The geographical and historical region of “Macedonia,” primarily, as well as specific Balkan territories spanning from the 6th to the 15th century, constitutes the central spatial temporal framework for the thematic discussions of the Round Table. In its historical progression, Byzantium consistently altered its borders, resulting in temporal intervals during which it asserted political and military influence in the Balkans—occasionally disrupted, yet also featuring prolonged periods of diminished presence. Within this historical context, occurrences of independent autochthonous rulers or external dominations on the lands of Macedonia and the broader Balkans are not uncommon, embodying compensatory responses to Byzantine absence. Despite historical fluctuations, the lasting impact of Byzantine cultural influence persisted seamlessly throughout the entire medieval period, transcending the collapse of the empire. This resilience can be ascribed, on one hand, to institutions that endured post-Byzantine rule, meticulously modeled on the Byzantine pattern — such as the Ohrid Archbishopric and others; on the other hand, it also reflects inherently positive models of Byzantine governance. These phenomena fundamentally interwove the territories of Macedonia and other specific Balkan regions as integral components of the Byzantine commonwealth. Consequently, the speakers will focus on rigorous comparative studies, scrutinizing the advantages or weaknesses arising from Byzantine absence or presence. Additionally, attention will be dedicated to examining some insufficiently noticed implications of individual processes and episodes tied to the expansions of certain Balkan states into the territory of Macedonia, vis-à-vis Byzantine absence or the challenges encountered in retaining dominance.
Rooted in its ancient and apostolic heritage and early ecclesiastical networks, Macedonia emerged as a dynamic borderland where historical tradition, imperial power, local identity, and Christian faith converged. From the seventh century, the fusion of Christianity with ancient traditions—embodied in the cults of saints, especially that of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica—radiated among the Slavic groups…
In the course of the war that led to the fall of Samuel’s state, we find symbolic actions intended to send a message, such as the burning of Gabriel Radomir’s palaces in Buteli and the blinding of Samuel’s captured soldiers. This pattern continued after the fall, with the construction of the castle named after the…
It is commonly accepted that the typika constituted a fundamental framework of monastic life, defining both ascetic practice as a pursuit of sinless living, and the necessity of organized communal existence within the monastic foundations of the empire. Beginning with Pachomius, the author of the first typikon in the early Christian period, and continuing through…
The term Macedonia in the medieval period represents a semantic and geographical designation of complex and layered meaning. Contemporary Byzantine authors referred to it infrequently, yet almost invariably with reference to its ancient geographical conception. Throughout the Byzantine era, as Johannes Koder notes, Macedonia was clearly distinguished from neighboring regions: Illyricum, Bulgaria, and Serbia to…
The fall of Constantinople in 1204 and the subsequent collapse of centralized imperial authority in Byzantium brought dramatic shifts both in the political and ecclesiastical dynamics of the Balkans. Within this turbulent landscape, the Ohrid Archbishopric assumed an exceptionally influential role, acting as a steward of Byzantine traditions while engaging in broader processes of state…
The death of the Serbian ruler Stefan Dušan (1355) marked the process of decentralization and disintegration of the Serbian empire. The local governors of Romania/Rhomaioi (newly-conquered Serbian, that is, former Byzantine territories: Macedonia, Albania, Epirus, Thessaly and others), and especially those from Macedonia, were at the forefront of such tendencies. Their ultimate goal was to…