Why did the East Try to Reconquer the West
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Date: 2026-03-07
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Comments and reviews: 20
danielefabbro822
Let aside the fact that the Empire was split into two and since there it vanished from history, leaving two successor States at its place, one of which was ours of us Italians, the other was of the Greeks.
And despite we having helped the Easterns in defending them at Adrianopolis, costed us our whole army. leaving us exposed to the barbarian invasions and having no support whatshowever from the East.
The attempt to conquer our part from the barbarian invaders mostly depleted resources that for the East would have been more useful in defending their empire from their invasions.
After all, their conquest of the West led to nothing. No permanent return of Imperial authorities, no changing in set and mind of institutions (except those who was still there since the Fall of the Roman Empire and hence had no need to change, like the Senate of Roma or the multiple pubblic officies that was still run during and under the rule of the barbarian invaders, nothing.
Their reconquista was pointless and harmful for our people, and let's not forget all the stuff they plunged and pillaged from Roma to bring it to Constantinople to make it looks beautiful.
Some call them our brothers. I don't see reasons to call brother who steal from us and leave us at the mercy of the enemy.
In a way or another, in these last 1600 years, we have fought our wars to free our land and get back our Republic, our Nation in one piece.
From now on, we will rule our lands without the interferences of any foreign power. And to those who want to teach or command us in our lands. let them remember that to command us they have to pay with their blood. We do not accept any other currency.
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Let aside the fact that the Empire was split into two and since there it vanished from history, leaving two successor States at its place, one of which was ours of us Italians, the other was of the Greeks.
And despite we having helped the Easterns in defending them at Adrianopolis, costed us our whole army. leaving us exposed to the barbarian invasions and having no support whatshowever from the East.
The attempt to conquer our part from the barbarian invaders mostly depleted resources that for the East would have been more useful in defending their empire from their invasions.
After all, their conquest of the West led to nothing. No permanent return of Imperial authorities, no changing in set and mind of institutions (except those who was still there since the Fall of the Roman Empire and hence had no need to change, like the Senate of Roma or the multiple pubblic officies that was still run during and under the rule of the barbarian invaders, nothing.
Their reconquista was pointless and harmful for our people, and let's not forget all the stuff they plunged and pillaged from Roma to bring it to Constantinople to make it looks beautiful.
Some call them our brothers. I don't see reasons to call brother who steal from us and leave us at the mercy of the enemy.
In a way or another, in these last 1600 years, we have fought our wars to free our land and get back our Republic, our Nation in one piece.
From now on, we will rule our lands without the interferences of any foreign power. And to those who want to teach or command us in our lands. let them remember that to command us they have to pay with their blood. We do not accept any other currency.
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gaiusflaminius4861
You're glaringly incorrect: the main reason for Justinian's wars in the West was to restore these provinces to direct Roman control, not to pursue military glory on the heels of the Persian war, and the evidence does exist. According to the Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian issued a formal justification for the attack on the Ostrogoths, namely, that after defeating Odovacer, they should have returned Italy to the only legitimate authority - the Emperor. This detail reveals that, in the eyes of Justinian and his political intellectuals, such as Marcellinus, the Germanic kingdoms were anachronistic offshoots of mass usurpation that occurred a century earlier due to the weakness of central power.
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You're glaringly incorrect: the main reason for Justinian's wars in the West was to restore these provinces to direct Roman control, not to pursue military glory on the heels of the Persian war, and the evidence does exist. According to the Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian issued a formal justification for the attack on the Ostrogoths, namely, that after defeating Odovacer, they should have returned Italy to the only legitimate authority - the Emperor. This detail reveals that, in the eyes of Justinian and his political intellectuals, such as Marcellinus, the Germanic kingdoms were anachronistic offshoots of mass usurpation that occurred a century earlier due to the weakness of central power.
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nuncasaberas5926
Simple logic really: ROMA = IMPERA
The roman empire was always a mediterranean empire, it needed control of the mare nostrum to work as efficiently as possible, if not, anybody across the pond could raid their trade and supplies and disrupt the empire's functioning, which the vandals did a lot, or worst, team up with the Persians to ruin everything. And ofc, the west is where the empire began, Rome had lost it's homeland, what kinds of romans would they be if at least they didn't try and retake it
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Simple logic really: ROMA = IMPERA
The roman empire was always a mediterranean empire, it needed control of the mare nostrum to work as efficiently as possible, if not, anybody across the pond could raid their trade and supplies and disrupt the empire's functioning, which the vandals did a lot, or worst, team up with the Persians to ruin everything. And ofc, the west is where the empire began, Rome had lost it's homeland, what kinds of romans would they be if at least they didn't try and retake it
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witt997
let's have a part 2, focused on the roman empire and the fight with the persian empire before being taken both down by the new arabs from the south! that is also an interesting part of history: how two strong empires were defeated so easily by a newly form band of arabs and their new faith. that also led to giving egypt to the persian for 10 years before retaking it back, only for losing to the arabs a few years later. yet somehow, the empire was strengthened and endured sieges and invasions since then.
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let's have a part 2, focused on the roman empire and the fight with the persian empire before being taken both down by the new arabs from the south! that is also an interesting part of history: how two strong empires were defeated so easily by a newly form band of arabs and their new faith. that also led to giving egypt to the persian for 10 years before retaking it back, only for losing to the arabs a few years later. yet somehow, the empire was strengthened and endured sieges and invasions since then.
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EdgeOfHistory2408
This video perfectly captures the tragic paradox of Justinian’s reign. While the military achievements of Belisarius are legendaryespecially holding Rome with only 7, 000 menyou can’t ignore the crushing cost. Between the 'Eternal Peace' that wasn't eternal, the devastation of the Gothic War, and the arrival of the Plague, it feels like the Empire won the West only to lose its future stability. A brilliant look at whether the dream of Restitutio Imperii was actually worth the price
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This video perfectly captures the tragic paradox of Justinian’s reign. While the military achievements of Belisarius are legendaryespecially holding Rome with only 7, 000 menyou can’t ignore the crushing cost. Between the 'Eternal Peace' that wasn't eternal, the devastation of the Gothic War, and the arrival of the Plague, it feels like the Empire won the West only to lose its future stability. A brilliant look at whether the dream of Restitutio Imperii was actually worth the price
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bob_greene
it was just a matter of time until the Romans rested on their laurels to be taken over by the Germanics and opposition from the region of Persia, too; it was kinda like a much older version of the Cold War;
this is the same idea that U see in movies about organized crime where business owners were shaken down for protection fees; there are frequently bullies that use these practices until someone puts them in their place (basically 6 feet under)
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it was just a matter of time until the Romans rested on their laurels to be taken over by the Germanics and opposition from the region of Persia, too; it was kinda like a much older version of the Cold War;
this is the same idea that U see in movies about organized crime where business owners were shaken down for protection fees; there are frequently bullies that use these practices until someone puts them in their place (basically 6 feet under)
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Carlo-1453
In hindsight, Eastern Rome should not have tried to retake the West.
The treasury, manpower and resources could have been used to defend the borders with the Sassanids and later the Muslims.
But the empire have been divided several times and united eventually. Thus, in their perspective, it was just a matter of time when they are finally strong enough to launch the liberation of the West.
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In hindsight, Eastern Rome should not have tried to retake the West.
The treasury, manpower and resources could have been used to defend the borders with the Sassanids and later the Muslims.
But the empire have been divided several times and united eventually. Thus, in their perspective, it was just a matter of time when they are finally strong enough to launch the liberation of the West.
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NeveroOn
What if justinian made belisarius emperor in the west with power base in north Africa and the islands. With some support arriving for him and then cutting supplementary payments for his troops, because the taxes of the west should pay them. ER Empire could recruit new troops for itself with free money, couldn't it
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What if justinian made belisarius emperor in the west with power base in north Africa and the islands. With some support arriving for him and then cutting supplementary payments for his troops, because the taxes of the west should pay them. ER Empire could recruit new troops for itself with free money, couldn't it
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unfoldedtime215_67
Retaking North Africa removed the Vandal naval threat including to trade. But reconquering Italy depopulated and destroyed its cities, making it impossible to fully hold against the Lombards. The population dropped by maybe one third and it became an economic drain on the empire.
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Retaking North Africa removed the Vandal naval threat including to trade. But reconquering Italy depopulated and destroyed its cities, making it impossible to fully hold against the Lombards. The population dropped by maybe one third and it became an economic drain on the empire.
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CARL_093
Emperor Justinian reconquered many former territories of the Western Roman Empire, including Italia, Dalmatia, Africa, and southern Hispania. Justinian's ambition for re-conquest was only partly realized, with the only lasting and sustainable conquest being Africa.
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Emperor Justinian reconquered many former territories of the Western Roman Empire, including Italia, Dalmatia, Africa, and southern Hispania. Justinian's ambition for re-conquest was only partly realized, with the only lasting and sustainable conquest being Africa.
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florinivan6907
These efforts mostly failed mainly because by then the local populations were no longer that tied to the East. They had spent decades under a different leadership. Only in a few places like southern Italy did the byzantines maintain their hold.
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These efforts mostly failed mainly because by then the local populations were no longer that tied to the East. They had spent decades under a different leadership. Only in a few places like southern Italy did the byzantines maintain their hold.
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killermoon635
Those Eastern Romans emperor and generals are not Italian by blood! From what I know they are mostly Greek or from Balkan countries. Which means that they are not real Romans by blood. Real Romans are Italians
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Those Eastern Romans emperor and generals are not Italian by blood! From what I know they are mostly Greek or from Balkan countries. Which means that they are not real Romans by blood. Real Romans are Italians
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knowledgia
Imagine if they just went full on right into Spain and Gaul and completely reconquered the entire empire and made it whole again! Regardless they got Italy and North Africa back where’s the movie about this
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Imagine if they just went full on right into Spain and Gaul and completely reconquered the entire empire and made it whole again! Regardless they got Italy and North Africa back where’s the movie about this
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knowledgia
Nice i was wondering when you were going to do a huge video about that period! What a video you have uploaded there! Keep going on everything is going great! Your the best got my full support from Hight savoy!
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Nice i was wondering when you were going to do a huge video about that period! What a video you have uploaded there! Keep going on everything is going great! Your the best got my full support from Hight savoy!
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WelcomeToDERPLAND
Honestly I wouldve been shocked if they didn't try to reconquer the west, it was the birthplace of their empire and cultural homeland, losing it was a massive prestige and psychological hit.
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Honestly I wouldve been shocked if they didn't try to reconquer the west, it was the birthplace of their empire and cultural homeland, losing it was a massive prestige and psychological hit.
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marinvalkov9755
Empires never bring anything good to the world. This is the reason to hate the Western world and Eastern too. Everything is lies, lies and lies. Just how you hear lies about Iran.
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Empires never bring anything good to the world. This is the reason to hate the Western world and Eastern too. Everything is lies, lies and lies. Just how you hear lies about Iran.
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education
1-Rome conquered the glorious Hellenistic world in the Levant and adopted its culture
2-The Hellenistic world survived after Rome fell in the West and adopted its name
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1-Rome conquered the glorious Hellenistic world in the Levant and adopted its culture
2-The Hellenistic world survived after Rome fell in the West and adopted its name
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knowledgia
great video! but, the east didn't just try to take over the west, it HAS taken over the west. if you don't believe me, visit Germany today and what used to be the UK.
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great video! but, the east didn't just try to take over the west, it HAS taken over the west. if you don't believe me, visit Germany today and what used to be the UK.
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philipcone357
The western empire with the cooling of the climate was no longer fertile farmland. The lands of Gaul were no longer fertile thus They worried more about Italy
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The western empire with the cooling of the climate was no longer fertile farmland. The lands of Gaul were no longer fertile thus They worried more about Italy
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mattk791
i always wondered how the Germanic kings could hold these lands but Rome seemed to struggle much more. Why would these lands be an expense rather than investment
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i always wondered how the Germanic kings could hold these lands but Rome seemed to struggle much more. Why would these lands be an expense rather than investment
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