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In the year 324, the Roman Emperor Constantine I, the Great, started work on a new capital
for his empire. The empire had been divided in two previously by Diocletian in 286. Constantine
ruled over both halves, East and West, but was acutely aware of the steady decline of the West, in terms of the economy and military security. Accordingly, he settled on the town of Byzantium for his new capital, situated as it was in an excellent strategic position at the heart of the Eastern empire. The work on the new capital was completed in 330, and the city was dedicated and renamed Constantinopolis, in honour of its founder.
Constantinople was to remain capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for more than 1100 years after its dedication. The term "Byzantine" Empire recalls the original name of the capital founded by
Constantine. Different dates can be assigned to the actual beginning of the Byzantine Empire. Some would place it in 286 when Diocletian
originally split the empire. Others would argue for the dedication of Constantinople in 330 whilst yet others would say that it began in 476 with the fall of Rome and final disintegration of the Western Empire. Numismatically speaking, the division came when the emperor
Anastasius I
reformed the coinage completely in 498. Previously, the old Roman system had remained in use, but the reform produced a completely new set of coins, and instigated the distinctive Byzantine series. The 498 date is used here, as this is principally a numismatic site.
Multiple occupancy of the imperial throne was common during some periods of the Byzantine Empire. By convention, only the senior Emperor receives a regnal number. So whilst there are eleven numbered Constantines, there are a
further five emperors called Constantine who were never the senior emperor. To confuse matters further, some regnal numbers are reused from the Roman series. So there are two Constantine IIIs and two Constans IIs. Even more
confusingly, the Byzantine contenders for Constantine III and Constans II are the same man. Usually known as Constans II Pogonatus, this emperor's official name (and that inscribed on his coinage) was actually Constantine. |
