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I'm wondering why Justinian needed to battle the Visigoths in Spain during the 6th century on his sweep through Europe. The Visigoths had been slighted by the Roman Empire in the 5th century, resulting in their move from near Macedonia all the way to the western part of Europe. In this sense it seems like Rome was the original antagonist. Did the Visigoths present some threat to the Byzantine Empire? I can see how the Vandals and Ostrogoths would have been targeted, but not the Visigoths.
I'd say Spain was Justinian's primary goal and the Visigoths were just in his way. He was probably trying to restore the Roman Empire at some level.
Yes indeed, he seems to have been retaking the territory of the Western Empire. He was really limited in his success.
Justinian however, is the Byzantine Emperor who came closest of ell the Byzntines to restoring the ancient territory of the Roman Empire. After him, the Byzantines concentrated on keeping their territory in the east contigous especially after Islam became a major factor in the 8th-9th centuries.
Justinian however, is the Byzantine Emperor who came closest of ell the Byzntines to restoring the ancient territory of the Roman Empire. After him, the Byzantines concentrated on keeping their territory in the east contigous especially after Islam became a major factor in the 8th-9th centuries.
Not to mention that around this time the Franks became a major power in Western Europe and probably wouldn't have liked it had the Byzantines tried to reclaim area in that part of the world. But yes, the Byzantines had bigger fish to fry at this time with the Muslims. I theorize that for centuries, Constantinople really served as a buffer to prevent the spread of Islam into Eastern Europe…the “Last Roman outpost”, if you will….
You and thousands of other historians Phid. That is conventional wisdom in historical circles. Without the Byzantines and their well organized army Islam would have spread farther, faster. I find it extremely doubtful that the societies of Western Europe could have withstood the hosts of Islam in the 8th and 9th centuries, especially given their relatively poor performance during the Crusades.
You and thousands of other historians Phid. That is conventional wisdom in historical circles.
I should probably note here that I don't really hang out with Early Middle Ages/Eastern Empire historians all that much (ever), so… 😀 ….but Diocletian's move did turn out to be remarkable for the long-term survival of Europe even if it didn't preserve the Roman Empire of the 3rd century as I'm sure he had hoped. One of the major, remarkable “unintended consequences” of history.It seems that the Holy Land was much closer to Muslim “bases of operations”, if you will, than it was for the Crusaders. Based on this and other factors I wonder if the Crusaders' performance would be of limited value in measuring potential European success in defense of their homeland against Muslim invaders. I think that Iberia was an easy gain for the Muslims in the 8th century because the place was inhabited by Visigothic rulers who didn't anticipate the great Muslim rise to the south and their crossing the Mediterranean. Charles Martel's victory at the Battle of Tours, however, is testament to the Europeans' ability to compete militarily with the Muslims. Would more unified European armies have been effective against tired armies of larger Muslim invaders? Obviously we'll never know, but I would imagine so….
The fighting style of the Crusaders was the same whether at home or abroad. They faced the same challenges in dealing with the muslim cavalry as did the Romans with the Parthians 1000 years earlier.
The fighting style of the Crusaders was the same whether at home or abroad. They faced the same challenges in dealing with the muslim cavalry as did the Romans with the Parthians 1000 years earlier.
I guess I was referring about other factors rather than the fighting style. I think the only evidence we have to go on in terms of Muslim intrusion into Western Europe is what has already been stated here, and as for a larger conflict we could never really know….
The battle of Tours was also a close run thing. I think we can be thankful to the Byzantines because without them we would all be praying to Mecca 5 times a day and reading about Christians in history books, if we knew of them at all.
