DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0147
THE CHRISTIAN PERIOD.
117
The massacre of citizens in the circus of Thessalonica by the order of the Emperor Theodosius,
is a fact too well known to require lengthened notice. During an insurrection, excited by
the imprisonment of a chariot-driver of the circus, Buterichus, commander of the armies of
Illyria, was killed. Theodosius dissimulated his resentment, and invited the inhabitants to
the public games. As soon as they had assembled in the circus, the soldiers, bursting in,
massacred seven thousand people, without distinction of age or sex.
The repentance of Theodosius, and the punishment imposed upon him by St. Ambrose,
bishop of Milan, are amongst the most well-known facts of Byzantine times. The circus in
which this event took place stood in the square then called the Hippodrome; but all remains
of it have disappeared.
Towards the middle of the 7th century, Macedonia was the theatre of successive invasions
of northern nations ; the Avari and the Sclaves strove hard to take Thessalonica, but without
success. The latter made six incursions successively, and finally settled amongst the mountains
of Macedonia, embraced Christianity, and in later times became the faithful allies of the Greeks
in their resistance to the attacks of the Mussulmans.
Between the fourth and fifth Sclavic war, a great earthquake and a fire damaged the
church of St. Demetrius to a great extent. The former of these catastrophes took place
in the month that followed the death of Archbishop John II., who lived in the latter
part of the 7tli century.
The earthquake lasted several days, and was so violent, that many of the inhabitants,
having abandoned the town, took refuge in the country. But the miraculous protection of the
saint manifested itself amidst all these terrors. He was in fact seen riding through the town
with many other saints, guarding the citizens during the time of the most violent shocks.
The inhabitants having escaped the danger, re-entered their city; but a still greater danger
threatened. The Sclaves, who were encamped not far from the town, seeing from the
neighbouring hills all the public edifices fall down, thought that the entire population had
been buried in the ruins, and therefore advanced for the purpose of occupying the place. But
upon approaching they found, to their utter astonishment, that the walls which had been
thrown down were miraculously restored to their original state, and they beheld large bodies
of troops assembled for the defence of the town ; though in reality there were comparatively
few inhabitants remaining in it.1 These miracles of St. Demetrius were commemorated annually
in his church.2
The writers of these times say but little about the origin of these wars. The Sclaves were
part of the hordes of Attila, who in the year 453 occupied Dacia.
The position of Thessalonica as the centre of the commerce of the continent and of the
Cyclades caused the possession of it to be coveted by all those bodies of adventurers who in
times of general disorder undertook expeditions for the surprise of maritime towns. At the
beginning of the 10th century, in the reign of the Emperor Leo, an expedition of Saracens from
the Cyrenaica laid siege to Thessalonica. The town was not prepared for resistance. On the
side adjoining the harbour it was only defended by a simple wall. The inhabitants endeavoured
to prevent the fleet of the enemy anchoring near shore by throwing into the sea the stones
from ancient buildings which were demolished for the purpose; marble sarcophagi collected
from the outskirts of the town were also cast into the water; the port was closed by an
iron chain, and all the citizens were called to arms. The Sclaves, formerly the enemies of
Thessalonica, but who had now embraced Christianity, flew to the succour of the town.
Details of the siege are given by the Abbe Belley. The town was finally taken and sacked
by the Saracens, the public buildings were destroyed, and when the enemy retired, they carried
away an enormous quantity of booty, and a great many of the inhabitants into slavery.
In the year 1185 an expedition of Normans under the leadership of William, king of Sicily,
took possession of Thessalonica, and committed excesses more terrible than those of the Saracens.
Not even churches were exempt from their outrages — they entered them during the celebration
of worship, singing infamous songs.3
In the year 1204 Baldwin, conqueror of Constantinople, conferred the kingdom of
Thessalonica upon the Marquis de Montferrat. But this principality was not of long duration;
the Byzantine emperors again took possession of Thessalonica, and retained it until the
Mahometans dispossessed them.
1 A A. (S'/S'., cap. clxxxii. sqq.
2 A A. SS., cap. clxxxii.—clxxxiii. ; Extract from Corn.
3 Memoire of Abbe Belley, p. 139.
Byseus, p. 173;
2 H
Tafel, l. c.,
LXXXV,
117
The massacre of citizens in the circus of Thessalonica by the order of the Emperor Theodosius,
is a fact too well known to require lengthened notice. During an insurrection, excited by
the imprisonment of a chariot-driver of the circus, Buterichus, commander of the armies of
Illyria, was killed. Theodosius dissimulated his resentment, and invited the inhabitants to
the public games. As soon as they had assembled in the circus, the soldiers, bursting in,
massacred seven thousand people, without distinction of age or sex.
The repentance of Theodosius, and the punishment imposed upon him by St. Ambrose,
bishop of Milan, are amongst the most well-known facts of Byzantine times. The circus in
which this event took place stood in the square then called the Hippodrome; but all remains
of it have disappeared.
Towards the middle of the 7th century, Macedonia was the theatre of successive invasions
of northern nations ; the Avari and the Sclaves strove hard to take Thessalonica, but without
success. The latter made six incursions successively, and finally settled amongst the mountains
of Macedonia, embraced Christianity, and in later times became the faithful allies of the Greeks
in their resistance to the attacks of the Mussulmans.
Between the fourth and fifth Sclavic war, a great earthquake and a fire damaged the
church of St. Demetrius to a great extent. The former of these catastrophes took place
in the month that followed the death of Archbishop John II., who lived in the latter
part of the 7tli century.
The earthquake lasted several days, and was so violent, that many of the inhabitants,
having abandoned the town, took refuge in the country. But the miraculous protection of the
saint manifested itself amidst all these terrors. He was in fact seen riding through the town
with many other saints, guarding the citizens during the time of the most violent shocks.
The inhabitants having escaped the danger, re-entered their city; but a still greater danger
threatened. The Sclaves, who were encamped not far from the town, seeing from the
neighbouring hills all the public edifices fall down, thought that the entire population had
been buried in the ruins, and therefore advanced for the purpose of occupying the place. But
upon approaching they found, to their utter astonishment, that the walls which had been
thrown down were miraculously restored to their original state, and they beheld large bodies
of troops assembled for the defence of the town ; though in reality there were comparatively
few inhabitants remaining in it.1 These miracles of St. Demetrius were commemorated annually
in his church.2
The writers of these times say but little about the origin of these wars. The Sclaves were
part of the hordes of Attila, who in the year 453 occupied Dacia.
The position of Thessalonica as the centre of the commerce of the continent and of the
Cyclades caused the possession of it to be coveted by all those bodies of adventurers who in
times of general disorder undertook expeditions for the surprise of maritime towns. At the
beginning of the 10th century, in the reign of the Emperor Leo, an expedition of Saracens from
the Cyrenaica laid siege to Thessalonica. The town was not prepared for resistance. On the
side adjoining the harbour it was only defended by a simple wall. The inhabitants endeavoured
to prevent the fleet of the enemy anchoring near shore by throwing into the sea the stones
from ancient buildings which were demolished for the purpose; marble sarcophagi collected
from the outskirts of the town were also cast into the water; the port was closed by an
iron chain, and all the citizens were called to arms. The Sclaves, formerly the enemies of
Thessalonica, but who had now embraced Christianity, flew to the succour of the town.
Details of the siege are given by the Abbe Belley. The town was finally taken and sacked
by the Saracens, the public buildings were destroyed, and when the enemy retired, they carried
away an enormous quantity of booty, and a great many of the inhabitants into slavery.
In the year 1185 an expedition of Normans under the leadership of William, king of Sicily,
took possession of Thessalonica, and committed excesses more terrible than those of the Saracens.
Not even churches were exempt from their outrages — they entered them during the celebration
of worship, singing infamous songs.3
In the year 1204 Baldwin, conqueror of Constantinople, conferred the kingdom of
Thessalonica upon the Marquis de Montferrat. But this principality was not of long duration;
the Byzantine emperors again took possession of Thessalonica, and retained it until the
Mahometans dispossessed them.
1 A A. (S'/S'., cap. clxxxii. sqq.
2 A A. SS., cap. clxxxii.—clxxxiii. ; Extract from Corn.
3 Memoire of Abbe Belley, p. 139.
Byseus, p. 173;
2 H
Tafel, l. c.,
LXXXV,