Justinian the Great and General Belisarius

[Pelister]

I was under the impression that Justinian built many Churches in Macedonia where the language of liturgy, writing and literature was not in Latin, but in Macedonian.

[Delodephius]

That happened four centuries later.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Sarafot

Probebly Dušan Silni was first who was called CAR,Slovenians use CESAR for king or kralj?

Khan Boris of Bulgaria was the first to use it in the form of TSAR during the 9th century, after accepting the Slavic language and Christian faith as official for his state.

Here is more literature regarding the Illyro-Slavic origins of Belisarius.

The Life of Belisarius, Lord Mahon, 1848, Preface.

[Soldier of Macedon]

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/...ius/id/1929873

Belisarius was probably born in Germane or Germania, a city that once stood on the site of present day Sapareva Banya in south-west Bulgaria. Some suggest that he was of Romanized Slavic ancestry, on the grounds that his name is somewhat similar to the Slavic "Beli Tsar" ("White Prince"), but most contemporary historians disregard this theory as the word tsar was first used in the 10th century, well after Belisarius' death.

This is what they base their rejection on, but if we take into consideration Slovak's elaboration above, it makes for a good discussion. I am sure that I have seen in Slavic writings words such as Cesar or Kesar, which means that Tsar could be from an individual strain yet ultimately from the same common origin with the former.

It is very interesting to note the repeated Slavic connection made to the two great figures Justinian and Belisarius.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Some more links citing the Slavic connection.

http://www.heritage-history.com/www/...belisarius.php

Belisarius, who is thought to be of Slavic origin, began his career in the Roman army as a bodyguard of Justinian.

http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Belisarius.htm

Belisarius was born in Germane, Illyria (modern day Yugoslavia), though we are not sure of the exact date. His family was Slavic in nature, but had lived inside the Empire for a century and were fully Romanized; his name (Beli Tsar) apparently meant "White Prince" in Slavic.

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2belisarius.htm

No one knows for sure where Belisarius was born, but many experts believe he was born in Germania, an area near Macedonia and Illyria1 (Yugoslavia)2 He was born in 505 AD. As with many people of that age, little is known about Belisarius' childhood. He appears to have been fully Romanized, but his name also seems to mean White Prince in Slavic.

http://www.mountainlilypress.com/Rom...torical6a.html

Of Slavic background himself, Belisarius is open to all the influences available to him in a multicultural empire.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=...um=7&ct=result

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Another interesting point is the fact that the Slavic invaders from the Danube areas expanded their power greatly during the reign of Justinian and Belisarius.

[Delodephius]

Slovak: cisár
Czech: cisař
Polish: cesarz
Slovenian: cesar
Serbo-Croatian: car
Bulgarian: цар
Macedonian: цар
Ukrainian: цар
Russian: цар
Belorusian: цар
Old Church Slavonic: кѣсар҄ь, цѣсар҄ь

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Slovak/Anomaly/Tomas

Slovak: cisár
Czech: cisař
Polish: cesarz
Slovenian: cesar
Serbo-Croatian: car
Bulgarian: цар
Macedonian: цар
Ukrainian: цар
Russian: цар
Belorusian: цар
Old Church Slavonic: кѣсар҄ь, цѣсар҄ь

Slovak, what is your opinion on the name and the person of Belisarius, were they of a group related to the Slavic-speaking people?

[TrueMacedonian]

I have another question as well. Was Belisarius (or Velicar) Dardanian?




Illyrian?




Thracian?

http://www.historynet.com/gothic-war...kes-rome.htm/2

Coming from a Thracian family, Belisarius had served in the corps of bodyguards of Emperor Justin, Justinian’s uncle and predecessor, before distinguishing himself as a general.


Or Macedonian?








Could it be that Velicar was a Macedonian?

[TrueMacedonian]

Some say Illyrian. Others Thracian. And some Macedonian. What do you guys think?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Good sources.

Thracian, Illyrian, Macedonian - all cut from the same cloth. The areas where Justinian and Belisarius originate have been considered all of the above on various occasions. I am of the opinion that these two figures were of a people that spoke a language akin to the Slavic tongue along and north of the Danube, from where the Slavic tribes attacked and invaded the East Roman emperor. The 'Dardanian' area spoken of falls within the territory of the Macedonian Republic and ethnic Macedonian regions.