Summary: War and Peace in Byzantinum
Paul Meinrad Strässle
Based on the Roman conception of universality, the Byzantine Empire regarded itself as rightful heir to the Roman Empire, claiming all countries that had once belonged to Rome. Byzantine (Rhomaioi) selfunderstanding was shaped by the perception of imperial authority over other peoples and expressed itself in a feeling of superiority. The emperor regarded himself as Godinstalled and being responsible for the welfare of the empire. He was commander in chief as well as a harbinger of peace. It was his task to ensure peace with the help of the army of the Rhomaioi, the "People of God", in accordance with the political orthodoxy.
Wars were waged by order of God to maintain His world order. Whenever the welfare of the empire demanded military action, a complete victory was needed, either by destroying the enemy or by signing a safe treaty. As Byzantine military thinking was exclusively rooted in the divine world order, every decision of warfare was regarded a decision of God. Thus the army of the "Chosen People” of the Rhomaioi was merely a tool of God to protect the empire.
The concept of the Pax Byzantina, which was derived from the Pax Romana, made war not only appear as legitimate in the ancient tradition of the bellum iustum but also necessary in order to preserve or expand the empire, respectively. The conception of unlimited warfare against infidels as well as fellow Christians, which resulted from this, was an important factor of Byzantine selfunderstanding and had an influence on the foundations of Byzantine domestic and foreign policy.
This intellectual tension between war and peace is also reflected in Byzantine military treatises from the 6th through the 11th century, which not only provide insight into Byzantine military knowhow, but also into the political ideas, the basic order of the world, and the warfare to defend it. The highest goal was to maintain peace or to restore it, respectively by defeating the enemy and subjecting him to law. The treatises reveal that warfare on the strategic as well as on the tactical level was guided by moderation and the protection of the forces, as they were very costly.
According to the military treatises the people understood strategy and tactics as something imposed by God, thus making God’s judgements the decisive factor for decisions in war. Each campaign was legitimized in the sense of a political idea based on orthodox faith, which contributed to the long continuance of the Byzantine Empire.
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