The Avar Siege Of Constantinople In 626: History And Legend (new Approaches To Byzantine History And Culture)

This book examines the Avar siege of Constantinople in 626, one of the most significant events of the seventh century, and the impact and repercussions this had on the political, military, economic and religious structures of the Byzantine Empire. The siege put an end to the power politics and hegemony of the Avars in South East Europe and was the first attempt to destroy Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Besides the far-reaching military factors, the siege had deeper ideological effects on the mentality of the inhabitants of the Empire, and it helped establish Constantinople as the spiritual centre of eastern Christianity protected by God and his Mother. Martin Hurbanič discusses, from a chronological and thematic perspective, the process through which the historical siege was transformed into a timeless myth, and examines the various aspects which make the event a unique historical moment in the history of mankind – a moment in which the modern story overlaps with the legend with far-reaching effects, not only in the Byzantine Empire but also in other European countries. Acknowledgements 6 A Note on the Transcription 7 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Chapter 1: Introduction 12 Bibliography 17 Primary Sources 17 Secondary Sources 17 Chapter 2: The Memory of the Siege 18 Primary Sources 18 Byzantine Chronography and Historiography 21 Non-Chronographical Byzantine Sources 23 The Liturgical Readings 23 Synaxaria-Typika (Synaxiaria with Liturgical Rubrics) 26 Historical Prologues to the Feast of the Akathistos 26 Homilies and Miracula 28 Varia 33 Latin Sources 34 Church Slavonic, Georgian, and Romanian Sources 35 Oriental Sources 38 Bibliography 49 Primary Sources 49 Secondary Sources 54 Chapter 3: The Interpretation of the Siege 66 The Military Aspects of the Siege 70 The Tradition of the Avar Siege 73 Appendix 74 Bellum Avaricum 74 The Paschal Chronicle 76 A Homily Attributed to Theodore Synkellos 77 Comments on Later Sources 77 Theophanes and the Patriarch Nikephoros 77 Bibliography 82 Secondary Sources 82 Chapter 4: The Last War of Antiquity 91 The Revolt in Carthage 93 A Decade of Defeats 94 Bibliography 103 Primary Sources 103 Secondary Sources 105 Chapter 5: The Siege in Context 113 A New Offensive 114 Diplomatic Solutions 115 The Persian Response 117 The General Offensive 119 The Attack on the Queen of the Cities 120 Bibliography 127 Primary Sources 127 Secondary Sources 128 Chapter 6: The Army of Besiegers 132 The Structure of the Avar Army 132 The Slavs 135 The Other Allies 137 Siege Machines 139 Avar Artillery 140 The Monoxyles 142 Numbers 144 Bibliography 150 Primary Sources 150 Secondary Sources 151 Chapter 7: The Fortress Constantinople 159 The Theodosian Walls 159 The Fortifications of Blachernai and Along the Golden Horn 161 The Wall Along the Golden Horn 166 The Defence of Constantinople 167 The Reinforcements for the Endangered City 169 The Navy 170 Numbers 171 The Military Tactics of the Defenders 172 Supplying the City with Food and Water 173 Bibliography 180 Primary Sources 180 Secondary Sources 182 Chapter 8: The Avars at the Gates 188 The Last Attempt at Peace 189 The Avars at the Gates 193 The First Attack on the City 196 The Attack of the Monoxyles 198 The Naval Defence 199 Bibliography 205 Primary Sources 205 Secondary Sources 206 Chapter 9: The Final Solution 209 The Fate of the Persian Emissaries 211 The Final Plan 215 The Stratagem of Bonos 220 The Heavenly Destruction of the Fleet 222 Bibliography 226 Primary Sources 226 Secondary Sources 227 Chapter 10: Winners and Losers 229 Why Did the Avars Fail? 230 The Aftermath 234 The Alleged Treason of Shahrbaraz 235 Epilogue 241 Bibliography 247 Primary Sources 247 Secondary Sources 248 Chapter 11: From History to Legend 252 Constantinople and the Cult of the Holy Mother 255 Bibliography 268 Primary Sources 268 Secondary Sources 270 Chapter 12: The Akathistos 274 The Feast of the Triumph 275 The Feast of the Akathistos 282 Bibliography 285 Primary Sources 285 Secondary Sources 286 Chapter 13: The Sacred Iconography of the Siege 290 Akathistos Cycle 291 Moldavian Mural Paintings 294 Muscovite Russia 299 The Cycle of Archangel Michael 305 Bibliography 311 Primary Sources 311 Secondary Sources 313 Chapter 14: The Spiritual Arsenal of the Siege 319 The Procession of Sergios 319 An Imprint of the Divine Original 321 The Miraculous Function of Images 325 Other Sacred Objects of the Siege 327 The Icon from the Hodegon Monastery 328 Bibliography 335 Primary Sources 335 Secondary Sources 338 Chapter 15: Conclusion 343 The Byzantine Empire, the Avars, and the Slavs 346 Constantinople and the Byzantine Mentality 348 The Akathistos 349 Bibliography 351 Primary Sources 351 Secondary Sources 352 Index 354 His Book Examines The Avar Siege Of Constantinople In 626, One Of The Most Significant Events Of The Seventh Century, And The Impact And Repercussions This Had On The Political, Military, Economic And Religious Structures Of The Byzantine Empire. The Siege Put An End To The Power Politics And Hegemony Of The Avars In South East Europe And Was The First Attempt To Destroy Constantinople, The Capital Of The Eastern Roman Empire. Besides The Far-reaching Military Factors, The Siege Had Deeper Ideological Effects On The Mentality Of The Inhabitants Of The Empire, And It Helped Establish Constantinople As The Spiritual Centre Of Eastern Christianity Protected By God And His Mother. Martin Hurbanič Discusses, From A Chronological And Thematic Perspective, The Process Through Which The Historical Siege Was Transformed Into A Timeless Myth, And Examines The Various Aspects Which Make The Event A Unique Historical Moment In The History Of Mankind – A Moment In Which The Modern Story Overlaps With The Legend With Far-reaching Effects, Not Only In The Byzantine Empire But Also In Other European Countries. --publisher's Website. This Book Examines The Avar Siege Of Constantinople In 626, One Of The Most Significant Events Of The Seventh Century, And The Impact And Repercussions This Had On The Political, Military, Economic And Religious Structures Of The Byzantine Empire--back Cover. 1. Introduction -- 2. The Memory Of The Siege -- 3. The Interpretation Of The Siege -- 4. The Last War Of Antiquity -- 5. The Siege In Context -- 6. The Army Of Besiegers -- 7. The Fortress Constantinople -- 8. The Avars At The Gates -- 9. The Final Solution -- 10. Winners And Losers -- 11. From History To Legend -- 12. The Akathistos -- 13. The Sacred Iconography Of The Siege -- 14. The Spiritual Arsenal Of The Siege -- 15. Conclusion -- Index. Martin Hurbanič. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book examines the Avar siege of Constantinople in 626, one of the most significant events of the seventh century, and the impact and repercussions this had on the political, military, economic and religious structures of the Byzantine Empire. The siege put an end to the power politics and hegemony of the Avars in South East Europe and was the first attempt to destroy Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Besides the far-reaching military factors, the siege had deeper ideological effects on the mentality of the inhabitants of the Empire, and it helped establish Constantinople as the spiritual centre of eastern Christianity protected by God and his Mother. Martin Hurbanic discusses, from a chronological and thematic perspective, the process through which the historical siege was transformed into a timeless myth, and examines the various aspects which make the event a unique historical moment in the history of mankind? a moment in which the modern story overlaps with the legend with far-reaching effects, not only in the Byzantine Empire but also in other European countries Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 1-6 The Memory of the Siege (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 7-54 The Interpretation of the Siege (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 55-79 The Last War of Antiquity (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 81-102 The Siege in Context (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 103-121 The Army of Besiegers (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 123-149 The Fortress Constantinople (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 151-179 The Avars at the Gates (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 181-201 The Final Solution (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 203-222 Winners and Losers (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 223-245 From History to Legend (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 247-268 The Akathistos (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 269-284 The Sacred Iconography of the Siege (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 285-313 The Spiritual Arsenal of the Siege (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 315-338 Conclusion (Martin Hurbanič)....Pages 339-349 Back Matter ....Pages 351-361