Byzantine scent

[edyzmedieval]

I don't know much about the Byzantines. I've only read one history book about them. Still, I got to say they impress me. They were at war most of the time, often on two fronts, and still kept going for a long time. As far as I can see they were not all that ruthless by the standards of their time. Blinding or castration sounds pretty bad, but I'm sure many realms back then simply executed "traitors" (i.e. rivals for power.) As for corruption, you'd have to naive to think that doesn't come with power and wealth. In spite of their troubles and weaknesses they managed to remain a beacon of civilization, culture, and learning.

Power and wealth indeed, but what they had was a couple of notches more than the usual rich kingdoms/empires. Corruption and skullduggery were common in the Byzantine Empire, especially during the latter reigns (from 12th century onwards).

AFAIK, traitors and opposing rulers were not executed, they were blinded or imprisoned or poisoned. Execution was not common in the Byzantine Empire.

[Prince Cobra]

AFAIK, traitors and opposing rulers were not executed, they were blinded or imprisoned or poisoned. Execution was not common in the Byzantine Empire.

I have not thought about that, edyz. Yet, decapitation could be also a method for execution. Andronicus I used the capital punishment a lot, though he was quite unpopular with his terror. I can't remember many executions that were described by the historians and yet, this does not mean they were not used. Thomas the Slav (9th century rebel) was for example dismembered and finally beheaded, but 9th century is a bit different than XIV century, for example. On a different matter, Baldwin I of Flanders had a similar fate in 13th century in the Bulgarian prison and having in mind the Byzantine influence on the second Bulgarian Empire, that probably meant such a punishment was not uncommon. Alexius V was thrown from a column by the Latin and that was probably another method of execution. In the capital of the second Bulgarian Empire that is Turnovo, there was a rock used for the same purpose.

The way the head of Alexius Branas and the corpse of Andronicius I were treated does not mean the Byzantines were far more refined in the punishment than the Westerners. In fact many of the murdering techniques were taken from the East: strangling, blinding, for example. Muslims and Westerners used decapitation widely, too.

I think most notable people (mainly deposed emperors) were poisoned/blinded/strangled (another method of murder) (such as Isaac II Angelus(blinded), Alexius II(strangled)) because the rulers feared a reaction or in other cases did not want to look very oppressive. Again, sometimes Emperors simple took the cowl and were sent to distant monastery.


I have actually not searched anything about the punishment in the Byzantine Empire and the topic does sound intriguing. I mainly derive my conclusions from what I have read and my national Bulgarian history.

[edyzmedieval]

Your points are all valid, Cobra. When you think of it it's quite an interesting turn because although rebellions and revolts were common in Byzantine history, they tried to avoid them as much as possible by inflicting a level of damage before death, if I can somehow call it like that. In the end, they used all sorts of torture methods and execution, it all depended on how influential or how important the said character was.

Or if anyone wanted to strike an example to the local population.

Blinding was definitely the preferred method, the opposing candidate or troublemaker was still alive and placed in a monastery for the rest of his tragic days.