Byzantine Diplomacy

Abstract

From the seventh to the fifteenth century, Byzantine diplomacy played a major role in the government of the Byzantine Empire. This diplomacy was informed by a political ideology that considered the emperor as God's lieutenant on Earth and the empire's neighbors as inferior barbarians. Yet in practice, Byzantine diplomacy was far different and largely adapted to its various neighbors, who in some cases were stronger than the Byzantines. The roles of the main actors involved, from emperors to ambassadors and interpreters, are first examined here. Second, this entry addresses the importance granted to display in the tangible exercise of diplomacy, notably in Constantinople. Finally, different elements of the geopolitical context are analyzed, showing how Byzantine diplomacy succeeded in prolonging the life of the medieval East Roman Empire for almost a millennium, until the final fall of 1453.

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