Afleveringen
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a rarely told story from Justinian's early reign: the massive earthquake that struck Constantinople in 533 AD, just months before the Nika Revolts. They dig into how the imperial government managed the crisis—organizing relief, rebuilding damaged monuments like the original Hagia Sophia, and using the disaster to project strength. The conversation covers the role of the praefectus urbi, the use of state grain reserves for emergency aid, and how Justinian turned a catastrophe into propaganda. They also touch on the broader context of seismic activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, comparing Byzantine quake response to earlier Roman practices. This episode offers a fresh angle on Byzantine resilience, focusing on disaster management and urban recovery rather than warfare or diplomacy.#Byzantium #Justinian #Constantinople #Earthquake #HagiaSophia #NikaRevolt #PraefectusUrbi #DisasterRelief #ByzantineArchitecture #Mediterranean #History #FexingoHistory #AncientSeismology #JustinianPlague #UrbanRecovery #Propaganda #Theodora #ImperialPowerKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, Lucas and Luna explore the Porphyra — the legendary purple chamber in the Great Palace of Constantinople where imperial children were born. Discover how this tradition began with Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, the 'born-in-the-purple' emperor who wrote the book on imperial ceremony, and how the concept of porphyrogennetos shaped succession, legitimacy, and even foreign policy. Learn about the room itself: a square chamber lined with porphyry marble from Egypt, heated to a specific temperature, where the empress gave birth surrounded by court officials. We trace the idea from its origins in Roman and Persian royal birth rituals through its peak under the Macedonian dynasty, and ask whether being 'born in the purple' actually guaranteed a good emperor — or just a privileged one. Along the way, we touch on Zoe Porphyrogenneta, the last of the Macedonian line, and the room's destruction in the Fourth Crusade. This is a story of marble, maternity, and the mystique of imperial blood.#ByzantineEmpire #Porphyra #Porphyrogennetos #ConstantineVII #ZoePorphyrogenneta #MacedonianDynasty #GreatPalace #Constantinople #ImperialCeremony #DeCeremoniis #PurpleChamber #ByzantineHistory #MediterraneanHistory #FourthCrusade #Legitimacy #ImperialBirth #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, hosts Lucas and Luna take you to the arid plains of Mesopotamia in 530 AD, where the Roman Empire's future hung on a single, desperate siege. Emperor Anastasius I had built the fortress of Dara as a bulwark against the Sassanid Persians, but when Kavadh I's army arrived with siege towers and elephants, the garrison, led by the general Belisarius and the diplomat Hermogenes, faced annihilation. This conversation explores the cunning tactics that saved Dara — from underground countermines to a feigned retreat that shattered the Persian line. Lucas explains how the battle forced a temporary peace, solidified Justinian's western ambitions, and showcased the empire's ability to innovate under fire. Expect a vivid retelling of the day the Persians broke, the role of Procopius as our primary source, and the fragile diplomacy that followed. The episode also touches on how the fortress of Dara later became a symbol of Roman resilience and a key to understanding the limits of imperial power. Join us as we uncover a turning point that kept Byzantium alive for another thousand years.#ByzantineEmpire #SiegeOfDara #Belisarius #SassanidPersia #AnastasiusI #Hermogenes #Justinian #MilitaryHistory #Mesopotamia #AncientWarfare #RomanPersianWars #Fortress #Procopius #530AD #Tactics #History #FexingoHistory #PodcastKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 655 AD, the Byzantine navy faced its Arab counterpart in the Battle of the Masts off the coast of Lycia. This episode dives into the clash between Emperor Constans II and the Rashidun fleet under Abu'l-A'war, exploring the tactical innovations of the dromon, the use of Greek fire (or its absence — the exact composition remains debated), and how this naval engagement shaped the struggle for the Mediterranean. We discuss the strategic importance of the Cibyrrhaeot Theme, the role of the Karabisianoi, and the aftermath that saw Constans barely escape to Constantinople. The battle also reveals the limits of Arab naval power and sets the stage for later Byzantine revivals under the Macedonian dynasty. Along the way, we consider the challenges of reconstructing the battle from fragmentary sources like Theophanes and the Arabic chronicles.#BattleOfTheMasts #ByzantineNavy #ConstansII #Dromon #GreekFire #RashidunCaliphate #Mediterranean #CibyrrhaeotTheme #Karabisianoi #AbuLAwar #Lycia #Phoenix #ThemeSystem #ByzantineEmpire #SeventhCentury #NavalWarfare #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Lucas and Luna explore the shadowy world of Byzantine intelligence, from the Logothetes tou Dromou who ran spies across three continents to the Basilikoi Anthropoi who infiltrated enemy courts. They discuss the Krypteia network that monitored frontier provinces, the use of invisible ink and ciphers, and the legendary agent who warned of the Fourth Crusade's true destination. Discover how Byzantine secrets were gathered through trade missions, diplomatic marriages, and the imperial post system, and how a single spy's report might have saved Constantinople from the Avars in 626. Uncover the real-life espionage that kept an empire alive for a thousand years.#Byzantine #ByzantineSpies #LogothetesTouDromou #BasilikoiAnthropoi #Krypteia #ByzantineIntelligence #Constantinople #FourthCrusade #Avars #Espionage #Mediterranean #History #FexingoHistory #ByzantineEmpire #SecretNetwork #Spies #ByzantineDiplomacy #ByzantineMilitaryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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This episode explores the Byzantine Empire's sophisticated tax system, focusing on the reign of Basil II (976–1025) and his landmark legislation, the Novellae. We examine how Basil reshaped the tax code to protect small farmers, curb the power of the military aristocracy (the dynatoi), and amass the empire's largest treasury. Along the way, we uncover the roles of the epoptes (tax inspector), the praktikon (cadaster), and the ingenious practice of allelengyon (collective liability). We also touch on the devastating impact of tax farming and the rebellion of Bardas Phokas. By the end, you'll understand why Byzantine taxation wasn't just about revenue—it was a tool for social engineering and imperial survival.#Byzantium #BasilII #ByzantineTaxation #Novellae #Dynatoi #Epoptes #Praktikon #Allelengyon #BardasPhokas #BulgarSlayer #MediterraneanHistory #MedievalEconomics #SmallFarmers #ImperialTreasury #MacedonianDynasty #10thCentury #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 530 AD, the Byzantine Empire faced a formidable Persian assault on the frontier fortress of Dara. This episode dives into the engineering marvel of Dara's walls, the strategic genius of Belisarius and Hermogenes, and the brutal confrontation with Kavadh I's Spahbod. Discover how a city built in haste became the linchpin of Roman defense in Mesopotamia. We explore the controversial decision to fortify Dara against treaty terms, the siege's pivotal moments, and the aftermath that reshaped Byzantine-Sassanid relations. With vivid details from Procopius and insights into ancient siegecraft, this is a story of resilience, diplomacy, and the high stakes of imperial ambition.#Byzantine #Dara #Belisarius #Procopius #Sassanid #KavadhI #Mesopotamia #Siegecraft #RomanFortress #6thCentury #Hermogenes #Spahbod #Nisibis #AncientWarfare #History #FexingoHistory #ByzantineEmpire #LateAntiquityKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, we explore how the Byzantine Empire built a state-controlled silk monopoly that rivaled China's. From the first smuggling of silkworm eggs out of China by two monks in the 6th century, to the vast imperial factories—the gynaikeia—staffed by women, to the sumptuary laws that reserved Tyrian purple for the imperial family, silk was both a diplomatic weapon and a sacred duty. We trace the story from Emperor Justinian I and the historian Procopius describing the smuggling, through the Book of the Eparch's regulations in the 10th century, to the Komnenian era when the Komnenodoukai family controlled the industry. We also discuss the myth of the silkworm smugglers—did it really happen?—and the economic logic behind the empire's refusal to let silk technology spread. Along the way, we touch on the Silk Road, the Sogdians, the Persian middlemen, and the color that defined an emperor: porphyra, the purple dye extracted from murex shells, which gave the Porphyrogennetos emperors their name. This is history woven in thread.#Byzantium #SilkIndustry #Justinian #ImperialPurple #SilkwormSmugglers #BookOfTheEparch #Gynaikeia #TyrianPurple #Porphyrogennetos #Komnenian #SilkRoad #Sogdians #Procopius #Constantinople #FexingoHistory #LateAntiquity #MedievalHistory #ByzantineEconomyKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Justinian II Rhinotmetos—the 'Slit-Nosed' emperor—lived one of the most astonishing second acts in imperial history. Exiled and mutilated after a coup in 695, he returned ten years later with a Bulgar army, a gold nose, and a reign of terror. This episode explores his dramatic comeback, the brutal policies of his second rule, and how his obsession with revenge and religious unity triggered a chain of events that nearly tore the empire apart. We trace his early military successes in the Balkans and Armenia, his conflict with the Khazars, the strange marriage alliance with the Khazar khagan, and the infamous massacre of his rivals after retaking Constantinople. Was he a visionary reformer or a paranoid tyrant? And did his silver nose—rumored to be a prosthetic—symbolize resilience or madness? Join Lucas and Luna as they uncover the story of an emperor who refused to stay dead.#Byzantium #JustinianII #Rhinotmetos #SilverNose #BulgarAlliance #Khazars #Constantinople #Tervel #SeventhEcumenicalCouncil #Quinisext #Leontios #TiberiosIII #AnastasiosII #ByzantineEmperors #Exile #EmpireReborn #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 530 AD, the Roman Empire faced its greatest military challenge yet: a massive Persian army marching through Mesopotamia, seeking to shatter Justinian's ambitions before they even began. At the frontier fortress of Dara, a small Byzantine force under generals Belisarius and Hermogenes prepared to meet a Sassanid army four times their size—not by blocking the walls, but by building a hidden kill box in the desert. This episode takes you inside the engineering of the Byzantine field fortifications at Dara: the V-shaped ditch, the hidden flanking bastions, the counter-march archery tactics that stunned the Persian immortals. But Dara wasn't just a battle—it was a statement. Justinian had spent a fortune on this new fortress, and the Persians wanted to knock it down before it could anchor a whole new Roman strategy. We explore the siege as a turning point in Roman-Persian warfare, the rise of Belisarius as a legend, and the fragile peace that followed—a peace that bought Constantinople time for its reconquest of the West.#Byzantium #Dara #Belisarius #SassanidEmpire #Justinian #SiegeOfDara #BattleOfDara #Mesopotamia #RomanPersianWars #ByzantineArmy #RomanFortifications #Procopius #Hermogenes #CavalryTactics #ByzantineMilitary #530AD #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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When Constantinople fell in 1453, it wasn't because the Theodosian Walls were weak—it was because they were betrayed. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the engineering marvel that protected the Byzantine capital for over a thousand years: the triple-layered land walls built under Theodosius II. They walk through the moat, the outer wall, the terrace, and the inner wall, explaining how each layer worked in concert to repel Huns, Avars, Arabs, Bulgars, and Rus. They discuss the 447 AD earthquake that leveled the walls and the emergency rebuilding that saved the city from Attila. They reveal the ingenious use of Roman concrete, the secret sally ports for surprise attacks, and the elite marine unit called the epibatai who defended the sea walls. They also cover the critical role of the Blachernae sector in the Fourth Crusade and the final siege, where a single unguarded gate in that sector sealed the empire's fate. This episode reveals why the Theodosian Walls are still considered one of the most effective fortifications ever built.#TheodosianWalls #Constantinople #ByzantineEmpire #MilitaryEngineering #Fortifications #TheodosiusII #AttilaTheHun #Earthquake447 #Blachernae #Epibatai #SeaWalls #RomanConcrete #SallyPorts #Constantinople1453 #MedievalHistory #History #FexingoHistory #ByzantiumSecretsKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, Lucas and Luna uncover the covert side of the Byzantine navy: the secret night raids conducted by elite dromon crews. These shadow operations, launched from hidden bases along the Anatolian coast, targeted enemy supply lines, scouted invasion routes, and even assassinated rival commanders. Lucas explains how the empire's naval intelligence network, coordinated by the Megas Doux and the Logothetes tou Dromou, used small, swift ships called dromons equipped with muffled oars and dark sails to strike under cover of darkness. He tells the story of a specific raid in 822 during the rebellion of Thomas the Slav, when a Byzantine squadron slipped past the rebel fleet and torched their supply ships at Lesbos. The conversation explores the tactics, the sailors who volunteered for these missions, and the strategic impact of these raids on the empire's survival. Luna asks about the psychological toll on the crews and the lengths the empire went to keep these operations secret. The episode ties into the broader theme of Byzantine ingenuity and pragmatism, showing how a smaller navy could outmaneuver larger foes through stealth and surprise.#ByzantineNavy #Dromon #NightRaids #MegasDoux #LogothetesTouDromou #ThomasTheSlav #Lesbos #822 #CovertOps #NavalHistory #ByzantineEmpire #Mediterranean #MilitaryHistory #Stealth #ByzantineSecrets #FexingoHistory #History #AncientNaviesKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In 626 AD, Constantinople faced one of its most desperate sieges, not from Arabs or Turks but from a coalition of Avars, Slavs, and Persians. This episode dives into the Avar Siege, a turning point that almost ended the Byzantine Empire before the rise of Islam. We explore the city's defenses, the role of the Theotokos as a protector, the failed naval assault by Slavic monoxyla, and the diplomatic maneuvering that turned the tide. Learn about the Avars, a nomadic confederation that terrified Europe, the Persian Shahanshah Khusrow II who coordinated with the barbarians, and the strategic genius of Patriarch Sergius I and the general Bonus. We also discuss the legend of the Akathist Hymn, sung in gratitude for the city's survival, and the political aftermath that reshaped the empire. This is a story of faith, desperation, and resilience that previews the later Islamic sieges. No prior knowledge needed — just a love for history's most dramatic moments.#Avars #SiegeOf626 #Constantinople #Byzantium #SasanianPersia #KhusrowII #Slavs #Monoxyla #Theotokos #AkathistHymn #Bonus #SergiusI #Heraclius #BarbarianInvasion #TheodosianWalls #MedievalHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Episode 84 of Byzantine Secrets dives into a little-known but vital piece of the empire's survival: the state-managed grain fleet that fed Constantinople for centuries. Lucas and Luna explore how the annona system, inherited from Rome, evolved into a sophisticated network of ships, silos, and spies monitoring weather patterns from Egypt to the Black Sea. They discuss the role of the prefect of the annona, the massive granaries of the capital, and the crisis of the 6th century when volcanic winter and plague almost broke the system. Fresh perspective on how logistics and climate intelligence were as crucial as armies and walls.#ByzantineSecrets #Annona #GrainFleet #Constantinople #LateAntiquity #RomanLegacy #Egypt #ClimateHistory #VolcanicWinter #JustinianPlague #Logistics #MediterraneanTrade #BlackSea #FexingoHistory #History #AncientRome #ByzantineEmpire #FoodSecurityKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, Lucas and Luna explore the Varangian Guard — the elite Norsemen and later Anglo-Saxons who served as the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine emperor from the 10th to the 14th century. Discover how these fearsome warriors, known for their double-headed axes and unwavering loyalty, became a cornerstone of imperial power. We delve into their origins with Basil II's request for 6,000 Vikings from Vladimir the Great of Kiev, their role in battles like the conquest of Bulgaria and the ill-fated Battle of Manzikert, and their daily life in Constantinople. Learn about famous Varangians like Harald Hardrada, who fought in the guard before becoming king of Norway, and the unique legal status that allowed them to police the imperial court. We also discuss the guard's decline after the Fourth Crusade and their eventual disappearance as the empire waned. This episode brings to life a unique fusion of Norse and Byzantine cultures, highlighting how foreign mercenaries became synonymous with imperial prestige and survival.#VarangianGuard #ByzantineEmpire #NorseWarriors #BasilII #HaraldHardrada #KievanRus #Constantinople #BattleOfManzikert #FourthCrusade #MedievalHistory #Mercenaries #AxeMen #Vikings #ByzantineArmy #ImperialGuard #FexingoHistory #History #MedievalMilitaryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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This episode of Byzantine Secrets explores the final days of the empire through the lens of its last emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos. Lucas and Luna walk through the siege of 1453, the collapse of the Theodosian Walls, and the emperor's final charge. They discuss the role of the Genoese commander Giovanni Giustiniani, the massive Ottoman bombard called the Dardanelles gun, and the prophetic weight of Constantine's namesake, the first Christian emperor. The conversation touches on religious division, the Union of Churches, and the haunting last moments inside Hagia Sophia. A story of impossible odds, betrayal, and a city that refused to die quietly.#FallOfConstantinople #ConstantineXI #1453 #ByzantineEmpire #OttomanSiege #TheodosianWalls #GiovanniGiustiniani #MehmedII #HagiaSophia #GreekFire #DardanellesGun #UnionOfChurches #LastRomanEmperor #SiegeWarfare #MediterraneanHistory #EmpireInDecline #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode of Byzantine Secrets, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising economy of holy relics in the Eastern Roman Empire. From the True Cross fragments discovered by Empress Helena in the 4th century to the lucrative trade in saintly bones that flourished in Constantinople's monasteries, they uncover how relics were used to legitimize emperors, fund churches, and even hold off foreign invaders. The conversation covers the Mandylion of Edessa, the acquisition of the relics of Saint Stephen, and how the Church of the Holy Apostles became a storehouse of spiritual power. They also delve into the role of relics in diplomatic gifts, the dubious authenticity of many objects, and the theological debates surrounding their veneration after Iconoclasm. With a focus on the 10th-11th centuries, this episode sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of Byzantine life: the belief that holiness could be physically present, and that proximity to it could literally heal, protect, and empower. A fascinating look at how the sacred and the political intertwined in the medieval Mediterranean.#ByzantineRelics #TrueCross #EmpressHelena #Mandylion #SaintStephen #ChurchOfTheHolyApostles #Iconoclasm #RelicTrade #ByzantineDiplomacy #HagiaSophia #Constantinople #MedievalMediterranean #HolyBones #RelicAuthenticity #ByzantineEmpire #EasternOrthodox #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the surprisingly vital role of beekeeping in the Byzantine Empire. From the legal protections for hives in the Farmer's Law to the use of honey in the famed Greek fire and as currency for paying taxes, bees were everywhere in Byzantine life. They discuss how monasteries in Anatolia managed apiaries, how wax was essential for church candles and imperial documents, and how apiculture survived the transition from Roman to Byzantine rule. The episode also touches on the mystical and medicinal beliefs surrounding honey, including its use in the Pantokrator Xenon hospital. Along the way, they connect these themes to broader Byzantine survival strategies—trade, self-sufficiency, and bureaucratic innovation.#Byzantine #Beekeeping #Honey #Farmer'sLaw #GreekFire #PantokratorXenon #Anatolia #Monasteries #Apiculture #Mellisarioi #Wax #Trade #Taxation #MedicinalHoney #ByzantineEconomy #Agriculture #History #FexingoHistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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This episode of Byzantine Secrets explores the vital role of agriculture in the Byzantine Empire's survival for over a millennium. Lucas and Luna discuss the thema system's impact on food production, the colossal grain dole called the annona that fed Constantinople, and the sophisticated land management strategies that prevented famine. They delve into the village commune system, the chora, and how small farmers were protected by legislation like the Farmer's Law. The conversation also covers the empire's response to climate challenges, including the Late Antique Little Ice Age, and the role of the state in maintaining food security. Specific attention is given to the Anatolian plateau, the Nile grain shipments (until the Arab conquest), and the imperial estates that supplied the capital. This episode reveals how Byzantine agriculture was not just about farming but was a cornerstone of imperial stability and resilience.#ByzantineAgriculture #Annona #ThemaSystem #Farmer'sLaw #Chora #AnatolianPlateau #LateAntiqueLittleIceAge #Constantinople #ByzantineEconomy #LandManagement #FoodSecurity #ByzantineEmpire #MediterraneanHistory #AgrarianHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Byzantium #MedievalAgricultureKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Byzantine dromon, the sleek warship that dominated Mediterranean naval warfare for centuries. They discuss its revolutionary design—the lateen rig, the Greek fire siphon mounted on the prow—and how Byzantine emperors like Leo VI and Constantine Porphyrogennetos codified its use in military manuals. The conversation covers key battles like the Arab sieges of Constantinople (674–678 and 717–718), where Greek fire turned the tide, and the decline of the Byzantine navy under the Komnenian emperors, who relied more on Venetian allies than their own fleet. Lucas explains the social structure of the Byzantine navy: the rowers who were both oarsmen and marines, the captain's tactical authority, and how the dromon's shallow draft allowed it to hug coasts and resupply quickly. They also touch on the ship's role in maintaining tax collection and provincial control, not just combat. A natural dive into a subject the show hasn't covered—naval architecture and its strategic consequences.#ByzantineNavy #Dromon #GreekFire #LeoVI #ConstantinePorphyrogennetos #NavalWarfare #Mediterranean #Constantinople #ArabSieges #Komnenian #LateenRig #ByzantineEmpire #MilitaryHistory #ShipDesign #HistoricalWarships #NavalTactics #FexingoHistory #HistoryKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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