The Byzantine Empire was a centralized monarchy in medieval Europe，The royal etiquette culture is at its peak，On the one hand, it inherited the basic form and content bet365 cricket odds royal ceremonial activities bet365 cricket odds Roman Empire，On the other hand, it also demonstrates the integration of Byzantine culture from east to west、The connotation of embracing all rivers。As a historical document bet365 cricket odds cultural transformation period in the 7th century，The "History" written by Theophilact records many royal ceremonial activities，Present the divine right of kings and restrict the power of kings、Characteristics of combining kindness and justice。Up to the 10th century，Constantine VII compiled the royal etiquette and diplomatic rules bet365 cricket odds past dynasties into a book，Compiled the "Book of Etiquette"。Through these two important documents，We can get a glimpse bet365 cricket odds basic aspects of Byzantine royal etiquette culture。

　The form and content of ceremonial bet365 cricket odds

The "Book of Etiquette" compiled by Constantine VII explains the form and content of royal ceremonial activities。Royal ceremonial activities mainly include the coronation、Birth Ceremony、Wedding、Traveling Ceremony、Returning Ceremony、Funeral、Foreign envoys visit、Competitive activities、Religious prayers and national holidays, etc.。In the above activities，Every monarch must participate，And is the core of royal ceremonial activities，All arrangements are made around the monarch。On all important occasions，The monarch’s appearance is the center bet365 cricket odds entire event，Affects the operation of other aspects bet365 cricket odds ceremony。According to "History" records，At the celebration bet365 cricket odds first anniversary of Maurice’s accession to the throne and the Candlemas event，The monarch appears solemnly in full regalia，Hold cross in left hand，Holding the scepter diagonally in the right hand，The focus bet365 cricket odds entire meeting was on Morris。In all liturgical events，Coronations and royal weddings are extremely solemn、Grand，Especially embodies the characteristics bet365 cricket odds monarchy’s political system。

Based on the old Roman system，The person who is elected as a monarch needs to be in the presence of all members bet365 cricket odds Senate、In the cheers bet365 cricket odds military generals and the people bet365 cricket odds capital，Standing on a shield raised by a soldier，This move shows that the imperial power has been recognized by both the nobles and the people。In the thousand-year development history of Byzantium，Shield raising ceremony is not common，Only held when Phocas the Usurper ascended the throne。The Byzantine monarch succeeded to the throne，Mainly through inheritance by blood relatives or designated inheritance，Therefore a coronation ceremony is required。457 years，Leo I was the first to be crowned。According to the provisions of "Book of Etiquette"，The coronation ceremony bet365 cricket odds monarch must be held in Hagia Sophia，All religious and secular figures must participate。At the coronation of Maurice in 580，Emperor Tiberius summons the Patriarch of Constantinople、Senior Priest、Captain bet365 cricket odds Palace Guard、Military general、Main government officials and public representatives attended the ceremony。According to "Book of Etiquette"，Participants must wear white dresses with gold trim。At the beginning bet365 cricket odds ceremony，The Grand Priest welcomes Maurice in front of St. Sophia Church，And accompany the latter to change into costumes。Then，The Grand Priest holds the Emperor’s hand，Slowly enter the church，Welcoming guests passing through the aisle，Coming to the second gate，Light the special candle。The emperor was accompanied by the Grand Priest to the porphyry stone slab in front bet365 cricket odds altar screen，Pray facing the icon of Christ，Then enter the altar。The Grand Priest is singing with the accompaniment bet365 cricket odds choir，Consecrate the crown，Crown the Emperor。Finally，Maurice sat down on a throne made of gold or ivory，Accept the worship of all civil servants and generals。They came to the emperor in order of status，Pledge of allegiance。

According to the "Book of Etiquette"，Royal wedding is an extremely grand ceremony in the empire，Held at Hagia Sophia，The wedding was officiated by the Patriarch of Constantinople，All high-ranking officials in the empire must dress up to attend。The "Book of Etiquette" stipulates the rituals of royal weddings、Etiquette、Process and decoration characteristics，Wedding ceremonies are closely integrated with Christian concepts，Showing solemnity、A sense of solemnity and holiness。The groom and the bride are dressed in costumes、Wearing a crown，The nobles and officials attending the wedding first bowed to the newlyweds，Then they will line up to accompany the newlyweds to the Grand Palace。In front bet365 cricket odds Grand Palace，You Lan、The choir composed bet365 cricket odds two competitive parties sang carols to express their congratulations，The emperor and empress then took off their costumes，Dinner with guests。In "History"，Theophylactus recorded the wedding of Maurice and the wedding bet365 cricket odds prince Theodosius。Morris’ wedding was officiated by Grand Priest John、Prayers and Blessings，Location is St. Stephen’s Church in the Grand Palace Palace complex。"History" describes the entire process of Morris' wedding，Consistent with the procedures stipulated in the "Book of Etiquette"，What is particularly eye-catching is the royal wedding，People’s celebrations are extremely rich，Continues for several days，This shows that the Byzantine royal family hopes to closer relations with the people through weddings，Make the people feel the glory bet365 cricket odds empire。

　　Highlighting the concept of divine bet365 cricket odds

The connotation of royal etiquette activities is centered on the royal family，Highlighting the concept of divine right of kings，Serving the monarchy。The establishment of a complete set of centralized political systems，It started with Diocletian’s reforms。Diocletian drew on the imperial system and court etiquette traditions bet365 cricket odds Persian Empire and ancient Egypt，The Roman concept of "deriving kingship from the people" was replaced by "divine right of kings"。Since Diocletian，The rulers bet365 cricket odds Roman Empire were no longer called heads of state or first citizens，He is called the Emperor instead。The Byzantines continued to use the old name of Rome，Calling the Emperor "Augustus"，After the 7th century, it was changed to "Basileus"，The essence has undergone important changes。

From the source of power，The emperor’s power comes from God, not the people。Therefore，On the one hand, royal etiquette activities center on the royal family；On the other hand in all royal ceremonial events，“God’s Spokesperson” – Christian churches will all be involved，Even occupy a dominant position in some liturgical activities，For example, the coronation。According to "History" records，The coronation bet365 cricket odds monarch、Wedding、Celebrations bet365 cricket odds first anniversary bet365 cricket odds throne are held in the church，Presided over by the Grand Priest，The entire liturgical process is closely related to Christianity。Based on Christian concepts，The Grand Priest is the representative of religious power，The emperor is the representative of secular power，The monarch’s temporal right to rule needs to be granted by the Grand Priest，Only in order to have substantial power，And recognized by the subjects。Therefore，The coronation is the core of all royal ceremonial activities，Extremely solemn，It represents the legitimacy bet365 cricket odds source of monarch power，Once kingship is granted by God，That is, gaining the sanctity and legitimacy of rule。After Christianity was established as the state religion bet365 cricket odds Byzantine Empire，The emperor became the "Thirteenth Apostle" of God，Is the supreme ruler entrusted by God to manage human affairs。Therefore，The ceremonial activities bet365 cricket odds Byzantine royal family not only inherited the old Roman system，There are new developments，Reflects Christian faith。Christian concepts are increasingly integrated into royal ceremonial activities，At the same time, it also penetrated into the daily life of Byzantines，So that they are also bound by church etiquette。

　　Inherit the bet365 cricket odds

Although the Byzantine monarchy has been established，However, the concept of "monarchy comes from the people" rooted in Roman political tradition still had an impact on the actual political operation of Byzantium。In terms bet365 cricket odds selection bet365 cricket odds emperor，Byzantium has maintained the tradition bet365 cricket odds Roman period，By the Senate、Decided jointly by the military and civilian representatives。On the dethronement bet365 cricket odds emperor，The Senate or the Athletic Party also exerted a greater influence。This was more typical during the Justinian period，Participants bet365 cricket odds Nika Rebellion proclaimed a new emperor in the arena。Early 7th century，After Phocas, a military rioter from the Balkans, entered Constantinople，Also supported as emperor by the people in the capital。Although the newly appointed emperor has obtained the power to rule given by the divine right of kings，But during the operation of certain policies，They need the consent bet365 cricket odds Senate and the army。In addition，When the throne is vacant，The Senate and the army have the right to appoint a new emperor。Senate、The military and the people have always restricted the imperial power。Normally，Senate、The military and popular representatives are the targets that the powerful strive to win over when they seize the highest power，Once the new emperor’s position is consolidated，He will implement his established policies without hesitation，Become a true dictator。

According to "History" records，Emperor Maurice often participated in athletic party activities，Watch horse racing at the arena with the public，Hope to get closer to the people，Listen to people’s opinions or suggestions on policies。But，The competitive parties represented by the Blue Party and the Green Party often use this opportunity to incite the public，And then achieve one’s own political goals。Theophilact has a clear understanding bet365 cricket odds threat to national order caused by popular unrest in the form of partisan activities，He believes that parties play a very important role in inciting large-scale popular unrest，“The blue and green parties each have huge support groups，Our world will be in extreme trouble from now on，The decline bet365 cricket odds Byzantine Empire will be unstoppable”。

　　Reflecting the pursuit bet365 cricket odds image of an ideal monarch

The Byzantine Empire inherited the concept bet365 cricket odds ideal monarch described in ancient Greek philosophy，At the same time supplemented by the Christian concept of fraternity，Gradually formed the idea that the emperor should have a benevolent and just image，Then all the responsibilities that the emperor should fulfill are derived from the universal concepts of mercy and justice。Therefore，In royal ceremonial activities，Reflects the royal family’s pursuit bet365 cricket odds image of a benevolent and just monarch，This theme was mentioned repeatedly in countless speeches at the emperor's coronation ceremony。

Eusebius in his Eulogy，To celebrate the character of Constantine the Great with themes of mercy and justice。Justinian paid special attention to establishing the image of a benevolent monarch in front of his subjects，He proposed that mercy should be the basis of all judicial activities。For example，He gave the following reasons when elaborating on the death penalty，"This is not cruel or inhumane，On the contrary, it is the highest form of kindness，Because it punishes the few to protect the many”。During Maurice's Imperial Investiture Ceremony，Tiberius instructs Archbishop John to deliver a long speech，The theme is Tiberius admonishing Maurice to strive to be a good monarch: "Govern the country with reason，Grasp power with wisdom，Always remain rational and modest”，“Treat your subjects with kindness，Let justice be your principle in doing things。Let kindness curb anger，Let fear guide prudence。In order to seek public interest and justice，The bet365 cricket odds should guide and serve the people like the queen bee among bees”。In the Byzantine Empire，The concepts of kindness and justice have been retained and have formed a certain binding force，The bet365 cricket odds also regarded justice and protection of his subjects as his basic duties。

　　(The author is a professor at the School of bet365 cricket odds and Politics, Guizhou Normal University)