Matthew Schramkowski’s Reviews > Byzantium: The Apogee > Status Update

He reopened negotiations with Charles on his title, claiming only that he was an Emperor, but not Emperor of the Romans a trend which would contiune after Charles death. In 813, he set out for Versinkia near Adrianople in a pitched battle against Krum....

While Staurakios would retain the right of Basileous, his obvious disabilities would leave further room for opportunity in the court by home. Michael I Rangabe would be endorsed by the Patriarch Nicephoros and also the untimely death of Staraukios. Michael I reign would prove to be too problematic. Dealing with the problems left by Nikephoros, he immediately began mobilizing to again, put a stamp Krums ambitions...

Nikephoros I was to be the first emperor since Valens in 378 to be defeated and killed in battle. His son Stauracius would suffer a life changing wound to his neck that would leave his paralyized for the next few months of his life. He would succeed his father whose fate wasnt lucky as, once his body was discovered. His head was severed and coated in silver to be used as a drinking device for the Khan...

In 811 Nikephoros launched a expedition into Bulgar territory with the aims of putting an end to Krums ambitions. He would capture their capital Pliska and with a merciless mentality plundered the city and its inhabitants. While on the road back to Constantinople, his army was trapped at the Varbista pass or "Greek Hollow". Once the trapped had been realized, Nikephoros and his men there was no escape.

During this time, he would inflict serious damage on Roman moral and spirit. Nikephoros I assumed the throne after a coup was arranged over fears of a marriage between Charles and Irene, which would've brought legitimacy to the Western claims of "Roman Successors" Nikephoros saw the threat that Krum had posed in 807 when Serdica along the Black Sea was seized...

To begin, Norwich goes into the fallout of Charlemagnes coronation and the subsequent emperors who failed to take advantage of the confusion in the West. Irene ended the Iconoclast controversy with a council restoring the practice of veneration. However, the Khangun Krum would also emerge riding the Balkans of the Avars and forming the First Bulgar Empire...