220. Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History

[@eirikbelisarius1100]

When Justinian invaded Italy it seemed like a smart move. The victory in North Africa was easy and total. He probably had an understanding with the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha who had becomed a kind of prisoner of the ostrogothic nobility who took control of her son in a very destructive way. The pope in Rome also supported him. He had reasons to believe that the invasion of Italy would be another stunning and cheap victory. He had bad luck in Italy, and then came the plague.

[@briangarrow448]

One of the finest alternative history series of novels is based on the fictional story of Belisarius and an intelligent entity from the far distant future that helps him lead a world wide war to change the course of humanity. Both Justinian and Theodora are prime characters in this series of books and I think many people who love history would enjoy this yarn.

[@blairhicks9553]

I find Belisarius fascinating. Like Agrippa to Augustus he stayed faithful to Justinian

[@chellybub]

Excellent series

[@shawnparadise6504]

Love the podcast guys thanks.

[@enternamehere2222]

I always found Procopius to be somewhat in the right. As in, Justinian literally butchered his population when they rose in revolt, his officials were notoriously corrupt for taxation, and the conquests spent a vast treasury and lean fiscal state anasthasius left him. Now Justinian couldn't predict an earthquake plague double whammy, but he also increased the fragility of the empire somewhat with the protracted wars in italy for little recompense on paper. The big argument for Procopius being right in being critical is that well, Procopius is dead or severely punished if that writing is discovered by the imperial court. You have to take words that might kill the author a tad bit more seriously. Ultimately he was a man of great ability and great accomplishments whom nature and ambition perhaps undid. Or at the very least left behind him a less capable , or comparably capable , state to the one he was given.

[@metacomet101]

Great stuff 👍

[@notsocrates9529]

It would be cool if this was remixed with a video slide presentation or some visual representations.

[@cthornton523]

Love the channel! Found you via Dan Carlin. If I may be so bold, would you delightful fellows consider creating playlists?

[@shamsam4]

Great!

[@williamwayland1888]

17:25 wtf where was the fork in this road?

[@lucyfaire1980]

02:20: It was never called Byzantine empire. That term was used 150+years after the Fall of Constantinople

[@chrisS19019]

Scandalous

[@pluckinmageetar]

"Reconquista".....it was never a RE-conquest, because it was never Spain's". 👍😎

[@velvtania]

Theodora the wife of Justinian is not a saint. The empress Theodora that is a saint is the wife of Theophilos, in the 9th century.