BYZANTINE DIPLOMATIC STRATEGIES DURING THE PERIOD OF THE FIRST FOUR CRUSADES
Corresponding author:
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Accepted
26 March 2026
Available Online
15 November 2014
Abstract
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND THE LATINS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE FIRST CRUSADES, THE BYZANTINE DIPLOMATIC CEREMONIAL CONSTITUTED A SYMBOLIC STATEMENT OF THE VALUES OF THE GREEK CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION AND A WAY OF LEGITIMIZING THE UNIVERSALIST CLAIMS OF THE EMPIRE OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT TOWARDS THE FOREIGN NATIONS. FOR THE FOREIGN VISITORS, THE MESSAGE OF THIS RITUAL WAS AT THE SAME TIME CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL, EMPHASIZING THE GLORY AND THE MAJESTY OF THE BASILEUS WITHIN THE TERRESTRIAL AND CELESTE ORDER. AS AN INDICATOR OF THE BYZANTINE IDENTITY AND OF THE DIVERSITY BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND THE WESTERN, THE IMPERIAL PROTOCOL BECOME ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL REFERENCE FRAME FOR THE CULTURAL - IDEOLOGICAL ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE TWO CHRISTIAN WORLDS DURING THE AGE OF THE HOLY WARS OF THE CHRISTIANITY. THIS STUDY AIMS TO ANALYZE A NUMBER OF THE MEANS AND STRATEGIES OF THE GREEK DIPLOMACY USED BY THE BYZANTINE LEADERS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND ACHIEVEMENET OF ITS MILITARY, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES.
Keywords
CEREMONIAL
BYZANTINES
OATH
GIFTS
VOLUBILITY
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