Constans II: Struggle For Survival

Constans II or Constantine the Bearded as he was sometimes known ruled at a time when the Caliphate's Jihad was at its strongest. He executed his own brother, lost a number of major battles and saw Egypt, Libya and Armenia lost to the Arabs but he held the line, reformed the empire by introducting an early version of the Theme system and restored political stability to the empire with a dynasty that would continue until the end of the century.
Predecessor: Heraklonas
• Heraklonas: The Year o...
Successor: Constantine IV
• Constantine IV: The Li...
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Bibliography:
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos, De Administrando Imperio, Translated by Jenkins, R. J. H. (1967)
John of Nikou, Chronicle, Translated by Charles, R. H., (1916)
Michael the Syrian, Chronicle, Translated by Bedrosian, R. (2013)
Sebeos, History, Translated by Bedrosian, R. (1985)
Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle AD284 - 813, Translation by Mango C. and Scott R. (1997)
Theophilus of Edessa, Chronicle - and the Circulation of Historical Knowledge in Late Antiquity and Early Islam, Translated by Hoyland R. G. (2011)
Haldon, J. (2016) The Empire That Would Not Die: The Paradox of Eastern Roman Survival, 640 - 740, Cambridge.
Haldon, J. (2002) Byzantium at War AD600-1453, New York.
Haldon, J. (1990) Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture, Cambridge.
Herrin, J. (1987) The Formation of Christendom, London.
Stathakopoulos, D. (2014) A Short History of the Byzantine Empire, London.
Treadgold, W. (1997) A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford.
Music Credit:
Jason Graves from Rise and Fall:Civilisations at War by Midway Games.
All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

I just want to say that whenever I play Risk, I grab the Middle East and Southern Europe. My pals and I play as characters. I am Nilos I. They hate it when I scream Make _____ Byzantine Again!

[@theoldcavalier7451]

Back In my day…

[@EasternRomanHistory]

1400 years to reflect

[@johnmanno2052]

Sir, you put out excellent videos, you do excellent work. It's obvious you're passionate about the topic, and as someone who loves ancient and medieval history, I appreciate your enthusiasm!
As an American, I have to say that your dialect of the English language makes listening to your videos all the more enjoyable! It's very cool, and makes the experience quite pleasant.

[@coryfritz9198]

Man I love your videos and I love your interests in Eastern Roman history. Your channel is sooo rare. The voice you use, or your voice makes it more engaging. The length of your videos might not be supported by the algorithm, but I think they're perfect. Thanks for all you do!!

[@EasternRomanHistory]

Thank you very much.

[@coryfritz9198]

@@EasternRomanHistory I really mean it brother, thank you

[@Mikefantasia22]

Very low view count for such GREAT videos. Get in touch with Justin at Fire of Learning, or the guys at Kings and Generals. Pages like that. They will help promote great work like this.

[@EasternRomanHistory]

Thanks for the suggestion, I have contacted K and G but not F of L.

[@harperdearing5681]

@@EasternRomanHistory contact dovahhatty

[@Jinseual]

Excellent Video!

[@MoveInSilence23]

Outstanding job 👍 as usual 😊

[@wizstorm172]

destroying the colossus is unforgivable

[@EasternRomanHistory]

Though some people have been keen to point out it had already fallen over, it was still lying their wrecked. I think an apt comparison would be if someone bulldozed the Pathenon, it had long since been ruined but it is still an ancient monument.

[@rickyyacine4818]

Destroy all icons I mean idk 😂 im fan of leo third

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

Paganism was irrelevant by this point

[@barrett206]

@@Michael_the_Drunkardstill a work of art

[@contoon1563]

Great job bro👍👍👍👍

[@CAweather]

I love the Gold Coins, they capture the crazy eyes of Constans ii.

[@iDeathMaximuMII]

One unrelated question: Shouldn’t “Constans” II actually be named Constantine IV? He was baptized as Heraclius but ruled the Empire with the name Constantine, not Constans. That was just a nickname people gave him afterwards, he himself isn’t recorded with calling himself “Constans”

[@EasternRomanHistory]

It is a valid point and some people do call him Constantine. But I use Constans II because I would certainly confuse myself with having two Constantine IV's plus all the other Constantine's would need renumbering.

[@causantinthescot]

Constans II the typical A tier emperor, I guess.

[@EasternRomanHistory]

I never thought that much of him but the more I read, the more I realised he is a fundamental emperor for understanding how the Byzantine's survived the seventh century.

[@rickyyacine4818]

@@EasternRomanHistory I think his ok b tier he did mess few things up like for example the Byzantine high taxes kinda screw them later because the arabs had low taxes policy meaning the people wouldn't be that sad at muslim reign at first but once they realise it late for coming back to the old days this very dangerous strategy by the arabs I just wish he fortified north Africa and heavily convert the berbers just the slaves in 860s he would have build a good buffer zoon to back Byzantine Africa and to close the gate to Europe had he done that rather then focusing on lambard he could hold the Arab enough until they get weak then Egypt and libya could have been retaking ... 😞😞 even Justinian the second had same opportunity but screw it

[@evripidisalexiou6060]

Definitely above average in my opinion

[@rickyyacine4818]

A small note khosro the second kind fucked up big time when he toke the lakmadite arab cline kingdom fully in 609 ad they lost a small battle against the arab tribes that kinda allowed kalid ibn walid to raid it later without buffer zoon they fell so fast

[@petercroves8562]

cool

[@Charlesmartel01]

Great stuff. My only criticism: the backing music. Too loud.

[@EasternRomanHistory]

Indeed, sorry about that, this was quite an early video and so I had not quite gotten everything right.

[@Charlesmartel01]

@@EasternRomanHistory thank you for the response. I came across your channel a few months ago. Great content. Including the primary sources in the video 💯🔥. Thanks for all your work.

[@EasternRomanHistory]

@@Charlesmartel01 Thank you very much. My new stuff is much better.

[@rickyyacine4818]

The fall of Egypt was big fall for Byzantine empire

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

Asia Minor was more important

[@rickyyacine4818]

@@Michael_the_Drunkard yes but like really men ? U lose Egypt u opening a gate to Africa Egypt borders could have easily replled Arab invasion just cut them at sunnah peninsula they can't do nothing arabs navy was still weak at the time personaly I blame Hercules he should have acted fast at 639 to block arab from Egypt then what the hell Byzantine lost anyway levant pff it could easily be retaking just few years off good defensive strategy then bam retaking levant at first arab civil war as berber I tell ya best way to defeat them at time building to walls huge ones 1 at the tourst mountains other at sunnah Egypt then focus on the navy few years and ur good it called cut the loses strategy very effective also the arabs used thier mobility because of light Calvary and sneak attacks they like jews they scheme that why leo third won he schemed too

[@rickyyacine4818]

@@Michael_the_Drunkard true but at 640s had Egypt never fell Levant retaking in time would possible

[@rickyyacine4818]

Rip sasaniad presia after khosrow the 2nd death it was hell for them also if only they helped in 636 the battle of yarmouk all of this could have been avoided

[@ares106]

I thought the colossus was destroyed in an earthquake hundreds of years ago. 10:59

[@rickyyacine4818]

If only he secured the north borders in Egypt the most important area the levant would restored in time

[@EasternRomanHistory]

The general he sent did manage to take Alexandria but then stopped and wasted any momentum he had.

[@rickyyacine4818]

@@EasternRomanHistory btw erh why most of Byzantine generals are eunuchs I get that narces was good but not all eunuch are good most of them kinda greedy

[@EasternRomanHistory]

@@rickyyacine4818 Often emperors employed them because they were very loyal. The skill or personality being a secondary concern.

[@rickyyacine4818]

@@EasternRomanHistory I think because also eunuch can't rebel and overthrow the emperor for example Justinian the first was kinda afraid of balasirus rebelling on him because he wasn't a eunuch

[@antiochussoter377]

Greece had fallen to the barbarians

[@EasternRomanHistory]

It had been largely overrun by Slavs once Maurice died.

[@antiochussoter377]

@@EasternRomanHistory but in later years the Slavs did another invasion and the imperial control over greece fell. Indeed,A large part of Greek peninsula was in a tribal status.

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

​​@@antiochussoter377 until the rehellenization begun under Irene and Nicephorus.