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312
Battle of Milvian Bridge
Constantine fights and defeats usurper Maxentius. During this battle, Constantine has a vision that eventually leads him to both conversion to Christianity and a victory over his enemy. -
324
Battle of Chrysopolis
Constantine fights with a previous ally, Licinius, for complete control over the Empire. He is victorious. -
Period: 324 to 337
Constantine I "the Great"
Born in c. 272 CE, Constantine the Great was the first Christian Emperor in the Roman Empires. He founded Constantinople as the capital for a new empire- the Byzantine Empire. He convocated the first Council of Nicaea and played a big role in the Christianization of the Roman Empire. He died in 337 shortly after receiving his baptism. -
330
Founding of Constantinople
The city of Constantinople was founded by Constantine in what once was the Greek city Byzantium. The founding of this city in 330 CE is also considered the official founding of the Byzantine Empire. -
374
Defeat of the Sarmatians
After the province of Illyricum was briefly overrun by them, there was an eruption of the Quadi and the Sarmatians. Theodosius was able to defend the province and defeat the Sarmatians. -
375
Battle of Adrianople
At Adrianople, the Western Roman Army faced off against the Gothic Armies. Valentinian I, who was the reigning emperor at the time, died in battle, leaving the throne to his sons Gratian and Valentinian II. -
Period: 379 to 395
Theodosius I "the Great"
Theodosius the Great was born in 347 in modern-day Spain and died in 395 in modern-day Italy. He was an accomplished military commander, defeating the Sarmatians in the Balkans. Gratian appointed him Emperor of the East. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both halves of the Roman Empire; after his death, both sides were separated for good. He ended the Gothic War and established Nicene Christianity as the Empire's official religion. He also defeated two usurpers on his rise to power. -
382
Conclusion of the Gothic War
Theodosius was able to work out peace treaties with the remaining forces. Goths would now be able to settle along the Danube frontier. However, they would have military obligations to fight for the empire. -
388
Battle of the Save
Theodosius defeats usurper Magnus Maximus. -
394
Battle of the Frigidus
Theodosius battles and defeats usurper Eugenius and his forces at the Frigidus River. -
Period: 527 to 565
Justinian I "the Great"
Justinian, nicknamed the "emperor who never sleeps", is arguably one of the greatest Byzantine Emperors. He was born circa 482 and died in 565. He has raised by his uncle Justin I, who later became Justinian's predecessor. He was a soldier and senator before rising to power. Under his reign, the Byzantine Empire expanded to almost as large as the late Roman Empire. Justinian also codified Roman Law. He married his mistress, Theodora, for love, not caring that they had different social classes. -
532
Nika Riots
The people were unhappy with the advisers the Justinian was hiring, so they decided to revolt. It almost cost the Emperor his throne. He was about to flee but Theodora convinced him to stay. He then ordered the military to deal with the riots. They locked the people in the hippodrome and massacred them all. -
Period: 532 to 537
Construction of the Hagia Sophia
Justinian took the chance that had presented itself after the Nika Riots destroyed the old cathedral, and rebuild the Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom. -
587
Second Council of Nicaea
Irene of Athens called upon this council. It brought an end to the first iconoclast period and restored the veneration of icons. -
Period: 610 to 641
Heraclius
He was born close to 575 and died in 641. Heraclius strengthened the Empire and made important alliances. He was able to finish a war with the Persians. The Muslims advanced, however. He also made Greek the official language of administration. -
Period: 797 to 802
Irene of Athens
Born a noble Athenian circa 752, Irene was the first Byzantine Empress. She is known to be very ambitious and is sometimes said to have the "mind of a man" in that aspect. She is also venerated as a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church. At first, she was empress consort by her marriage to Leo IV. After his death, their son took over; he was later overthrown by Irene in 797. She ruled as empress until she was overthrown, and died a year later in 803. -
Period: 976 to 1025
Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer"
Basil II was born to a reigning emperor close to the year 958. His reign was threatened by near-constant welfare, yet he still managed to administer the Empire and expand it. He is mostly known for his defeat of Tzar Samuel and his army of Bulgars. He died in 1025. -
1018
Defeat of the Bulgars
After a long time of war, the Bulgar-Slayer finally earned his nickname. -
Period: 1028 to 1050
Zoe Porphyrogenita
Born to reigning emperor Constantine VIII close to 978, Zoe was unable to claim the throne unless she married. She married Romanos III, but then he died. She then married her lover, Michael IV, who became co-emperor with her, but then he died as well. His nephew ascended to the throne but didn't last much. Zoe was then appointed with her sister to rule. She later married Constantine IX in an effort to sideline her sister. She died in 1050. -
Period: 1042 to 1056
Theodora Porphyrogenita
Theodora was Zoe's younger sister, born close to 980. She was officially the last ruler from the Macedonian line, the ones before her being Zoe, Basil II, and her father Constantine VIII. She was constantly being sidelined when she rose to power with Zoe and Constantine IX but ascended as sole ruler after both of their deaths. She ruled until her unfortunate death in 1056.
