15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
__NOTOC__
[[File:Maurice One.png|200px|thumb|left|coins with the portrait of Emperor Maurice]]
The importance of the Byzantine Empire, the successor of Rome, is increasingly being recognized by historians. One of the most important turning points in the history of the Byzantine Empire 's history was the fall of Emperor Maurice (539-602 AD). He is a not a well—known emperor, or one that has entered into the popular consciousness. His reign, which was at first very successful, ended in a catastrophe for the emperor and his realm.
The fall and deposition of Maurice ushered in over a century where it seemed that the Byzantine state would suffer the same fate as the Western Roman Empire. Maurice’s death directly led to a 26-year war with the Sassanian Empire in Persia that weakened the Byzantines. This war had two critical repercussions, that changed history. The first challenge was that the Arabs, who were able to annex much of the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. The Arabs then Islamized this entire region. The second was that Slavs overran the Balkans provinces and these areas have remained Slavic to this day.
====The Slavs in the Balkans====
The army in the Balkans had to be moved to the east to counter the growing Persian threat after Maurice’s brutal execution. The Persian invasions forced Emperor Heraclius to concentrate all his forces in Anatolia. This led to the collapse of the Byzantine Balkan frontier , and the Avars raided to the walls of Byzantium and even took part in the Persian siege of the city in 626 AD. The Slavic tribes who had been largely pushed back beyond the Danube by Maurice were once again able to enter the Balkans, the Avars remained by and large beyond the Danube. These tribes settled in agricultural areas and formed petty kingdoms.<ref> Curta, Florin Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006), p 134</ref>
They regularly raided or besieged the remaining Byzantine settlements. The result was that many Greek and Latin speakers left the area and moved to southern Italy or Asia Minor. Heraclius and subsequent emperors were so concerned with the Arab threat that they could not launch any meaningful counter-attack against the Slavs. The result was that over a period of time, the Slavs occupied much of the Balkans and the area was only nominally under Byzantine control. This not only denied the Christian Empire, resources and manpower it also permanently changed the character of the area and the region. The Balkans had been largely Greek or Latin in character but after the 7th century it became increasingly Slavic.<ref> Curta, p 201</ref>
This may not have occurred if Maurice had not been deposed. He was on the verge of defeating the Slavs and their allies and close to subjugating them in 602 AD. If the army had not mutinied and acclaimed Phocas as Emperor, the Slavs could have been kept out of the Balkans. Instead , by 680 AD , they had occupied nearly all of the region and changed its ethnic character, permanently.<ref> Curta, 202</ref>
====Conclusion====
Maurice is rightly seen as a great general and administrator, but he was uncompromising and did not attend to the interests of his soldiers and the general population. Maurice removed the Persian threat and secured the eastern flank of his Empire. He was on the verge of a complete victory in the Balkans. Maurice 's inflexibility provoked a mutiny this , which led to his deposition and death. There was a dramatic shift in the fortunes of the Empire. It led to a 26-year war with Persia that grievously weakened the Empire, even though it survived. The Christian Empire went into a protracted period of decline that has been called the ‘Byzantine Dark Ages’Ages. ’ At this time , the Slavs occupied the Balkans , and the Muslims permanently seized Syria, Palestine , and North Africa. This led to enduring cultural and religious changes in these regions. The decline of Byzantium could have been avoided if Phocas had not treacherously deposed and killed Maurice. The fate of the successor of the Roman Empire shows that individual events, such as a usurpation , can change the fate of even great states.
====Recommended Reading====
