Lars Brownworth
Born
The United States
Genre
Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization
21 editions
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published
2009
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The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings
21 editions
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published
2014
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The Normans: From Raiders to Kings
15 editions
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published
2014
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In Distant Lands: A Short History of the Crusades
15 editions
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published
2017
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Leo the Wise (886-912) (Byzantium: The Rise of the Macedonians Book 1)
2 editions
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published
2010
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12 Byzantine Rulers
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The Normans: From Raiders to Kings
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Alexander III and Zoë (912-920) (Byzantium: The Rise of the Macedonians)
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published
2010
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The Caesars (Vol 1): Julius Caesar - Roman Colossus
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Romanus Lecapenus: The Great Pretender
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published
2011
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“the whole idea of a “holy” war was an alien concept to the Byzantine mind. Killing, as Saint Basil of Caesarea had taught in the fourth century, was sometimes necessary but never praiseworthy, and certainly not grounds for remission of sins. The Eastern Church had held this line tenaciously throughout the centuries, even rejecting the great warrior-emperor Nicephorus Phocas’s attempt to have soldiers who died fighting Muslims declared martyrs. Wars could, of course, be just, but on the whole diplomacy was infinitely preferable. Above all, eastern clergy were not permitted to take up arms, and the strange sight of Norman clerics armed and even leading soldiers disconcerted the watching hosts.”
― Lost to the West
― Lost to the West
“Despite having murdered his wife and eldest son, he was venerated as a saint—quite an impressive feat for a man who was both deified as a pagan god and baptized by a heretic.”
― Lost to the West
― Lost to the West
“on that last Monday of the empire’s history, the mood changed. There was no rest for the weary, of course, and work continued, but for the first time in weeks, the inhabitants of the city began to make their way to the Hagia Sophia. There, for the first and last time in Byzantine history, the divisions that had split the church for centuries were forgotten, Greek priests stood shoulder to shoulder with Latin ones, and a truly ecumenical service began. While the population gathered in the great church, Constantine gave a final speech—a funeral oration, as Edward Gibbon put it—for the Roman Empire. Reminding his assembled troops of their glorious history, he proudly charged them to acquit themselves with dignity and honor: “Animals may run from animals, but you are men, and worthy heirs of the great heroes of Ancient Greece and Rome.”* Turning to the Italians who were fighting in defense of Constantinople, the emperor thanked them for their service, assuring them that they were now brothers, united by a common bond. After shaking hands with each of the commanders, he dismissed them to their posts and joined the rest of the population in the Hagia Sophia.”
― Lost to the West
― Lost to the West
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