The Byzantines and the Mongols In 1257 the Mongols sent a deputation to demand the submission of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was small at this time and Emperor Theodore II wished to strengthen his bargaining position. ... (1/2)
Replies
... (2/2) Consequently he took the envoys on the most circuitous route to his capital imaginable, posting troops at every junction, thereby giving the impression that his empire was massive and crammed with soldiers. The Byzantines were always good at diplomacy!
sep 9, 2025, 3:55 pm • 4 0 • view
Not sure they were convinced!!
sep 9, 2025, 4:02 pm • 1 0 • view
Admittedly it didn't work in the long run. A few years later the Byzantines seem to have come to terms with the Mongol, although it's not clear under what terms.
sep 9, 2025, 4:04 pm • 0 0 • view
Didn’t the emperor marry one of his daughters to Nogai?
sep 9, 2025, 5:14 pm • 0 0 • view
Yes indeed, it was later emperors, but there were several marriages between women from the imperial family and leading Mongols.
sep 9, 2025, 5:20 pm • 1 0 • view
Do you discuss that in your book?
sep 9, 2025, 6:38 pm • 1 0 • view
Yes indeed, it makes an appearance
sep 9, 2025, 6:39 pm • 1 0 • view
And then there was a massed withdrawal of mongols from the west to engage with a Succession "crisis" back in central Asia.
sep 9, 2025, 4:05 pm • 1 0 • view