Byzantine Empire: Greek or Roman/Latin?

[Dr_Maul]

I'm curious as to what you guys think of this matter. For the record, I am only referring to the time period of 395 AD (Formal split) until 1204 (Empire is dismantled by Crusaders). The reasoning behind this is:

Between 330-395 It was basically the same as the Roman Empire, so Latin
From 1204 to 1261, it was just a Venetian Crusader rump state and undeniably Latin
From 1261-1453 it was a Greek Orthodox revival and was undeniably Hellenic/Greek

So what do you guys think? Was the Byzantine Empire of 395-1204 a Latin Successor of Rome or its own Hellenic Empire?

[Arsen_]

Neither.

Byzantine Empire actually was predominantly an Armenian Empire where Armenian elite for some utilitarian reasons chose Greek language as state language. And by the way the Arabs, contemporaries of the Byzantine Empire, called it exactly that way: Armenian Empire.

[Dr_Maul]

Neither.

Byzantine Empire actually was predominantly an Armenian Empire where Armenian elite for some utilitarian reasons chose Greek language as state language. And by the way the Arabs, contemporaries of the Byzantine Empire, called it exactly that way: Armenian Empire.

Hmmm that is definitely an interesting take but I think it would still be Latin/Hellenic because that was the culture

[Vojnik]

Multi ethnic.

Started as Latin speaking, ended with Greek.

[Adamm]

Neither.

Byzantine Empire actually was predominantly an Armenian Empire where Armenian elite for some utilitarian reasons chose Greek language as state language. And by the way the Arabs, contemporaries of the Byzantine Empire, called it exactly that way: Armenian Empire.

Do you have a source on the thing about Arabs calling it the Armenian empire? This is the first time I heard this. Thanks.

[Vojnik]

Neither.

Byzantine Empire actually was predominantly an Armenian Empire where Armenian elite for some utilitarian reasons chose Greek language as state language. And by the way the Arabs, contemporaries of the Byzantine Empire, called it exactly that way: Armenian Empire.

It was very Armenian indeed.

At the beginning it was Thraco-Illyrian.

Constantinian dynasty (306-363)

Constantine I (306-337) - ILLYRIAN, born in Nish, Serbia.
Constantine II (337-361) - ILLYRIAN, son of Constantine I, born in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia.
Julian (361-363) - ILLYRIAN, son of Constantine I's Brother.

Non-dynastic (363-364)

Jovian (363-364) - ILLYRIAN, born in Belgrade, Serbia.

Valentinian-Theodosian dynasty (364-377)

Valentinian I (364-375) - ILLYRIAN, Born in Vinkovci, Croatia.
Valens (375-378) - ILLYRIAN, Brother of Valentinian I, born in Vinkovci, Croatia.
Gratian (378-379) - ILLYRIAN, born in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia.
Theodosius I (379-395) - SPANISH, born in Cauca, Spain.
Arcadius (395-408) - SPANISH, son of Theodosius I.
Theodosius II (408-450) - SPANISH, son of Arcadius.
Pulcheria (450-453) - SPANISH, daughter of Arcadius.
Marcian (450-457) - THRACIAN, born in Thrace, exact village or town unknown.

Leonid dynasty (457-518)

Leo I (457-474) - THRACIAN, born in Thrace, exact village or town unknown.
Leo II (474-474) - THRACIAN, Son of Zeno and grandson of Leo I.
Zeno (474-475) - KURDISH, born in Isauria, Turkey.
Basiliscus (475-476) - ILLYRIAN, Born in the northern Balkans, exact village or town unknown.
Zeno (476-491) - KURDISH, restored as emperor.
Anastasius I (491-518) - ILLYRIAN, born in Durres, Albania.

Justinian dynasty (518-602)

Justin I (518-527) - ILLYRIAN, born in Nish, Serbia. (his real name was Istok).
Justinian I (527-565) - MACEDONIAN, born in Gradiste, Republic of Macedonia.
Justin II (565-578) - MACEDONIAN, nephew of Justinian I.
Tiberius II Constantine (578-582) - THRACIAN, born in Thrace, exact village or town unknown.
Maurice (582-602) - ARMENIAN, born in Arabissus, Turkey.

Non-dynastic (602-610)

Phocas (602-610) - THRACIAN, born in Thrace, exact village or town unknown.

Heraclian dynasty (610-711)

Heraclius (610–641) - ARMENIAN, born in Cappodocia, Turkey.
Constantine III (641-641) - ARMENIAN, son of Heraclius, born in Lazica, Republic of Georgia.
Heraklonas (641-641) - ARMENIAN, son of Heraclius, born in Lazica, Republic of Georgia.
Constans II (641–668) - ARMENIAN, son of Constatine III.
Mezezius (668–669) - ARMENIAN, born in Malazgirt, Turkey.
Constantine IV (668–685) - ARMENIAN, son of Constans II.
Justinian II (685–695) - ARMENIAN, son of Constatine IV.
Leontios (695–698) - KURDISH, born in Isauria, Turkey.
Tiberios III (698–705) - GERMAN, born in Germany, exact village or town unknown.
Justinian II (705–711) - ARMENIAN, restored.

Non-dynastic (711-717)

Philippikos Bardanes (711–713) - ARMENIAN, born in Armenia, exact village or town unknown.
Anastasios II (713–715) - UNKNOWN, possibly Armenian.
Theodosios III (715–717) - GERMAN, son of Tiberios III.

Isaurian dynasty (717-802)

Leo III (717–741) - KURDISH, born in Maras, Turkey.
Constantine V Kopronymos (741-741) - KURDISH, son of Leo III.
Artabasdus (741–743) - ARMENIAN, born in Armenia, exact village or town unknown.
Constantine V Kopronymos (743–775) - KURDISH, restored as emperor.
Leo IV (775–780) - KURDISH/KHAZAR son of Constantine V and a Khazar mother.
Constantine VI (780–797) - KURDISH/KHAZAR, son of Leo IV.
Irene (797–802) - GREEK, born in Athens and ironically deposed and exiled to Lesbos.

Nikephoros dynasty (802-813)

Nikephoros I (802–811) - ARAB, born in Selef, Turkey.
Staurakios (811-811) - ARAB, son of Nikephoros I.
Michael I Rangabe (811–813) - UNKNOWN.

Non-dynastic (813-820)

Leo V (813–820) - ARMENIAN, born in Armenia, exact village or town unknown.

Phrygian dynasty (820-867)

Michael II (820-829) - ARMENIAN, Born in Amorium, Turkey.
Theophilus (829-842) - ARMENIAN, son of Michael II and an Armenian mother.
Theodora (842-855) - ARMENIAN, born in Paphlagonia, Turkey.
Michael III (855-867) - ARMENIAN, son of Theophilus.

Macedonian dynasty (867-1056)

Basil I (867-886) - ARMENIAN, born in Macedonia, exact village or town unknown.
Leo VI (886-912) - ARMENIAN, son of Michael III.
Alexander (912-913) - ARMENIAN, son of Basil I.
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (908-959) - ARMENIAN, son of Leo VI
Romanos I Lekapenos (920-944) - ARMENIAN, born in Lakape, Republic of Armenia.
Romanos II Porphyrogennetos (959-963) - ARMENIAN, son of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos.
Nikephoros II Phokas (963-969) - ARMENIAN, born in Cappodocia, Turkey.
John I Tzimiskes (969-976) - ARMENIAN, born in Cappodocia, Turkey.
Basil II (976-1025) - ARMENIAN, exact village or town unknown.
Constantine VIII (1025-1028) - ARMENIAN, son of Romanos II Porphyrogennetos.
Zoe (1028-1050) - ARMENIAN, daugter of Constantine VIII.
Romanos III Argyros (1028-1034) - ARMENIAN, great grandson of Romanos I.
Michael IV (1034-1041) - PAPHLAGONIAN, born in Paphlagonia, Turkey.
Michael V (1041-1042) - PAPHLAGONIAN, nephew of Michael IV.
Theodora (1042-1042) - ARMENIAN, daughter of Constantine VIII.
Constantine IX (1042-1055) - UNKNOWN, possibly Armenian.
Theodora (1055-1056) - ARMENIAN, restored as emperor.

Non-dynastic (1056-1057)

Michael VI the General (1056–1057) - UNKNOWN.

Komnenid dynasty (1057-1059)

Isaac I Komnenos (1057–1059) - ARMENIAN, family originates from Paphlagonia, Turkey.

Doukid dynasty (1059-1081)

Constantine X (1059-1067) - PAPHLAGONIAN, born exact village or town unknown.
Michael VII (1067-1090) - PAPHLAGONIAN, son of Constantine X.
Romanos IV (1067-1071) - ARMENIAN, family originates from Cappodocia, Turkey.
Nikephoros III (1078-1081) - ITALIAN, descended from the Fabii, a leading patrician family from Rome.

Komnenid dynasty (1081-1185)

Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118) - ARMENIAN, nephew of Isaac I Komnenos, family originates from Paphlagonia, Turkey.
John II Komnenos (1118-1143) - ARMENIAN, son of Alexios I Komnenos.
Manuel I Komnenos (1143-1180) - ARMENIAN, son of Andronikos I Komnenos.
Alexios II Komnenos (1180-1183) - ARMENIAN, son of Manuel I Komnenos.
Andronikos I Michael VIII Palaiologos 1183-1185) - ARMENIAN, grandson of Alexios I.

Angelid dynasty (1185-1204)

Isaac II Angelos (1185-1195) - ARMENIAN, grandson of Alexios I Komnenos.
Alexios III Angelos (1195-1203) - ARMENIAN, grandson of Alexios I Komnenos.
Isaac II Angelos (1203-1205) - ARMENIAN, restored as emperor.
Alexios IV Angelos (1203-1204) - ARMENIAN, son of Isaac II Angelos.
Nikolaos Kanabos (1204-1205) - UNKNOWN.
Alexios V Doukas (1204-1205) - PAPHLAGONIAN, descended from the Ducas family who originate from Paphlagonia, Turkey.

Latin dynasty - Empire of Constantinople (1204-1237)

Baldwin I (1204–06) - FRENCH, born in Valenciennes, France.
Henry (1206–1217) - FRENCH, born in Valenciennes, France.
Peter (1217-1217) - FRENCH, born in Auxerre, France.
Yolande (1217–1219) - FRENCH, sister of Balwin I.
Robert (1221–1228) - FRENCH, born in Flanders, France.
Baldwin II Porphyrogennetos (1228–1261) - FRENCH, son of Yolande.
John (1231–1237) - FRENCH, born in Brienne, France.

Laskarid dynasty - Empire of Nicaea (1204-1261)

Constantine Laskaris (1204-1204) - UNKNOWN.
Theodore I Laskaris (1174–1222) - UNKNOWN.
John III Doukas Vatatzes (1222–1254) - ARMENIAN, cousin of Isaac II Angelos.
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris (1254–1258) - UNKNOWN.
John IV Doukas Laskaris (1258–1261) - UNKNOWN.

Palaiologan Dynasty (1259-1453)

Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259–1282) - ARMENIAN, descended from both the Armenian Ducas and Komnenos families.
Andronikos II Palaiologos the Elder (1282–1328) - ARMENIAN, son of Michael VIII Palaiologos.
Andronikos III Palaiologos the Younger (1328–1341) - ARMENIAN , son of and Michael IX Palaiologos and princess Rita of Armenia.
John V Palaiologos (1341–1347) - ARMENIAN, son of Andronikos III Palaiologos the Younger.
John VI Kantakouzenos (1347–1354) - GREEK, born in Morea.
John V Palaiologos (1354–1376) - ARMENIAN, restored as emperor.
Andronikos IV Palaiologos (1376–1379) - ARMENIAN, son of John V Palaiologos.
John VII Palaiologos (1376-1379) - ARMENIAN, son of Andronikos IV Palaiologos.
John V Palaiologos (1379–1390) - ARMENIAN, restored as emperor.
John VII Palaiologos (1390-1390) - ARMENIAN, son of Andronikos IV Palaiologos.
John V Palaiologos (1390–1391) - ARMENIAN, son of Andronikos III Palaiologos.
Manuel II Palaiologos (1391–1425) - ARMENIAN, son of John V Palaiologos.
John VII Palaiologos (1399–1402) - ARMENIAN, restored as emperor.
John VIII Palaiologos (1425–1448) - ARMENIAN, son of Manuel II Palaiologos.
Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragases (1449–1453) - ARMENIAN, son of Manuel II Palaiolo

[Mejgusu]

Polyetnic. From Balkan to caucasus, many people were byzantine. Turks call them rumi or rum( roman) as descands of romans. Indeed there were armenians who have important status, also balkan people. At the end pechenegs were important for military, they probanly werent many, but at malazgirt battle they refused to fight against selcuks. But i think the greek language were dominant and we cant deny the importance of some greeks.

[Arsen_]

Do you have a source on the thing about Arabs calling it the Armenian empire? This is the first time I heard this. Thanks.

You can yourself take any Arab source. (Of course source coming from Arabs who lived 1000 years ago) By the way Arabs of that time not only refered to Byzantine Empire as an Armenian Empire but also they called any Byzantine soldier - Armenian.

[Renekton]

It's started as a Latin after as a Greek.

[Rabbit Hole]

Multi ethnic.

Started as Latin speaking, ended with Greek.

Greek language came before Latin languages

Cyrillic was just after those two.