Byzantium: The Early Centuries (1989) - Plot & Excerpts
The history of the [Byzantine] Empire is a monotonous story of the intrigues of priests, eunuchs and women, of poisonings, of conspiracies, of uniform ingratitude, of perpetual fratricides.So opens John Norwich’s meticulously detailed account of the first 500 years of Byzantine history, when he quotes Lecky’s History of European Morals, published in 1869.Norwich wastes little time to rescue this unflattering summary of Byzantine history, when he says that this sounds not so much monotonous a story, as one destined to be entertaining. And thoroughly entertaining it is. Over the next few hundred pages he expertly tells a behemoth of a tale, riddled with conquests, betrayals, imperial power plots and intrigues, where one is instantly reminded how this is the story of an Empire created as a continuation of the, by now, fading Roman Empire, though admittedly one where its populous are culturally less sophisticated, its emperors a great deal more shady, its justice unspeakably more brutal, and its orgies, regrettably less frequent. Over the course of some 18 Chapters in which most of the main characters are repeatedly named /Constantin/ Justin / Theodosius/Anesthasia /John / or a some derivative of it, it become at times utterly daunting to keep track of how they are all interrelated, intertwined and interbred. To add to the confusion, the motives and underlying storylines of intrigues and struggles remain largely unchanged throughout early Byzantine history, as the story whizzes past several emperors losing their heads, either literally or figuratively, get their noses misplaced, again literally and figuratively, or in some cases, allowing to be remembered in history for being neither saint nor sadist and in other, more extreme cases, for being both. So it is not long before one is reminded of the damning opening paragraph of the book in which Byzantine history is reduced to being ' a monotonous story of conspiracies, intrigues, poisoning and perpetual fratricides.’However, the breathtaking scope and volume of stories within stories, plots within subplots which weave the threads binding characters to events to make up the mosaic of Early history of Byzantine, is, if anything, simply, mind numbing. By the time Norwich draws the 8th century to a close in an outrageously scandalous final chapter, Constantinople has emerged, kicking and screaming, as a towering bastion of Orthodox faith, its transformation complete and its identity so unique, that any comparison to Ancient Rome or the old Roman Empire would certainly seem absurd. Expect a story filled with a dazzling amount of betrayals, betrothals and beheadings with facts and events peppered non stop over the course of five centuries. So it becomes almost impossible to be left with anything other than a rough impression of those early Byzantine centuries. Trying, after its initial reading, to recall exactly where what happened or whether it happened to Constance, Constantine, Constantia or Constantinius, becomes somewhat rhetorical , once the initial dust settles on this epic tale. There is simply so much happening inside this initial volume that it is quite astounding that a mere 400 pages can account for it all. Perhaps if the brothers Grimm told their fairytales in the style of the old Testament, Id have something to compare. On a slightly less upbeat note, I can forgive Norwich for failing to explain exactly how issues around the theological debates could have been so delicate, so sensitive, as to spur an entire city into unstoppable riot, or how an emperor could be loved or loathed depending on whether he thought Christ and God was one and the same, or not, and loose a head, tongue, nose or more intimate protrusion in the process. However, for failing to mention, even one, imperial orgy behind palace walls, I find myself being a little less forgiving. Just kidding. This is a monster read, being the first of three volumes. And yes, in the initial mix there is at least one orgy, (albeit sketchy in its sordid detail), a great many tales of glittering conquest and ones of undignified homosexual out-ing, outrageous fortunes, breathtaking heroism and brilliant triumph. But alas, as is the case when tales are told of a mighty empire - a great many quietly reveal a secret history of unspeakable tragedy.
This book starts out in the early 200s of the Roman Empire, with Emperor Diocletian deciding to share his power with a co-emperor, and each of them then divides their responsibility for their respective regions with a Caesar who is supposed to succeed them. Four men with lusts for power. Doesn't turn out so amicably. Byzantium becomes the power center of the eastern part of the Empire, and Rome's luster is fading. Constantine the Great isn't just baptized into Christianity, he is a fundamental force in its continuance, exaltation, and definition of orthodoxy. The book spans more than 5 centuries, from the date that the Roman Empire is divided in two until 802 when Charlemagne reunites the Empire again for the first time under one emperor. The author, John Julius Norwich, is astounding at being able to make these historical figures, some large, some small, and some inconsequential, come alive as human beings. What this book primarily did for me is explain in comprehensible detail (although I often had to re-read things, keep checking on maps, and keep looking up the family trees) how the Roman Empire came to be divided and why it stayed that way, what happened to Christianity along the way and what was decided at each of the Ecumenical Councils (I'm quite versed now in the Nicene Creed and its many versions and why they are the way they are), who exactly the "barbarians" were and why they insisted on invading the empire's frontiers (they were running from even worse barbarians and wanted protection or better places to live), and more. The empire's wars with Persia, the rise of Islam and what that meant, the losses and gains of territories. All extremely fascinating. Considering that in some cases there were too few sources, Norwich has done a remarkable job of showing how people thought, warred, lived, and traveled in those days. I only hope I can remember some of what I read.
What do You think about Byzantium: The Early Centuries (1989)?
The English history and travel writer John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich has long had a thing for the East. With Reresby Sitwell he wrote an introduction to the world of Mount Athos and subsequently, over three large volumes, produced a large history of Byzantium for popular audiences. BYZANTIUM: The Early Centuries is the first volume, going from the rise of St Constantine the Great in the early fourth century to the end of the Empress Irene's era in 802. I had mixed reactions to it.When it comes to political history, i.e. who reigned when and who fought who, Norwich's history is quite detailed. Many palace intrigues are spicily recounted, and various hypotheses for some of the more mysterious turns of fate are collected. However, beyond the political history there is no real coverage of Byzantium culture. As other reviews have already pointed out, the goings-on of the elite are usually quite distant from the day to day life of the masses. There's no discussion of the developments of the arts or the flux of the economy. Some discussion of Byzantine culture can be had from Joan Mervyn Hussey's THE BYZANTINE WORLD, but she tries to pack an entire millennium in just a few pages.While Norwich enjoys the culture of Eastern Christianity, he clearly is not faithful to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Quite often he questions the actions of rulers that the Church has glorified as saints, suggests that the outcome of the Ecumenical Councils was random, and insinuates that certain relics are fakes. I should think that Orthodox Christians are a fairly large market for a popular history of Byzantium, but they regrettably still await a book that sticks to Church teaching.Since three full volumes of just political history is quite tedious, I'd recommend reading Norwich's abridgement A SHORT HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM instead.
—Christopher
I love the way Norwich delves into the labyrinthine politics of the time. I haven't read the other two books in the series, but some day I will, perhaps when I'm old and grey and good for nothing else. So that hopefully will be a while yet. Norwich writes wittily and knowledgeably as one of the leading experts. I think I have a problem with time and change. I watched a BBC documentary series about Turkey in 1971 called The Gates of Asia. I remembered him having a healthy virility about him, sunburnt and muscular as he crouched over carvings in the scorching sun of Eastern Turkey in the summer, and yet when he came on TV a few months ago in connection with an art series I was shocked to see a stooped old man, forgetting that 38 years separated the two. I've noticed a few lines in my own face, but must confess that on balance I feel I am wiser, more confident and knowledgeable, and better looking, than I was even thirty years ago. What has all this to do with Byzantium. Byzantium, the fabulous city of gold, the city of the world's desire, is also a state of mind, I feel, a throwback, a yearning, for a time when anything was possible. A lost golden age, like youth and love. Something radiant in the heart.Once out of nature I shall never takeMy bodily form from any natural thing,But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths makeOf hammered gold and gold enamellingTo keep a drowsy Emperor awake;Or set upon a golden bough to singTo lords and ladies of ByzantiumOf what is past, or passing, or to come.
—David
The first part of John Julius Norwich's Byzantium trilogy is an epic look at a once great civilization that is often little studied in modern times. This is the account of what happened after the Roman Empire "fell," and how it struggled on for hundreds more years. The Early Centuries covers Constantine the Great to the beginnings of the Holy Roman Empire in the West, and chronicles the growth of one of the worlds greatest cities, Constantinople, as well as the ever shifting borders of the slowly decaying empire. The religious splinters that led up to the Schism between East and West are covered, as well as the rise of Islam, and Byzantium's dynamic role in holding back the armies of Arabia. Truly an epic read if you are interested in this time period, Norwich's book is factual as well as entertaining, and this book is a must read for history buffs everywhere.
—Andrew
