What does our contemporary know about Byzantium? Why does the very concept of "Byzantine" have negative connotations in many European languages ​ ​ and is this true? Our publication tells about the mysterious Byzantine, or rather, the Roman Empire (the inhabitants of this country called themselves Romans): about the "crimson" emperors and usurpers of the throne; about the palace coups and vicissitudes of the "love of the people"; about the incredible secrets of Byzantine diplomacy and the ability to make alliances; about the struggle of Byzantium with the Arab conquerors and the fall of the brilliant Constantinople, as well as about what role the Europeans played in this.