Byzantine Navy: Greek Fire, Tactics, Ships - Medieval History

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The Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the evolution of the Roman Army continues with the fifth episode of the series on the Army of the Eastern Roman Empire, in which we talked about how the Byzantine Navy worked.
Armies and Tactics: • Armies and Tactics
Late Roman Army: • Military Reforms of Di...
Roman Imperial Cavalry: • Roman Imperial Cavalry...
Roman Army during the Crisis of the Third Century: • Roman Army during the ...
Creation of the Medieval Roman Army: • Creation of the Mediev...
Strategikon - Army Manual of the Byzantine Army: • Strategikon - Army Man...
Elite and Levy Units of the Eastern Roman Army: • Elite and Levy Units o...
How the Eastern Roman Army Declined: • How the Eastern Roman ...
Justinian's Restoration: • Battle of Dara 530 Rom...
Support us on Patreon: / kingsandgenerals or Paypal: paypal.me/kingsandgenerals or by joining the youtube membership: / @kingsandgenerals We are grateful to our patrons and sponsors, who made this video possible: docs.google.com/document/d/1o...
The video was made by Arb Paninken bit.ly/2Ow3oC8, while the script was developed by Dimitris Koutsoumis. This video was narrated by Officially Devin ( / @offydgg & / @gameworldnarratives )
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Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
00:00 intro
02:19 Early Years
04:03 Dromon
05:59 Greek Fire
09:44 Tactics
11:54 Organization
13:39 Later Years
#Documentary #ByzantineArmy #Romans

[@KingsandGenerals]

🎥 Join our KZbin members and patrons to unlock exclusive content! Our community is currently enjoying deep dives into the First Punic War, Pacific War, history of Prussia, Italian Unification Wars, Russo-Japanese War, Albigensian Crusade, and Xenophon’s Anabasis. Become a part of this exclusive circle: kzbin.info/door/MmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fwjoin or patron: www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals and Paypal paypal.me/kingsandgenerals as well!

[@killer5896u]

Not all of algeria under byzantine rule

[@atrides7]

What a beautifull video ! Thank you sir!❤

[@aokiaoki4238]

Byzantine types ships continue to be made and used as very effective fishing and merchant ships after the fall of Byzantium and developed to what is known as traditional Greek ships. For example the boat Karavoskaro (Καραβόσκαρο) is a development of Dromon. An other one is Perama Πέραμα etc

[@aokiaoki4238]

Greek fire was used against Ottomans in the siege of Constantinople in1422, also in 1430 in the siege of Thessaloniki and planned to be used in 20 April 1453 against Ottoman ships.

[@markhenzel4637]

Can you do a video on Fall of Malacca in 1511 by Portugal. Also another war story of Tun Perak of Malacca fought Siamese, please?

[@mikemodugno5879]

I love Byzantine/Eastern Roman history. Looking forward to more.

[@Neversa]

U up to retaking Constantinople?

[@theawesomeman9821]

me too

[@ErenKarakasli]

@@Neversa what're you yapping about

[@apollosdomain]

I really like your commitment on going back, trying to finish the old and probably one of the most popular series of the channel.

[@frankscavelli6031]

This is sick. Such an interesting topic I've often wondered about, and only Kings and Generals covers such things. So important with how their naval interactions with the Italian Republics influenced their fate, too.

[@marcbartuschka6372]

Invicta has if I remember right a not bad video about the flaming ships.

[@pseudomonas03]

Nikephoros Phokas's naval operation and landing on Crete against the Saracens, was the equivalent of the medieval Normandy operation. We are talking about a huge operation for the navy standards of the time, which give us an idea, about the capabilities of the Byzantine navy. Then after Michael VIII, Andronikos II Palaiologos, a disastrous emperor, was the tombstone of the Byzantine navy.

[@barbiquearea]

Although the recipe for Greek Fire was lost to the ages, the flamethrower design found its way to China. The Pen Huo Qi (literally means "fire spraying device") first saw action in the 10th century, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It's design was based on the blueprints of seventh century Byzantine siphons, with Chinese engineers improving on the design by adding an extra bellow. This upgrade allowed Chinese fire siphons to achieve a more continuous flame, therefore allowing them to fire a constant stream of fire using liquid naphtha like modern day flamethrowers rather than in short bursts as the Byzantine siphons were only capable of. Just like the Byzantines, the Chinese made use of these crude flamethrowers offensively by mounting them onto the prow of their warships, or bringing them to the battlefield on four wheeled pushcarts. However the Chinese tended to use them defensively, as they would often mount their flamethrowers on the walls of cities or forts where the garrison could fire down upon enemy soldiers assaulting the walls or to burn down incoming siege engines such as rams or siege towers.

[@eduardomonte4685]

Interesting, thank you for the share.

[@lowelymbang904]

history like this will make you think why would you hate China. They're thousand years older than USA. They had survived literally since ancient times. Great innovators and a fertile race in a fertile land they owned with rich culture. Survived a lot of crisis by keeping on rising on power even after major defeat (like the mongol conquest)

[@timtom2284]

​@@lowelymbang904today's china is but a shadow of its former glory

[@hannibalb8276]

Not really

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

@@lowelymbang904 There a caveats. You can love the people, but hate the government. Russia, China, and Iran have many fine respectable people who can be among your cherished friends. Their authoritarian governments and politics, however, are all rubbish.

[@abcdef27669]

"I fear no Pirate or Saracen boat, but that thing... It scares me". - An Eastern Roman Sailor pointing towards the Whale called Porphyrios.

[@flaviusbelisarius5506]

It would also have been interesting to document the Byzantine breakaway states (Trebizond especially); did they try and rebuild an Imperial fleet as well?

[@ISAF_Ace]

The Byzantine navy was the only branch of their empire which consistently did its job and upheld its Roman legacy.

[@paulmer87]

I’d argue the Varangian Guard was the unit the Praetorian Guard could only dream it could be. I agree, the Navy was super impressive

[@zxera9702]

​​@@paulmer87Yeahh no the Varangians were just really good mercenaries.

[@joshkidd5463]

yeah so better than the praetorian which was bloated and which disposed and killed more emperors than romes enemies, while the varangian done it twice i think @@zxera9702

[@sergioacevedo2254]

@@zxera9702 At least they actually did their jobs, unlike the praetorian "guard".

[@davidtierney3615]

All glorified bodyguards 🤦‍♂️😅

[@apollosdomain]

Hey, can you guys do a video on the Assyrian empires, rise and fall of it, it’s language, culture, religion and their eventual conversion to Christianity, and how the modern Assyrians are related to them.

[@mikemodugno5879]

I second this request. However, the sheer scope of all of these topics may require more than one video:)

[@AL_AFGHANI1]

Who cares they barely exist now

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@mikemodugno5879 I support this request too

[@Aethelhald]

@@AL_AFGHANI1 This is a history channel. We all care.

[@AL_AFGHANI1]

@@Aethelhaldnope I don’t

[@stephenbaluran3298]

Great video! The navy was the underappreciated branch of the Roman and Byzantine militaries. 15:15 looks like it has a minor editing mistake: you were talking about the siege in 1453, but the date stamp on the upper right corner says 1349. Just thought you'd want to know.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

Absolutely loved this one. Thank you for the (available) details on the Greek Fire.

[@LordWyatt]

Naval history fascinates me, especially the progression of the Roman Navy

[@tomaszbabula369]

Great video but why does the Hagia Sophia have minarets at 12:13?

[@thehermit8723]

Indeed historically ( and aestheticaly) inaccurate

[@KingRumar]

Thank you for the lesson, it’s always nice to hear more Eastern Roman stories

[@mango2005]

A video on the Empire of Trebizond would be good

[@mikemodugno5879]

Agreed

[@giorgijioshvili9713]

Video about Tamar the great would be great too

[@Kili2807]

@@giorgijioshvili9713there is one for channel members

[@philtkaswahl2124]

These flame equipped ships would also carry their own sand, vinegar, or other flame snuffing material even if their opponents had no incendiaries, because blowback or residual burning oil dribbling down onto one's own ship tended to happen frequently.

[@cirthador1453]

I loved this video, and I love the Byzantines! One small error, you said 698 for the first siege with Greek Fire, I believe you meant to say 678.

[@vitorpereira9515]

It would be interesting if Kings and Generals made a series about the Three Kingdoms era. I am team Cao Cao.

[@peasant4307]

They did.

[@lyonvensa]

I really want to know the reaction of those who witnessed the flamethrowers on the Byzantine ships for the first time. The fact that it spews fire that not even water can put out must be thought of something like it came from another world.

[@jozzieokes3422]

Thank you so much Kings and Generals!!!

[@beaglemusiclabs]

Good video! I was sort of hoping the half-Italian admiral Licario would get mention, interesting story there! Also cool were some of the large, horse-carrying ships such as those employed under the Komnenoi. But, enjoyed this!

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Great video keep it up you're doing amazing things 😁👍

[@ralambosontiavina7372]

Excellent work !

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for a terrific video!

[@aokiaoki4238]

Byzantine types ships continue to be made and used as very effective fishing and merchant ships after the fall of Byzantium and developed to what is known as traditional Greek ships. For example the boat Karavoskaro (Καραβόσκαρο) is a development of Dromon. An other one is Perama Πέραμα etc

[@vagpaithe3570]

love kingsandgenerals , big fan , i just wanted to mention that last naval win of byzantium was the battle of glarentza , i hope in your next video you mention the epriote attempt to sieze power in the peloponese

[@eugenebraxton2987]

As always, the best KZbin channel out, no contest

[@noone4700]

Fantastic video

[@tomriley5790]

At some point it would be interesting to see some stuff about the Vandals and goths - if anything exists to tell. They always seem to do surprisingly well against the Romans so there must have been alot more to their society than is suggested

[@Aethelhald]

They seemed to do so well against the empire because they had a knack for waiting until the empire was suffering from severe crises (like the crisis of the third century), then pouring over an undefended border and marauding at will with no legions to stop them. The exception to that would be the battle of Adrianople and the years immediately following, but even then the Roman defeat is due to the emperor ignoring some of the oldest rules in the book... like "don't have your men fight in scorching summer heat when they're already exhausted after a long march in the scorching summer heat" and "don't underestimate your opponent - if reinforcements are on the way, make camp and wait for them before beginning the battle." The Goths and Vandals of the fifth century did so well because the WRE was so broke that it barely even had an army anymore, and half the time, the army that it DID have, was led by a half-Goth or half-Vandal and three quarters of its soldiers were Goths and Vandals lol.

[@TheRezro]

Yes. Starting from fact that they WERE Romans. Vandals sacked Rome acting under orders of legal Emperor against usurper. Ostrogoths actually were Roman Auxiliary unit what take control over Rome after that. In fact Senate of Rome was operating under they rule, until Longobards. Idea that West Rome fall is a misconception. Francorum was actually a Roman province. It is just that East Rome didn't recognize them as Romans and as result Charlemagne used succession crisis in Byzantium and liberation of Rome by his father, as justification for taking the title of Emperor of Rome.

[@davidhughes8357]

Another great example of interesting and detailed presentation of warfare. K&G is truly the KING!!

[@forswornbriarheart]

My favorite KZbin channel!

[@agenthunk5070]

great series!!!😀

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video

[@mr.fishmanman]

The Fire is from The Mouth of Belisarius Really Angry At Narses

[@dansmith4077]

For the algorithm amazing video thank you.

[@alfrancisbuada2591]

People rarely ever discuss the Roman Navy. Thank You for sharing it with us

[@vazak11]

Cool!

[@nugnug118]

i own a bronze Follis from Justinian 1, i was playing with it in my hand when he was mentioned. strange to think i own a piece of metal that was created when he was alive, watching about byzantine history on youtube whilst holding a piece of history in my hand.. we forget sometimes how lucky we are to have untapped knowledge so easily accessible.

[@user-yr4js5zq1k]

Thank you for your continuous interest of the Eastern Roman Empire. Looking forward for more!

[@Skyguy_steve]

I love your eastern Roman Empire videos/ Ottoman videos! I am headed to visit Istanbul for 2 weeks and soak in the history and culture of the region.

[@spear-slayer3159]

Empire of Trebizond please!

[@user-uf1uq4yn1q]

Thank you

[@damyanzagorski8996]

Thanks =)

[@silverbrand5295]

The idea of an angel descending down to us, handing us the recipe for a flamethrower, molotov cocktail and then head back to heaven is great

[@JetonHoxha99]

The introduction would be a perfect prologue for a historical novel based on this age.

[@nikostombris5505]

The modern Hellenic navy to honor its Byzantine tradition gave in 2004 the name to the F-466 S class ship of Nicephorus Phokas

[@eugenebraxton2987]

I've been here since couple hundred followers, 3.whatever million now. Yeah the best channel like I said

[@KingsandGenerals]

We appreciate your support so much! Thanks for being with us for so long! prnt.sc/edZpYyULHgRy

[@trajan74]

Justinian: "An angel whispered it to Constantine." Tsukulous: "I'm not saying it was aliens."

[@arbazkhalid5673]

Justine reforms are the reasons that the empire survived this long. he almost improved every department of the empire. that's why people know him as Justinian the Great.👑

[@dantetre]

15:19 Constantinople fall in 1453 and not in 1349.

[@someone5574]

Do the Umayyad navy next please!?

[@ramuz-ff3cf]

i've been obsessed with learning about fire ships for like a year now and how they let that technology disappear for so long. btw do you still watch vaush?

[@sidp5381]

So, when are you guys finally going to release the next Napoleon episode maybe Wagram or the invasion of Russia?

[@darthveatay]

One of the most powerful fighting forces in history

[@esnoob2282]

you got me hype in the new dlc of aoe4

[@jasondouglas6755]

What happened to the Pacific War series there has not been an episode for 3 weeks?

[@AbdurahmanAli-lr4ph]

What is the name of the music in 10:56

[@sirfanatical8763]

2:56 I did not just hear a machinegun in the back on a scene about the roman empire Or did I?

[@NAviationWario]

'Georgios, bring in the flammenwerfer.'

[@RosierJulio]

Parte 2 porfavot

[@sarantissporidis391]

Fun fact :Greek fire was called Liquid Fire in Greek - Υγρόν Πυρ.

[@las_espannas]

Battle of Mount Thabor 1799 next video please.

[@erikhesjedal3569]

Not at all mysterious why they got rid of the bow ram, of course it was the Varangian guards (Norse) who told them a thing or two about how important it is to have a maneuverable and light ship. You won't be crushed by the waves if you're on top of them

[@luciusvorenus264]

Create series of Constantine the Great

[@qwaz67]

Greek fire goes BRRRRRRRR

[@ryanjean-baptistethechampi1161]

The greatest empire even lived!! Nuff said!!!!🔥.⚡zues approve!!!!

[@murrayscott9546]

Made my night ! What parta Greek Fire don't you unnastan ?

[@neptune3569]

OH MY GOD LET'S GOOOOOOOO

[@Dantheman813]

GREEK FIRRREEE!!! 🔥🔥✳️✳️

[@Aethelhald]

More like "Phwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Followed by "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHLAHU AKBAR!"

[@nikosAssa]

It,s called " υγρό πυρ" meaning liquid fire.

[@Alex-mn1fb]

George RR Martins Wildfire 😁

[@janetriggins2408]

The Varangian Guard as well but that's it

[@xjankox]

Much respect for your work, as always it was and awesome video. One gripe thought, when you are depicting Constantinople, you are always showing an artist render of Hagia Sophia with 4 towers in the corners. I’m sure you guys know this, but those tall slim towers are actually minarets, which were added after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 15th century when it was converted into a mosque. This is of course very inaccurate and misleading as it’s trying to depict a Christian Byzantine (Roman) Empire capitol by showing a later Ottoman version of its most important church and visually stunning landmark building.

[@AL_AFGHANI1]

It is mosque and always will be now

[@charliebarkshire4320]

⁠​⁠@@AL_AFGHANI1not sure what your comment has anything to do with the original post… he literally just said that at the time the Hagia Sophia was without the four minarets and that it should be depicted as such when showcasing that time period

[@ilipap3695]

@@AL_AFGHANI1 maybe yes maybe no.The fact is that until 1500 there was minarets there

[@megakljan]

​@@AL_AFGHANI1what a reply. Aggressive muslim as always

[@Aethelhald]

@@charliebarkshire4320 He's a troll. Whenever there's a video about the ERE the comments usually get flooded by Turks who like to gloat about the conquest of Constantinople. They also like to claim that every famous conqueror from history was a Turk. Attila, Genghis, Saladin, Charlemagne, Napoleon, the Sea Peoples... they were all Turks according to Turks. And of course their empire was the bestest ever, even though it isn't known for anything other than onion hats and genocide in the Balkans and Armenia.

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

i hope you complete the series after alexios with his son John and grandson emmanuel🙃

[@majorianus8055]

Yes another Roman content❤❤

[@user-jy7nx7sq5d]

I think the first time when the north-western Europeans have see a dragon on the sea, was when they have see a Greek fire ship.

[@paul1780]

Comment for the algorithm.

[@elianvelazquez1217]

Even the papacy was protected by eastern roman navy before it independent

[@minimal8187]

It would be great if you could make a video about byzantine empire from the arab muslim perspective

[@HainduPabodya6]

I think wild fire inspired from the Greek fire

[@iratepirate3896]

"Napalm was a gift from an angel"

[@davidlester1308]

What was the symbol for the Vandal ship flag? That had better not have been the Black Sun. That symbol would be entirely ahistorical as it’s only ever been used in Himmler’s private castle and no other area. That would also make it a hate symbol.

[@bryantwollman9420]

This is nothing to do with the Byzantine Navy, but maybe putting together playlists for the American Revolution, War of 1812, and the American Civil War. Let me know what you think.

[@KingsandGenerals]

Working on this

[@bryantwollman9420]

@@KingsandGenerals Awesome, can't wait for these serieses

[@Killerqueen69420]

comment for algorithm

[@danielcuevas5899]

Why must you open this wound. Oh god it hurts.

[@ianblake815]

Rime of the ancient mariner!

[@thegreatstalin1138]

Imagine if nuclear weapons become as legendary as greek fire in the future

[@abcdef27669]

Well, I'm afraid of that possibility, if you know what I mean...

[@mickcollins1921]

Yeah, after all recorded history is lost to the great nuclear war and future generations are left to make archeological guesses about things we do today, I could see a lot of parallels to Greek fire. "we don't know exactly how it worked, or who invented it, and it didn't make people unbeatable, but it definitely struck fear into the hearts of the enemy."

[@robin_hood1192]

Please cover siege of Gaza 100BC

[@brokenbridge6316]

This was a great look into the Eastern Roman Navy maybe we can see a video on the Ottoman Navy next. Or even the navies of other Eastern Roman enemies.

[@friedbanana69]

it always get sadder towards the end in every byzantine video :(

[@Kolious_Thrace]

Byzantine army… one of a kind! Unfortunately surrounded by many enemies and our “allies” were hating us more than our enemies so we ended up like this…

[@miiuorekamiki162]

They prolly want their enemy well-done

[@FirstNamelastName-xz9ok]

Yeet

[@guillermochica]

"Medieval successor"...

[@Artist_1889]

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@sidjoosin6549]

Crescent is a symbol of Ottomans and representation of 7th century Muslim forces as flag with crescent is an anachronism. It is like represent Crusaders forces as flag of EU

[@aokiaoki4238]

Crescent and star is the symbol of Constantinople and goddess Artemis

[@sidjoosin6549]

@@aokiaoki4238 "also". but point is - it was different times, those who attacked Constantinople 700 years before Ottomans would never put city's symbol on flag or make Roman Empire 's capital - their new capital. And before Osman's dream - no Islamic faction ever thought crescent as their symbol - nor Seljuks, nor Mamluks, nor khalifs - noone ever.

[@aokiaoki4238]

@@sidjoosin6549 Yes its because the fall of Constantinople that Ottoman Empire adopt it

[@theromanorder]

please do a video on these (this is a copy and paste list for a few channels) units and tactics/evaluation of loadouts of troops (from different jobs (and other branches) the tank doctrine of countries evaluation of tank veiw ports evaluation of tanks/armored vehicles of different countries navil ship cross sections (all the rooms and how it all works) evaluation of types of ships or evaluation of navil warfare air craft carrier strike group formations exsamples (from different countries) ancient persan ships, ancient veneti ships (gauls that fought ceaser) tactics used so far in the Ukraine war, better for squads to be 2 teams of 5 or 3 teams of 3, and probably the easiest, better to keep troops well feed or starved like an animal how dose age effect comsnders eg napoleon got older so took less risks, ancient urban warfare ww2 tactics in Asia, tactics in the Chinese age of warlords, tactics in the ruso jap war cold war navil tactics, Korean war tactics, strange tactics or unque battles from the American war of independence and America civil war types of bombs lunched by drones comands given on sailing ships (like ease the sheets and get ready to chine, or slack n beases, basically things you hear movie capitns say) why did the nazis never return (or a video on best occupations) why did the Japanese empire fall, dont just say "America" like things like how there army and navy argued alot

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

I want to believe that in an alternate universe, the Eastern Romans would've created a Greek-fire turtle ship.

[@zengidskickass]

when is second crusade 😭😭😭😭

[@KingsandGenerals]

When ready

[@zengidskickass]

@@KingsandGenerals cant wait for it anymore im very excited for it

[@saratmodugu2721]

@@KingsandGeneralsare you guys still on the writing stage for the mongol alternative history series a