Meanwhile, in Byzantium...

Think Rome fell in 476? Think again.
Real history from the East— betrayals, intrigues, and epic comebacks.

Emperors speak. Dispatches from the Throne...

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Diocletian (284 AD)

I had a plan: 4 emperors, 1 empire. Then I retired to grow cabbages.
Next? Civil wars, visions in the sky, and a city named after a guy that lasts 1,000 years.
This wasn’t the plan.
Welcome to Byzantium.
Good luck keeping your eyes.
#RomanEmperors #Byzantium

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Maurice ☑️ @General_Maurice • Mar 588 AD

Patriarch John just declared himself "Ecumenical Patriarch"—basically claiming he runs the entire Christian world.

Pope Pelagius is losing his mind!

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Maurice ☑️ @General_Maurice • Aug 584 AD

A historic day in Constantinople: Constantina and I have elevated our son, Theodosius, to co-emperor.

It has been over 100 years since a purple-born child was raised to Augustus!

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Maurice ☑️ @General_Maurice • Spring 584 AD

Refusing the Avar tribute was a mistake!

The fortresses of Singidunum and Viminacium have fallen, and the threat to Constantinople became immediate.

I’ve signed the treaty and authorized the 100,000 solidi tribute payment.

The Danube frontier is broken, and we are paying heavily to secure a brief peace.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

@byzyeileen @365RomanDays @CaesarJohn John Doukas ☑️ @CaesarJohn • Aug 1072

He always was a quick learner... Palace politics came naturally to him 😉!

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

@byzyeileen @365RomanDays John Doukas ☑️ @CaesarJohn • Aug 1072

In my defense, the job description does say "must reside in Constantinople." I assumed spending the summer as Sultan Alp Arslan's guest was a voluntary resignation. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Maurice ☑️ @General_Maurice • Oct 583 AD

The Khagan of the Avars just raised his protection money demand to 100,000 gold coins a year

Absolutely NOT! I'm not giving into extortion... Plus we're broke!

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Emperor Maurice ☑️ @General_Maurice • Jan 583 AD

The citizens hate me because I stopped the public handouts.
The army hates me because I cut military pay.
The Avars hate me because I stopped paying bribes.

At least we’re all on the same page 😩.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

New account.
Maurice (582 AD)

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Emperor Tiberius II Constantine is DEAD.
(Reigned 578-582 AD)

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • Aug 582 AD

Note to self: never eat mulberries provided by palace staff. 🫐🤢

My time is up. Today I betrothed my daughter Constantina to Maurice and handed him the imperial purple.

To my new Emperor: rule with justice, don't hoard gold like Justin did, and good luck with the Avars.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • Jun 582 AD

General Maurice just smashed the Sasanian army at Constantina and is marching back to the capital a hero.

Best money I ever spent. Constantinople is going to give him the triumph of the century.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • 580 AD

​The Danube frontier has officially collapsed.

​While we focus on Persia, the Avars are besieging Sirmium and Slavic tribes are settling Macedonia and Thrace. My only weapon left in Europe is the imperial checkbook to delay the inevitable.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • May 579 AD

End of an era: Khosrow I of Persia has died after terrorizing us for nearly 50 years.

His heir, Hormizd IV, just executed his brothers to "secure succession." Now he's demanding we keep paying tribute?

Not happening. Peace talks are canceled—doubling General Maurice’s war budget today.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

@Human_After_A11 Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • 579 AD

Appreciate it! The PR team said adding "Constantine" makes me look 40% more legitimate to the old-money Roman elite. Money well spent.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • Oct 578 AD

​Justin II has passed, and I am now sole Augustus. Here are my first official acts in office:

•​Four years of tax relief for every citizen. 🪙
•​Double-pay bonuses for the army fighting Persia. ⚔️
•​Crowning my wife Ino as Empress Anastasia right here in the Great Palace. 👑

My deepest thanks to Empress Sophia for her tireless service; her work is done, and her peaceful retirement begins today.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Tiberius II Constantine ☑️ @Emp_Tiberius_Constantine • Spring 579 AD

Imagine plotting a coup against the guy who just gave the entire city a four-year tax break.

Sophia couldn't stomach seeing Empress Anastasia in the imperial quarters, so she conspired with General Justinian to stage a coup and have me removed.

We caught it before it started. I've spared Justinian’s life—he's too good a general to waste over palace politics—but Sophia’s privileges are officially revoked.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

New account.
Tiberius II Constantine (578 AD)

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Emperor Justin II is DEAD.
(Reigned 565-578 AD)

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Justin II ☑️ @therealcousinjustin • Sept 578 AD

I managed to take back my account while the doctors argue over who gets to hold the scalpel.

My time is up, but I’ve done one last thing right: I’ve officially elevated Tiberius to full Augustus.

May the Almighty grant him more wisdom than he gave me.

[Meanwhile, in Byzantium... @SacredBasileus]

Justin II ☑️ @therealcousinjustin • Nov 577 AD — [THIS ACCOUNT IS NOW MANAGED BY EMPRESS SOPHIA & THE IMPERIAL REGENCY]

I sat Tiberius down and made it simple: divorce your wife Ino and marry me to legitimize your rule.

His response? He smiled, dodged the question, and secretly smuggled her into the city anyway. The audacity!