Posted inArt, Medieval Archaeology

The Only Contemporary Portrait of the Last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, Discovered in Greece

An exceptional discovery has brought to light the only known contemporary representation of the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Constantine XI Palaiologos. This valuable work was uncovered during restoration work at the main church of the former Monastery of the Archangels, located in the region of Aigio, Greece. The finding, dating back to the […]

Posted inAncient Rome

Marcus Antonius Pallas, the Treasurer of Two Roman Emperors Who Became Rich Without Ever Embezzling Public Funds

Callistus, Terentius, Hyginus, Narcissus, Asiaticus, Neophytus, Phaon, Pallas… What do these names of historical figures from Ancient Rome have in common? All of them were freedmen, that is, slaves freed by their masters, and most of them prospered in their new lives, becoming esteemed literati or secretaries to emperors. A good example could be the […]

Posted inMiddle Ages

The Problem of the Two Emperors: The Historical Dispute over Embodying the Legacy of Rome

It wasn’t called the “beacon of civilization” for nothing. The legacy of Rome was so immense—in every realm—that centuries after its fall, there were still struggles to claim legitimacy as its rightful successor, something that continued well into the Middle Ages. Although many self-proclaimed themselves as heirs, the issue was particularly intense in the dispute […]

Posted inAntiquity

Helian Bobo, the Turbulent Xiongnu Emperor Who Demanded Invulnerable Armor and Arrows that Could Pierce It from His Blacksmiths

The description left by the chroniclers says he was very tall (over two meters), strong, handsome, intelligent, ingenious, eloquent… but also arrogant, violent, ungrateful, cruel, and despotic. Such is the portrait that has come down to us of Helian Bobo, also known as Wulie of Xia, the Xiongnu emperor who proclaimed himself a descendant of […]