I hate the word Byzantine
Does anyone else have a problem with the term Byzantine to describe the Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. I understand it helps to differentiate between the Rome centred, latin dominated empire of Antiquity and the Constantinople centred, Greek dominated empire of the Middle Ages and the cultural changes that accompanied this change, but I still find it a bit of a cop out. After all the inhabittants of the Eastern Empire never referred to themselves as "Byzantines", they were still Romani. In the end I just think the term Byzantine is a poor one which detracts from the glory of the Eastern Empire and attaches negative connotations which you don't find with the term Roman.
What are peoples' thoughts? Do away with the term Byzantine for the reasons above and others? Or just make do as the Roman Empire of the Middle Ages was NOT the Roman Empire of Antiquity?
Re: I hate the word Byzantine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Brennus
Does anyone else have a problem with the term Byzantine to describe the Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. I understand it helps to differentiate between the Rome centred, latin dominated empire of Antiquity and the Constantinople centred, Greek dominated empire of the Middle Ages and the cultural changes that accompanied this change, but I still find it a bit of a cop out. After all the inhabittants of the Eastern Empire never referred to themselves as "Byzantines", they were still Romani. In the end I just think the term Byzantine is a poor one which detracts from the glory of the Eastern Empire and attaches negative connotations which you don't find with the term Roman.
What are peoples' thoughts? Do away with the term Byzantine for the reasons above and others? Or just make do as the Roman Empire of the Middle Ages was NOT the Roman Empire of Antiquity?
I don't actually mind the use of Byzantine because it has been accepted amongst the historians. Yet, if I am to write a fiction on the Empire then I would certainly use the terms that the "Byz" used to describe themselves.
Actually, the "Byzantine" authors also used the term "Byzantine". However, when they used the term they meant the inhabitants of the Imperial capital (which ancient name was Byzantion/Byzantium).
In fact, the idea that the Empire is Roman by design is obvious by the attitude of the Muslim rulers and maybe the Rus. Even in 15th century the Mameluke Sultan addressed the Byzantine Emperor with his ancient titles. We all know the term Rum (Turkish) Sultanate came from Roman.
Of course, there are some that disagreed with this term. The Slav neighbours (Bulgaria and probably Serbia) of the Empire often used the term "Greeks". The same term can be found in the West, which after Otto I had their own Emperors (yes, Charlemagne and his heirs also won the same title but the Imperial glory of that dynasty did not last very long). After 1054 (the Great schism) the subjects of the Eastern Emperor also became "schismatics". The Romans replied with contempt and refused to acknowledge the West own Imperial ambitions. The Westerners were simply "Latins", "Franks", and of course "heretics". Anna Comnena was terrified by the wretchedness of the first Crusaders (partly because these were the poor fanatics from the first wave of the First Crusade)... At the same time, the Crusaders were impressed by the riches of the Empire and slowly but surely this transformed into envy and hatred, which we know how ended.
By analyzing the terms one can get a very clear picture of the various perceptions in the Middle Ages.
Re: I hate the word Byzantine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Prince Cobra
Of course, there are some that disagreed with this term. The Slav neighbours (Bulgaria and probably Serbia) of the Empire often used the term "Greeks". The same term can be found in the West, which after Otto I had their own Emperors (yes, Charlemagne and his heirs also won the same title but the Imperial glory of that dynasty did not last very long).
In Serbia in middle ages, term "Romeji" (Romaioi) was used. Calling Roman Emperor in Constantinople a "Greek" was a good way to lose your head. Only the very last years of the Empire, when the Empire was even smaller then modern day Greece and was inhabited primarily by Greeks, hellenic heritage was accepted again.
I don't personally mind term Byzantine, as long as it is used to refer to the medieval Christian Eastern Roman Empire, not some imaginary country called Byzantium or even worse a Greek empire...
Re: I hate the word Byzantine
It is a tricky one, but mostly becuase there isn't much of a live cultural link (to my knowledge) to the orthodox Byzantine state. So all the terms in use are from outsiders and it has been this way pretty much since Constantinople fell to the Ottomans.
I guess it's hard to have two Roman empires, especially when only one is "based in" (or could claim to posses) Rome. Of course, early on most of central and southern Italy was ruled by the (er) Byzantines -and they certainly aspired to recover Rome as part of claiming their proper imperial inheritance/resurecting a united Roman empire.
