Crime, Scandal and Conspiracy in Byzantium

Behind the splendour of imperial ceremonies, magnificent churches, and courtly ritual, Byzantium was also a world of ambition, rivalry, accusation, and political danger. This two-hour online workshop enters the darker side of Byzantine history through some of its most fascinating cases of crime, scandal, conspiracy, and palace intrigue. Drawing on Byzantine chronicles, legal texts, letters, and other contemporary sources, we will examine stories of murder plots, political betrayal, illicit relationships, contested reputations, and struggles for power. But were these stories always true? Rather than simply retelling the most sensational episodes of Byzantine history, the workshop will ask how historians can distinguish event from accusation, fact from rumour, and historical evidence from literary construction. Particular attention will be paid to the ways Byzantine authors used scandal to praise or condemn emperors, empresses, courtiers, and political rivals. Participants will therefore encounter not only the dramatic personalities and events behind Byzantine court politics, but also the historian’s challenge of reconstructing a world in which reputation itself could become a political weapon. This workshop is designed for anyone interested in Byzantine history, politics, and culture. No previous specialist knowledge is required. Participants receive access to the live workshop, a selected reading list, the recording after the event, and a certificate of participation.