Let’s uncover the Byzantine identity.

First, it’s important to note that the term ‘Byzantines’ was never used by the people of the Eastern Roman Empire to describe themselves or their civilization. Instead, the term was coined by the German historian Hieronymus Wolf in the 1555 century. Its purpose was to distinguish the later period of the Roman Empire, commonly referred to as the ‘Byzantine’ era, from the earlier ‘classical’ Roman era. The term gained widespread usage and recognition in the Western world during the 18th century and is today commonly accepted.

However, the Byzantines themselves predominantly identified as Romans, a tradition that persisted throughout much of their history. This designation was also adopted by neighboring powers across the Middle East and North Africa. However, it’s important to note that while the Byzantine Empire encompassed diverse territories, the common cultural thread that bound them together was the greek language and culture. Following the reign of Justinian and the empire’s gradual loss of its western territories, the use of Latin in administration vanished. During the medieval period, Westerners began referring to the Byzantines as ‘Greeks,’ partly due to political motivations, as the imperial Roman legitimacy was associated with the Holy Roman Empire.

The sack of Constantinople in 1204 and the subsequent fragmentation of the Byzantine Empire dealt a severe blow to its inhabitants. Despite efforts at restoration under the Palaeologus dynasty and the recapture of Constantinople in 1271, the Byzantines recognized that they could no longer aspire to universal empire status. Consequently, they increasingly identified themselves as Greeks, emphasizing their primary cultural heritage. Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the subsequent Ottoman rule, the Greek population began to adopt the label ‘Romans’ once again, mirroring the Turkish tradition inherited from the past muslim powers.