The Macedonian Dynasty of Byzantium
The song 'On the Rose-Bush' - Apano stin triantafylia (ΑΠΑΝΩ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΡΙΑΝΤΑΦΥΛΛΙΑ), is taken from The Guardians of Hellenism, VOL 7, Macedonia and Thassos. The song originates in Polygiros, Chalkidiki.
The Macedonian Dynasty of Byzantium (800-1100 AD) saw the tide turning, bringing victories when the Empire was receding and losing against invaders. No other time since Justinian were the borders pushed out again, and not since that time has Christian art flourished in Byzantium than in the Macedonian period. Churches, Mosaics and Icons of that period are some of the most beautiful.
Although engaged in warfare against Muslims, the Macedonian dynasty also fought against the Slavic invaders like Simeon the Great and Samuil, both Bulgarian emperors who invaded Macedonia. Despite the aggression, the Slavs became Christians and were inspired by Byzantine culture to form great Christian Empires of their own.
Byzantium was a Christian Empire itself from its inception, and its culture was overwhelmingly Greek, though it was a multi-ethnic society.
The Emperors were Greeks of Macedonia, and many also traced their origins to Cappadocia and Armenia:
Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811 - 886, ruled 867 - 886) - married the Varangian Eudokia Ingerina, mistress of Michael III; died in hunting accident (Origin: Armenian, born in Thema Makedonikon)
Leo VI the Wise (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) (866 - 912, ruled 886 - 912) -- likely son of Basil I and Eudokia Ingerina, possibly the natural son of Michael III;
Alexander (Αλέξανδρος του Βυζαντίου) (870 - 913, ruled 912 - 913) -- son of Basil I, regent for nephew
Constantine VII the Purple-born (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (905-959, ruled 913 - 959) -- son of Leo VI
Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός) (870 - 948, ruled 919 - 944) -- father-in-law of Constantine VII; coemperor, deposed by his sons and entered monastery (Origin: Armenian)
Romanos II the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (939 - 963, ruled 959 - 963) -- son of Constantine VII
Nikephoros II Phocas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς ή Νικηφόρος Β' ο Φωκάς) (912 - 969, ruled 963 - 969) -- Strategos; married Romanus II's widow, regent for Basil; assassinated (Origin: Cappadocian)
John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (925 - 976, ruled 969 - 976) -- brother-in-law of Romanus II, lover of Nicephorus's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil (Origin: Armenian)
Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος) (958 - 1025, ruled 976 - 1025) -- son of Romanus II (Origin: Armenian)
Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντίνος Η')(960-1028, ruled 1025 - 1028) -- son of Romanus II; silent co-emperor with Basil II
Zoe I (Ζωή Α') ((c. 978 - 1050, ruled 1028 - 1050) -- daughter of Constantine VIII
Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Αργυρός) (968 - 1034, ruled 1028 - 1034) -- eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered
Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) (1010 - 1041, ruled 1034 - 1041) -- Zoe's second husband
Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) (1015 - 1042, ruled 1041 - 1042) -- Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (980 - 1056, ruled 1042) -- daughter of Constantine VIII, coempress with Zoe
Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) (1000 - 1055, ruled 1042 - 1055) -- Zoe's third husband
Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (ruled 1055 - 1056) -- restored
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The paintings are mostly from Raphael.
LYRICS OF THE SONG:
On the rose - my black eyes,
On the rose-bush partridges build their nest,
Partridges build - my black eyes -
Partridges build a nest, the birds go in and out.
The birds go in and out and the rose-bush shakes,
And the roses fall in the bride's lap,
And I humbly gathered them and sent them to my love,
With kisses as many as the grapes on the vine.
Singer: Domna Mega