The plain of the Hebdomon played a major role in the military and political life of the Byzantine Empire. Many important emperors and generals gathered their forces there before attempting to take power or defend the capital. One of the earliest examples occurred when Theodosius the Great assembled the army that he later led into Italy against the usurper Eugenius. The open and well-watered plain made it an ideal place for such preparations.
At the same location, the Gothic troops whom Emperor Arcadius recalled from the war against Alaric were stationed under the command of Gainas. It was here that Arcadius, together with his powerful minister Rufinus, reviewed the troops in a ceremony that ended in tragedy. During this public inspection, Rufinus was assassinated in the imperial tribune, an event that shocked the Empire and revealed the dangerous tensions between military leaders and civilian officials The Cyclobion and the Castle of the Theodosians.
Military Ambitions and Rebellions
The Hebdomon was not only a place of loyal service but also a base for rebellion. Gainas himself later gathered soldiers there in an attempt to seize Constantinople. Although his plans ultimately failed, the event shows how important control of the Hebdomon was for anyone who wished to dominate the capital.
Later, during the reign of Emperor Anastasius I, the rebel Vitalianus encamped on the plain with an army said to number more than sixty thousand men. From there, he threatened Constantinople and forced the government into serious negotiations. Similarly, Phocas and Leo the Armenian both brought their armies to the Hebdomon before successfully claiming the imperial throne. These examples demonstrate that the Hebdomon often served as the final staging ground for imperial power.
Foreign enemies also appeared there. Avars, Saracens, Bulgarians, and other invaders halted on the plain to examine the massive walls and towers of Constantinople. Some hoped to conquer the city; others, after seeing its defenses, withdrew defeated and discouraged Tour Packages Balkan.
The Hebdomon as the Campus Martius of Constantinople
Because of its frequent military use, the plain of the Hebdomon was also known as the Campus Martius, a name borrowed from ancient Rome. This title was meant to give the area the same prestige as the famous training ground beside the River Tiber.
On this field, recruits were drilled, trained in the use of weapons, and prepared for military service. Athletic contests were also held there, including the popular game of polo, which was enjoyed by both soldiers and nobles. These activities helped maintain the strength and discipline of the army while also serving as public entertainment.
A Place of Refuge and Public Prayer
The wide, open space of the Hebdomon made it useful in times of disaster as well as war. When violent earthquakes struck Constantinople, many citizens fled to the plain to escape collapsing buildings. There, they set up temporary shelters and gathered for public prayers and religious supplications, asking God to remove the calamity.
Such ceremonies were often attended by both the emperor and the patriarch, showing the close connection between imperial authority and religious leadership. On one notable occasion, the deeply religious Emperor Maurice and Patriarch Anatolius walked on foot from the city to the Campus, demonstrating humility and devotion.
It later became customary to hold annual religious services at the Hebdomon to commemorate major earthquakes, either to prevent their return or to give thanks that they had caused no loss of life.
In summary, the Hebdomon was far more than an empty plain. It was a military base, a political stage, a training ground, a place of refuge, and a center of public worship. Through centuries of Byzantine history, it remained one of the most important spaces outside the walls of Constantinople, deeply connected to the Empire’s survival and identity.
