Byzantine Empire 5th-16th Centuries

Justinian I Reigns Over The Byzantine Empire

527

Before Justinian the Firsts reign, the Byzantine Empire had lost many of its land to competing forces. Justinian and his wife Theodora I were able to recapture much of the empires lost land in the west including Northern Africa and the majority of Italy. They were able to unite many peoples under the banner of Constantinople including Latins, Armenians, Greeks, Egyptians and Berbers. Justinian also commissioned the first compilation of written laws "Corpus Juris Civilis."

Codex Constitutium

529

First book of the four commission by Justinian I. 10 men compiled all of the laws and ordinances from previous emperors. They then threw out laws that were considered "contradictory and obsolete", and they rewrote and changed some laws to be more in accordance with their time.

The Digesta is Compiled and Completed

530

The second book commissioned by Justinian I in the Corpus Juris Civilis is compiled and published. 16 lawyers were used to sift through the works of authorizes previous jurists and to choose what they saw to be valuable in the extracts. Typically only one extract from the jurists was chosen per, and the others were deemed inadmissible and could not be cited by law again. This gave the world the first proof that laws were meant to be breathing and changing documents.

Institutiones Compiled and Published

533

During the compilation of the Digesta, Tribzonian, the lead jurist, also oversaw the commission of the Institutiones. The Institutiones was written for the soul purpose of instructing first year law students on the many new and old laws within the Byzantine Empire. It was the first textbook for the purpose of law.

"The Novels" Publication

565

The Novellae Constitutiones Post Codicem, are the final books commissioned by Justinian I between 534-565. Within them, and published throughout his reign, are any new laws that were enacted. This allowed for people to have a better understanding of the rules and laws of the kingdom throughout his reign and into the the reign of the next emperors, as well.

The Loss of Italy..Again

569

Because of the expansionist ways of Justinian I, the empire was constantly under attack from all sides. At this time the Balkans were under siege from Slavs, and the Persians were also threatening them from the east. The Lombards, a formidable Germanic tribe had also attacked and taken much of Northern Italy.

The Golden Age

Jan 1, 600

Lasting for hundreds of years this time period is responsible for the building of many architectural buildings in the city of Constantinople, including the Hagia Sophia, commissioned by Justinian I. It is also responsible for changes in the empires military, as well as, intellectual advancements in the rule of law and philosophy. These advancements would be maintained for centuries.

An Alliance is Formed

Jan 1, 626

The Byzantine Empire was constantly under attack, and its forces weekend in both numbers and spirit. War torn and exhausted, Constantinople itself was attacked by an alliance of the Slavs and Persians. Though Emperor Heraklios was able to save the city and make the Persian king his vassal, this would not be the last threat to come knocking on the capital walls.

A New Enemy

Jan 1, 674

While the rest of the world, it seems, was quarreling, a new Arab prophet, Muhammad, founded Islam. United under this new religion, the immensely problematic Arab forces attacked both the Persian and the Byzantine Empires. They even attacked Constantinople. The empire weakened and lost the African coast and the Holy Land of Palestine. Losing so many of the other cultures to the Arabs caused a unification of the cultures of the Byzantine Empire, and Greek became their official language.

Iconoclasm Begins

Oct 28, 700

Feeling threatened by the power of The Church, Emperor Leo orders all religious icons to be destroyed. The Churches policies on idolatry differ from those of other Christians. Christianity largely agreed that false idols and gods were not to be worshipped, and The Church begged to differ. Leo's policy of iconoclasm marks the beginning of a schism between The Church in the west and the Emperors ideals in the East.

Punishable By Excommunication

Oct 28, 731

Iconoclasm is declared punishable by excommunication. The Church is beginning to show its might and influence among the people. This is the beginning of the Pope truly breaking the church away from the rule of Constantinople. He later began to form alliances with Frankish kings in order to weaken the Byzantine Empire to the east.

The Macedonian Dynasty Begins

Oct 28, 860

During the period of the Golden Age, Basil I, a Macedonian, "founded a new imperial dynasty, called the Macedonian dynasty after his homeland." His rule was the the catalyst for 150 years of Macedonian reign, and along with his predecessors, the Byzantine Empire was strengthened. The following emperors focused on enhancing intellectual capabilities and advancement in Constantinople, and they were handed many military victories during this time by three very strong regents.

Overturning Of An Emperor

Oct 28, 1204

Though the crusades had gone on for over one hundred years, they had not yet reached the walls of Constantinople. But this ended with the Fourth Crusade. Constantinople's western enemies had realized the great wealth of the east and marched on the city. Though they remained outside the walls they demanded a changing of Emperors for the east. The new emperor was assassinated, and so their enemies stormed the city. This weakened the empires hold substantially and marked the beginning of the end.

End Of An Empire

Jan 1, 1453

After the fall of Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire had no reached its end. Though there were many attempts by the refugees to restore the empire, they were in vain. For over 150 years the empire declined further, and 1453 sultan Mehmed II attacked Constantinople. Though the city was held for two months, during the last battle emperor Constantine XI was killed. His death marked the official end of the Byzantine Empire.

A New Empire Is Declared

Mar 2, 2022

Though empress Irene had previous attempted to bring the two opposing Christian sides of the Byzantine Empire together during the council of Nicaea by agreeing that iconoclasm should no longer be the empires policy, the Church did not bend to her will. In a final act of pulling away from the east, the Pope crowns Charlemagne, the Frankish king, an emperor of Rome. This created a second Christian empire in direct opposition to the first.