1. Byzantium
The first misconception has to do with the very name of this medieval empire. It was never officially called Byzantium. In Latin it was called "Imperium Romanum," in Greek "Vasileia Romeion. Both names translate as "Roman Empire.
Western and Eastern Roman Empires in 450.
The word "Byzantium," just as the name of Russia, "Moskovia," comes from the name of its capital, the city of Byzantium, aka Constantinople. Russians "Muscovites" were called by foreigners, they also called the citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire "Byzantines. The inhabitants of the empire themselves called themselves "Romans" (Romans), and their country "Romania" (Rome).
2. "Greek Fire."
Many believe that the Byzantines owe their victories in naval battles to a secret wunderwaffe - "Greek fire". It is considered, that exactly him in 941 AD the fleet of prince Igor Rurikovich, and in 1043 the fleet of Yaroslav Wise has been burnt up. Allegedly nobody from enemies of Byzantium could learn secret of this miracle weapon. However, long before the mentioned sea battles, in the 20s of the IX century AD the Arabs used the "Greek fire" against the Byzantine army during the conquest of the island of Crete. So this incendiary composition did not stay secret for a long time. Another thing is that the states that did not have access to oil deposits (the main component of the "Greek fire") had nothing to prepare it from.
Under favorable circumstances, "Greek fire" did indeed allow for the rapid destruction of the enemy fleet. But several conditions were necessary for this. The sea was not to be rough, which meant that the battle had to be fought in complete calm. However, the sailing fleet could not fight in such weather, so the use of these weapons could be effective only from the galleys. The enemy had to approach at close range, as the range of the fire jet launched from the "siphon" did not exceed two dozen meters. Not surprisingly, as soon as firearms became available, the "antique napalm" was immediately abandoned.
3. Despotism
The third fallacy is the inherent despotism of the Byzantine authorities and the suppression of all dissent. Meanwhile, it was in Byzantium where the Roman law was finally brought to a coherent system (the original Rome in a thousand years did not do it). Emperor Justinian I personally initiated this work in 529. The full body of Roman civil law has been called the Codex Justinianus ever since. Any tyrant or despot does not need laws, they only hinder him. But in Byzantium the laws were of paramount importance. Besides, the power of the emperor was limited to religious institutions, such as the patriarchate of Constantinople.
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