Context: the Byzantine Demes were chariot racing supporters separated in 4 distinct factions (Blues, Greens, Whites and Reds) of which the Blues and Greens ended up being the dominant ones.
While they started out as chariot racing factions, they ended up amassing a lot of social and political power over time. They even built out their own militias and started to get official positions.
That also signaled their decline and they became integrated in the imperial government.
A few examples of what they did, some already mentioned in the image:
– A pogrom in Antioch where they massacred the Jewish population
– Several other massacres in Syria and Egypt
– Sending their militias to man the walls during the Sassanid siege of Constantinople and the Avar invasions. Guarding harbours and city quarters during several revolts and conflicts.
– Deposing Justinian II and replacing him with a different emperor (he got better)
– The Nika Riots in which half the city of Constantinople burned down and about 30000 people got killed started as a conflict between the Blues and Greens
(Although there were other factors at play here and unrest had already been brewing for a while)
They’re a fascinating part of the history of the Byzantine empire, chariot racing was a BIG DEAL back then. Perhaps the Demes could more accurately be described as organized crime than as chariot hooligans because they were also known for extortion and other criminal activities.
A lot of emperors from Roman and Byzantime times had a preferred team: Caligula and Nero were fans of the Greens for example.
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Context: the Byzantine Demes were chariot racing supporters separated in 4 distinct factions (Blues, Greens, Whites and Reds) of which the Blues and Greens ended up being the dominant ones.
While they started out as chariot racing factions, they ended up amassing a lot of social and political power over time. They even built out their own militias and started to get official positions.
That also signaled their decline and they became integrated in the imperial government.
A few examples of what they did, some already mentioned in the image:
– A pogrom in Antioch where they massacred the Jewish population
– Several other massacres in Syria and Egypt
– Sending their militias to man the walls during the Sassanid siege of Constantinople and the Avar invasions. Guarding harbours and city quarters during several revolts and conflicts.
– Deposing Justinian II and replacing him with a different emperor (he got better)
– The Nika Riots in which half the city of Constantinople burned down and about 30000 people got killed started as a conflict between the Blues and Greens
(Although there were other factors at play here and unrest had already been brewing for a while)
They’re a fascinating part of the history of the Byzantine empire, chariot racing was a BIG DEAL back then. Perhaps the Demes could more accurately be described as organized crime than as chariot hooligans because they were also known for extortion and other criminal activities.
A lot of emperors from Roman and Byzantime times had a preferred team: Caligula and Nero were fans of the Greens for example.
If you have the time, the [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demes_in_the_Byzantine_Empire) article is quite interesting.