The Sultan of Byzantium Read Online Free Page B
Author: Selcuk Altun
spoke very fluent Turkish. I was almost getting used to their determination not to fail to show absolute respect toward me.
‘Before we broach the main subject, sir, I’d like to ask a question, if I may. In two sentences, how would you define Byzantium?’ said Askaris.
‘Once upon a time Byzantium was synonymous with intrigue, but this image has gradually changed. For me Byzantium mingled East and West and became the most prominent civilization of its own time, and then it triggered the Renaissance.’
‘What a wonderful summary! It might be added that no other empire ever stayed alive and active for over eleven hundred years. In Byzantium sovereignty did not always pass from father to the eldest son. In order to allow the most deserving person to ascend the throne, there was a flexible selection process, and because of that there were occasional periods of bloody conflict. But didn’t Rome and Hellenistic Greece have similar problems? Since in those ages communications were not as advanced as in Byzantium, their recorded history is incomplete.
‘The greatness of Byzantium begins with her will to continue the legacy of Greece and Rome, to which she was the natural heir. As you said, that heritage was enriched by a touch of the East.
‘Byzantium laid the foundations of modernism. She initiated state social institutions. She disciplined the military, educational, financial, legal and technological sectors. She made sports and entertainment an integral part of life. To raise the quality of life she formed organizations for the improvement of health care, city planning, the crafts, fashion, jewellery-making, and social manners. As a role model she influenced her neighbors in science, culture, and the arts. You also noted that the Byzantine scholars who fanned out into Europe after the fall of Constantinople paved the way for the Renaissance.
‘During the Middle Ages the East was generally superior to the West, military-wise. The Byzantines saved the future of Europe by blocking the path of the Eastern armies to the unprepared continent. In short, Byzantium was the most significant civilization in history, and if humans ever offer prayers of gratitude for the gifts they’ve received, the name of Byzantium ought to come after God and before Jesus.’
I was not impressed that Askaris turned out to be a cheerleader for Byzantium. I slowed him down by asking for another glass of wine, then got set to listen to the second part of his spiel, which was intended to connect his monologue to the agenda. I was curious about his proposal, but I knew I was not going to say yes. Maybe this explained my calm demeanor, which appeared to surprise the team. What I was actually curious about was how these three boring Greeks had learned to speak Turkish so fluently.
Askaris and the two behind him took their seats again, and the horse-faced Askaris continued in an even higher pitch.
‘For eleven centuries eleven dynasties ruled Byzantium. During the last, the Palaeologus dynasty, eleven emperors held the throne for a total of 192 years. The Palaeologi ruled the Empire for the longest stretch and during her most trying times. It was founded by Michael, who came from a noble family. In fact his last name, meaning ‘old word’, is a sign of deep roots. The Palaeologus dynasty’s performance during their rule has to be considered a success, given the conditions of the times. The last emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologus, was forty-five when he ascended the throne in 1449. He was a model leader. Both the army and the people claimed him as their own. When he rejected Sultan Mehmet II’s terms of surrender, the Ottoman army of 80,000 men began the siege of Constantinople on April 2, 1453. The Byzantine army had about 7,000 soldiers, whose task was to defend a city whose population had been reduced to 60,000. The emperor put his trust in the city’s walls – which invaders had failed to breach for 800 years – and the support of
‘Before we broach the main subject, sir, I’d like to ask a question, if I may. In two sentences, how would you define Byzantium?’ said Askaris.
‘Once upon a time Byzantium was synonymous with intrigue, but this image has gradually changed. For me Byzantium mingled East and West and became the most prominent civilization of its own time, and then it triggered the Renaissance.’
‘What a wonderful summary! It might be added that no other empire ever stayed alive and active for over eleven hundred years. In Byzantium sovereignty did not always pass from father to the eldest son. In order to allow the most deserving person to ascend the throne, there was a flexible selection process, and because of that there were occasional periods of bloody conflict. But didn’t Rome and Hellenistic Greece have similar problems? Since in those ages communications were not as advanced as in Byzantium, their recorded history is incomplete.
‘The greatness of Byzantium begins with her will to continue the legacy of Greece and Rome, to which she was the natural heir. As you said, that heritage was enriched by a touch of the East.
‘Byzantium laid the foundations of modernism. She initiated state social institutions. She disciplined the military, educational, financial, legal and technological sectors. She made sports and entertainment an integral part of life. To raise the quality of life she formed organizations for the improvement of health care, city planning, the crafts, fashion, jewellery-making, and social manners. As a role model she influenced her neighbors in science, culture, and the arts. You also noted that the Byzantine scholars who fanned out into Europe after the fall of Constantinople paved the way for the Renaissance.
‘During the Middle Ages the East was generally superior to the West, military-wise. The Byzantines saved the future of Europe by blocking the path of the Eastern armies to the unprepared continent. In short, Byzantium was the most significant civilization in history, and if humans ever offer prayers of gratitude for the gifts they’ve received, the name of Byzantium ought to come after God and before Jesus.’
I was not impressed that Askaris turned out to be a cheerleader for Byzantium. I slowed him down by asking for another glass of wine, then got set to listen to the second part of his spiel, which was intended to connect his monologue to the agenda. I was curious about his proposal, but I knew I was not going to say yes. Maybe this explained my calm demeanor, which appeared to surprise the team. What I was actually curious about was how these three boring Greeks had learned to speak Turkish so fluently.
Askaris and the two behind him took their seats again, and the horse-faced Askaris continued in an even higher pitch.
‘For eleven centuries eleven dynasties ruled Byzantium. During the last, the Palaeologus dynasty, eleven emperors held the throne for a total of 192 years. The Palaeologi ruled the Empire for the longest stretch and during her most trying times. It was founded by Michael, who came from a noble family. In fact his last name, meaning ‘old word’, is a sign of deep roots. The Palaeologus dynasty’s performance during their rule has to be considered a success, given the conditions of the times. The last emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologus, was forty-five when he ascended the throne in 1449. He was a model leader. Both the army and the people claimed him as their own. When he rejected Sultan Mehmet II’s terms of surrender, the Ottoman army of 80,000 men began the siege of Constantinople on April 2, 1453. The Byzantine army had about 7,000 soldiers, whose task was to defend a city whose population had been reduced to 60,000. The emperor put his trust in the city’s walls – which invaders had failed to breach for 800 years – and the support of
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