- daughter of Constantine VIII, coempress with Zoe
Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) (1000 - 1055, ruled 1042 - 1055) -- Zoe's third husband
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (ruled 1055 - 1056) -- restored
***

The paintings are mostly from Raphael.

LYRICS OF THE SONG:

On the rose - my black eyes,
On the rose-bush partridges build their nest,
Partridges build - my black eyes -
Partridges build a nest, the birds go in and out.
The birds go in and out and the rose-bush shakes,
And the roses fall in the bride's lap,
And I humbly gathered them and sent them to my love,
With kisses as many as the grapes on the vine.

Singer: Domna Mega

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[martinlisitsata]

@Yanitsaros You know how Byzantium "heavily influenced" other nations

[Yanitsaros]

@martinlisitsata, the Byzantines sent learned missionaries to the slavic countries, and invited their tsars to come to Constantinople. The Byzantines could hardly afford to spread their civilzation with war, being in endless wars against everyone at the time, Arabs, Persians, Turks, Slavs, Avars, Bulgars, Huns, Crusaders etc. There were two waves of reconquests, Justinian, and the Macedonian dynasty, other than that, wars were defensive

[martinlisitsata]

@Yanitsaros Bulgaria did not invade anything at the time of Samuel and just tried to survive if Byzantium was "equally ruthless" with the barbarians (which offends me at that time the Bulgarians have their civilization) then Byzantium is not а civilization

[Yanitsaros]

@martinlisitsata, Bulgarian invasions of Byzantine lands certainly took place, starting from Simeon I. This was preceded by Slavic invasions as far as southern Greece, but before Bulgaria, slavs were not a unified nation, and were not a kingdom. Bulgaria was the first Slavic kingdom, and yes, they had wars with other Christian kingdoms, including other slavs. Bulgaria had a great Christian civilization, but remember that Bulgarians were heavily influenced by Byzantine civilization.

[martinlisitsata]

talk about civilization which ordered 14,000 soldiers to be blinded and barbarians who have made the language of Eastern Europe

[Yanitsaros]

@martinlisitsata, war is an area that sits on the border of civilization. Though we may make lofty rules on how to behave noble, the savagery that occurs in the mindset of men at war is enough to cast dark clouds over our souls. However, Basil II did what was necessary in the face of equally ruthless invaders, who would stop at nothing to massacre his people.

The 'language(s) of Eastern Europe would be no different from Turkish if Byzantines did not introduce religion and literacy to slavs.

[kkasapa]

@papagamias

About Samuil of Bulgaria it wasn't that distant - his mother was pure Armenian. Wife of komitupul Nikola (Bulgarian High Noble for whom it is presumed that has Jewish blood ) So the King of Bulgarians Samuel doesn't have too much Bulgarian blood but nevertheless he spoke bulgarian and there is no doubt about him being Bulgarian Emperor.

[Metalhead1908]

@666Beefman ναι ρε φιλε Ελληνας :), αλλα δεν καταστρεψαν κανενα ελληνισμο :Ρ οι ιδιοι αρχαιοι ειμαστε κανεις δεν καταφερε να μας καταστραψει..... οσο για το ρομιοι που λες ειναι ναι κατι το οποιο το βγαλαν εκεινοι για να ενωθουν κατα καποιο τροπο με εμας.. και οπως εγινε... δεν σημαινει πως δεν ηταν Ελληνες ομως :Ρ απλα ηταν μιξαρισμενοι..... και μετα εγιναν και επισημα Ελληνες..... εκει βρησκουν αφορμες οι τουρκοι και σια και λενε τις πιπες τους.... αλλα η αληθεια ειναι μια ΕΛΛΑΔΑ!

[666Beefman]

@Metalhead1908 imean yeah they were alot of greeks but byzantine destroyed hellenism and back then they were called themselfs as Romioi (Christian greek ) tora malaka ti sou milo egglezika ellinas dn eise :P

[Metalhead1908]

@666Beefman i know that mate.... but the real truth is not that byzantine was anti-hellenic..... it was 50-50 ...... half was anti-hellenic but the rest werent...... the meaning is that we are GREEKS :) but in anyway... i am ΔΩΡΙΕΙΣ so i don't care :P i am GREEK! :) sparta-thessaloniki-kos-rhodes­-seashore from asia-syracuse-rimini (italy) same blood people....... ΔΩΡΙΕΙΣ!

[666Beefman]

@Metalhead1908 the byzantinte empire was roman but the town byzandium pontos and the asia minor (smyrna ) was populated by mostly greeks-christians and it was based on greek culture but byzantine empire was anti-Hellenistic

[martinlisitsata]

@Metalhead1908 I did not understand anything of what you said

[Metalhead1908]

@martinlisitsata hahahaha you said one more big bullshit what?????? byzantium was not a civilization???? hahahahahahahahaa byzantium is GREECE!!!!!!!!

[Metalhead1908]

@Yanitsaros wait a minute... dont say bullshit..... turks were not existed in time of byzantium..... bulgars ? what are these???? slav were but not like slavs...... thats good to know... so plz next time say it correct , turks? omg how did that came out of ur mind? lol those stupid hunen beings from that time? lol haha

[zipcode61]

Για δες !