Monetary History of Byzantium   Andronicus II 1282-1328AD Andronicus II Palaeologus (b 1260; 1282-1328AD) was the son of Michael VIII Palaeologus and it was during his reign that the Byzantine Empire declined to the status of a minor state under siege by the Ottoman Turks in Anatolia and the Serbs in the Balkans. This is […]

Monetary History of Byzantium   Manuel II Palaeologus (1391-1425AD) Manuel II Palaeologus (1391-1425AD)  ruled what was left of the Byzantine Empire as it was entering its final phase near the closing decade of the 14th century. The Byzantine empire was a dying state. Upon the formal coronation of Manuel II in 1392, the downfall of […]

Monetary History of Byzantium JOHN VIII 1423-1448 John VIII Palaeologus (1423-1448AD) was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš, who he succeeded as Emperor. In reality, the Byzantine Empire amounted to just the city of Constantinople by this point in history. He was associated […]

Monetary History of Byzantium Constantine XI 1448-1453AD Constantine XI Dragases Palaeologus (b: 1405; 1448 – 1453)  was the son of Manuel II and the last Emperor of the Byzantine Empire. He ruled Constantinople and died in battle at the fall of Constantinople in 1453. He previously was serving as regent for his brother John VIII […]

Monetary History of Byzantium   NICEPHORUS II PHOCAS (963-969AD) Nicephorus II Phocas (born c. 912; 963 – 969AD) was a brilliant military strategist which contributed to the resurgence of the Byzantine Empire during the 10th century but lost Sicily to the Muslims and most of Italy following the incursions of Otto I. He did retake the […]

Monetary History of Byzantium   MICHAEL III The Drunkard 842-867   Michael III (b: January 19, 840; 842 – 867AD) was the third and last member of the Amorian (or Phrygian) dynasty. His successors called him the Drunkard but that seems to have been an exaggeration. His reign did play a role in the resurgence of […]

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; Do you agree with Trump that if he canceled NAFTA, the United States would be better off? SN ANSWER: Ironically – YES from a jobs perspective, not the consumer. What you have to understand is that these trade deals are all nonsense. They are NOT Free Trade in the least. They are […]

COMMENT: Mr. Armstrong; The chart you posted on the Venezuela share market really made me see what you have been saying. Collapse the confidence in government and capital flees to the private sector. This is never taught in school! You have to write a book for posterity. Please! RW REPLY: The Venezuelan share market has soared […]

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; I take it your concern over Trump from the market perspective is the sheer uncertainty that is evolving. How do you see this playing out for the world economy? Thank you. I agree. These people who hate Trump just hate him so passionately. MRU ANSWER: Markets do not like UNCERTAINTY. These people […]

COMMENT: I know a guy who just hates Trump and claims he hates Trump because he is a racist and incompetent and says I am a racist because I did not like Obama. But nobody that I ever knew hated Obama with such personal vindictiveness. These people would rather burn the house down and seem […]