While Byzantium was a multinational empire, the two leading ethnic groups were the Armenians and the Greeks. The latter dominated the bureaucracy and the Church while the former dominated the army. The Armenian elite were Hellenized in culture and in religion. Of the many Byztanine emperors who were of Armenian origin, it’s difficult to find a single emperor who assisted fellow Armenians in their homeland. Many members of the Armenian elite claimed to be descended from ancient Armenian dynasties or nakharar princely families. Despite their assimilation into the Hellenic culture there was always anti-Armenian prejudice throughout the thousand years the empire lasted.

While Byzantium was a multinational empire, the two leading ethnic groups were the Armenians and the Greeks. The latter dominated the bureaucracy and the Church while the former dominated the army. The Armenian elite were Hellenized in culture and in religion. Of the many Byztanine emperors who were of Armenian origin, it’s difficult to find a single emperor who assisted fellow Armenians in their homeland. Many members of the Armenian elite claimed to be descended from ancient Armenian dynasties or nakharar princely families. Despite their assimilation into the Hellenic culture there was always anti-Armenian prejudice throughout the thousand years the empire lasted.