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Accounts by Byzantine sources Kinnamos and Choniates on Roman capture of Antioch

"As part of their payment to induce John to withdraw, the citizens of Shaizar handed over a cross, carved from red marble, supposedly fashioned on the orders of Constantine I, and taken by the Turks from Romanos IV after the Battle of Manikert 1071(Harris 90)."

Kinnamos, 1976, pp. 24-5; Choniates, 1984, p.22

An interesting note to add is how the author relays some of the letters he sent to the pope regarding the supposed deeds of Alexios as a usurper being only influenced by his vices.

and how he ties this in with an example of similar policy making the Normans made before invading Britain in 1066.

Bohemond to Pope Paschal II in Holtzman, 1935, pp. 280-82

In the chapter "Jerusalem and Antioch" he closes with the efforts imposed by Bohemond to demonize the Emperor. As mention, his "Deeds of the Franks" laid the perceptions that was to fuel Western thought for the next few centuries. The events of the schism allowed for certain religious figures to relay Johns seizure of Antioch as "legitimate" claims to attack Constantinople...

Another big emphasis Harris points out is the efforts by the Emperors Alexios and John attempted at having good relations with the West. Mentioning banquets Alexios would hold for the visiting rulers and the gifts he would give to them. Even when John II attempted to arrange a marriage with the regent Constance to his son Manuel I. Plans fell through when it was decided that she would marry Raymond of Poitiers

Throughout much of the chapters "The Passage of the First Crusade' and "Jerusalem and Antioch" these conflicts arise even more clearly to highlight much of the side-stepping the Latins went in avoiding cooperation with the Emperor. The fall of Nicaea was considered in the West as evidence for belief of infidel ties with the Emperor, when in reality it was to avoid further bloodshed that loomed in ranks of the Latins

The primary sources he uses for the Byzantine accounts being, Anna Komnenes "The Alexiad' and Niketas Choniates. From the Latin perception he uses mainly the Gesta Francorum which accounts the Norman leader Bohemonds "heroic ventures" to the Holy Land writing off the Alexios as "abominable"

To this point, Johnathon Harris has given the reader a glimpse of scale of the First Crusade; the papal conflict between Clement III and Urban II, The Three waves of Peter the Hermit, Bohemond of Taranto, Godfrey of Bullio, and of course the struggles that the Emperors Alexios I and John II had to deal with. A big topic in the chapter is the Latin "seizure" of Antioch and how the author explores the differing sources

To start, Johnathon Harries leaves a impressionable opening remarks for the first few chapters. His introduction and the first chapter set the stage for the understanding the story Byzantium offers and how these eventual westerners would begin their interactions in 800.

In the course of three centuries, one act would lead to another between east and west impeding ambitions. Fingers would be pointed, names called.

The authors opens with a variety of sources ranges starting with Zosimus, a pagan historian who wrote three decades after the life of Constantine. We see the bulk of his writings in the introduction. The Patriarch Photius and the nephew and later Emperor Julian who wrote also not too highly of Constantine. Overall, good introduction with sources from both perspectives and insight of the times when they were written

As territories in the eastern provinces were becoming more and more in jeopardy by the saracen menace. Constans II began to turn his attention westward in hopes of establishing an imperial presence in Italy. In 663, he became the first emperor to visit Italy since the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire two hundred years before.

an iron chain was wrapped around his neck where he was paraded through the Praetorium(imperial prison). The Patriarch Paul insistently sought that Martin should face no further ill-treatment. The emperor accepted this changing the sentencing from death to banishment. Pope Martin would be exiled to Cherson in Crimea were he would die in 655

The religious dispute monthelitism would persist at this time. Constans at only seventeen would publish his Typos, which aimed to provide context to this idea, begun by his uncle Heraclius. Pope Martin I would stand up to this edict which led to his eventual kidnapping and brutal torture. He would be trialed and sentenced to death; standing before a dense audience, is papal robes were torn leaving him exposed...

In 642, the eleven year old Constans II became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, addressing the senate to handle the care of the empire effectively acting as a regency until he became of age. During his reign, Alexandria would fall with its population welcoming the conquerors openly. Constantia(Salamis) would fall and too Rhodes, which the enormous bronze fragments of the colossus would be melted for scrap.

Your vote above all contributed to the just desposition of her and her son from the imperial dignity, in order that the Roman Empire should not be obliged to countenance so grave an insult to the law. Of this your noble eminences are fully aware; and therefore invite you to assist me by your advice and judgement, in providing for the general safety of my subjects."
-Constans II

Theophanes,Chronographia

"My father Constantine regined with Heraclius, his father and my grandfather, for a considerable time;but after the latters death for only a very short time. For the envy of his stepmother Martina brought high hopes to nothing and deprived him his life-and for the sake of Heraclonas, the son of her incestuous union with Heraclius...
-Theophanes, Chronographia

The months after Heraclius death would lead to more religious strife and an attempt by his widow Martina to claim the regency over the bastard Heraclonas. This would not work, with the people circumspect over a female ruler were well aware of her schemes and blamed her for Hearclius decline in health and death. Little Heraclis, changed his name to Constans, apprehended Martina, had severed her tongue, slit his nose

The later years of the emperor was a different personality, he was suffering from Dropsy, inflamed tissue all across his body creating unnatural bumps on his limbs, a fear of water which prevented him from leading anymore campaigns, and believing that he was abandoned by god. He was able to recover the True Cross for Jerusalem sometime before the Caliph Omar had entered the city in 638. He would die in 641.

allowed for the Arabs to launch an all out attack on the Byzantine lines slaughtering every christian solider to a man.

In 636, Heraclius amassed an army and sent them to a little tributary of the Jordan river, at Yarmuk which flowed to the south of the sea of Galilee. However, the roman indecisiveness in their decision making would wait for three months until they struke. The Arab general Khalid took advantage of this harassed them with volleys of arrows, until a sand storm, blowing in the faces of the romans..

After the defeat of the Persians and the procession of the True Cross in Constantinople and it being placed at the main aspe, behind the iconostasis of the Hagia Sophia was the crowning achievement of Heraclius' career. All seemed to boad well for him. In the middle of the seventh century, a prophet Mohamed would enter into the footnotes of history. A little more than a century later, the Islamic tide call for jihad

Chosroes fled to Susiana leaving Ctesiphon to its fate. The persian capital would share a similar fate to Perspolis a thousand years before. Choroes would run to the ends of his empire, refusing to establish a garrison in the city allegedly desiring for the women and children responsible for the defense of the city. In 628, his son Kavadh-Siroes revolted against his father, banishing him to the tower of darkness.

Hearclius had defeated more persian armies under Razates and won him a great deal of spoils on his march eastward. While celebrating christmas his scouts intercepted a message carrier on his way to meet to Shahr-Baraz intending for him to return to capital at once to strengthen its defense. Heraclius ordered for the message to be altered and for Shahr-Baraz to remain at his position.

During the siege the barbarian army had been enveloped by the byzantines and their fleet was caught in the ambush. News caught wind to the besieging army and panic began to break out throughout the ranks and the army began to break down entirely for the hills. Heraclius had won. News reached that Theodore had won a victory against the persian Shahin and the alliance with the Khazars had been put together.

The Orderly Way of Marching Through our own Country when there is no hostile activity

-Maurice displays intriguing ways of properly presenting your armies as they march on campaign to other regions of the empire. He talks of various scenarios/situations when on march. Consisting of marching through friendly towns, crossing rivers, formulating the Meros and Moira into designated positions where their roles will help

The Various Titles of the Officers and the Soldiers

-General is the head of the army. Hypo-strategos is the lieutenant General.Merarch is the c. of the Meros; the Moirarch is the c. of the moira and is called the Duke. A Meros is a division of grouped moiras consisting of three. A moira is made of tagmas, arithmos, or bandon.A hekatontarch c. a hundred men, dekarch ten, pentarch guard the back file.

The Armament of the Cavalryman and the Basic Equipment to be Furnished

-The goes over how each commanding officer should equip their men, weaponry, chainmail, clothing, their horses as well as essential items needed on campaign. It also talks of how soldiers having servants and relying on themselves should receive their pay, how flags should presented to identify armies and how to wear cloth over mail to avoid sight

The Training and Drilling of the Individual Soldier

-This describes the manner in which soldiers were accustomed to carrying a shield on their backs, a spear slung their sides, a sword and a bow. Its interesting how these techniques employed were traditions used from far away lands. Using the thumb and forefinger to reel back a bow string came from the Steppes(Hunnic tribes) Timely drawing and switching your weapons

On the severed head was a message
-"We and the Khangan are now reconciled. He has taken charge of the first two of your ambassadors. As for the third, here he is!"

Afterwards, its reasonable to assume the Romans discovered the plans of attack and thwarted the invasion when Persians ferries were ambushed and the Avar fleet who tired to sail into the Horn were lured into a trap and annihilated being scattered in sea

The dignitaries in turn for attempting to bribe Bonus were in unison promised a fate contrary to their tricks. The First attempting to hide under some blankets was beheaded on the spot. The Second had his hands severed and delivered back to the Khan. The Thirds was sailed to a spot at Chalcedon and in full view of the Persian camp was executed on the spot...