Reply #38: I think the Czars had the better claim. But yep - most ignore Byzantium. [View All]

[FudaFuda]

If you take the Russian connection to the Byzantine emperors as a third incarnation of the Roman empire, the Roman empire didn't really end until 1917. That's a stretch for most westerners, but not for eastern Euros and Russians. The Kievan Rus was a devoted satellite of Byzantium, and emulated Byzantine culture in just about everything. When Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, the Russians felt they were the last bastion - and they were basically right. The czars even adopted the double eagle of Byzantine emperors for the Russian royal crest.

sorry. love to talk about that subject. not really on-point though. :hi: