A broad region stretching across southeastern Europe, the Balkans were a recurring flashpoint throughout Byzantine history, passing in and out of imperial control across the centuries. Repeatedly stripped of defensive forces to meet crises elsewhere, the region fell to Slavic and Avar incursions by the early seventh century, and in 626 the Avar khaganate assembled a coalition of virtually every Balkan tribe for a direct assault on Constantinople. The area remained a persistent source of instability into the later imperial period, troubled by Norman pressure, Cuman-inspired revolts, Bulgarian uprisings, and foreign armies sweeping through on their way to major Byzantine cities.
What each episode says
Episode 3 (1 mention)
The region heavily granted to Constantine under the treaty with Licinius after the 316 campaign, following Valens's fight to a standstill in Thrace.
“The treaty heavily favored him, granting him most of the Balkans, and for his reward, poor”
Episode 10 (5 mentions)
Repeatedly stripped of troops to fight on other fronts, the Balkans were invaded by Slavs and Avars and described as essentially gone from Byzantine control by Heraclius' coronation. During the crisis of 626, the Avar khaganate united virtually every barbarian tribe in the Balkans and moved them against Constantinople.
“The Balkans, now completely devoid of troops, was invaded almost instantly, and the Persians,”
“The Slavs and Avars ranged unchecked through the Balkans, the Persians were on the doorstep,”
“tribe in the Balkans, and sent Sharbaraz with another army of advisors to assist them in”
Episode 13 (1 mention)
“imperial territory and then retreating into the wilds of the Balkans.”
Episode 14 (2 mentions)
A persistent source of trouble for Alexios throughout his reign. At his accession the Balkans were once again in revolt, threatening from the west alongside the Normans. Later a Cuman pretender inspired a popular revolt there, which Alexios solved by bribing disgruntled Cumans to assassinate the pretender, whereupon the revolt simply melted away.
“In addition to the Turks, the Balkans were once again in revolt, but most alarming of”
“When a Cuman pretender arose in the Balkans, inspiring a popular revolt, Alexius had an”
Episode 15 (2 mentions)
The Sicilian army swept across the Balkans within two months and arrived before Thessalonica. The region was also plagued by the Bulgarian revolt and subsequent Byzantine military failures under Isaac II.
“and within two months, they had swept across the Balkans,”
“But the loss of the Balkans was the least of Isaac's worries,”
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