The byzantine masculinity at war: An approach on the manliness of the army in the Middle Byzantine Era

Abstract

As a social phenomenon war affects soldiers and civilians, men and women. The present contribution aims to examine various conceptions of masculinities within a military context during the Middle Byzantine Era. The identity of the Byzantine soldier is tightly connected with a specific type of masculinity that is derived from the Roman past and the Christian religion. The evolution of the military system during the middle era creates new types of soldiers that are called to oppose the powerful enemies of the Empire. Victorious engagements, typically result in moral principles that are in contrast with those found while in state of defeat. Thus, in this study, special attention will be given to the soldiers’ identity and behaviour during their captivity. It is interesting to explore how that transitional situation affects the characteristics of the Middle Byzantine combatant masculinity.