Even the western roman empire wasn't really roman anymore. The emperor was not Italian, not based in Rome, and often with a disdain toward Rome, the vast majori

Even the western roman empire wasn't really roman anymore. The emperor was not Italian, not based in Rome, and often with a disdain toward Rome, the vast majority of the army wasn't Italian either. But the eastern roman empire was probably even less of an empire than it was roman. The definition of an "empire" is to rule over many kingdoms. When you are reduced to your own territory, you really aren't an empire anymore.