Byzantine History Timeline

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

324

After Emperor Constantine founded the Byzantine Capital, Constantinople immediately began to flourish. The city was geographically located on the shores of the Bosporus, which links the Mediterranean and Black seas. Constantinople had water surrounding it on three sides which brought up excellent trade routes and many new resources. Constantinople had a great civilization that came up with many new forms of technology that we still use today.

Nika Revolt

532

The Nika Revolt was the most violent series of riots in the history of Constantinople. The riots killed up to tens of thousands of people and burnt down more than half of the city including many important buildings and structures in Constantinople. The riots started at a chariot race when a fight broke out between the Blues and Greens and Justinian which brought an end to chariot races for the Byzantine Empire. These riots lasted for about five days.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

533

General Belisarius was involved in many military Campaigns that brought him up as a great leader. His main goal was to reconquer most of the Mediterranean territory from the former Western Roman Empire. He went through a series of attacks and was very successful in those battles. One of his most common wins came against the Vandals of Libya.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

The Hagia Sophia was originally built around 360 but then burnt down in 404 and then rebuilt in 415 and finally completed in 537. The Hagia Sophia was first built as a Christian church but then later on, it was converted to a mosque. The Hagia Sophia is said to have "changed the history of architecture."

Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine Territory

630

Islamic Military was aiming at Constantinople for their grain production, naval forces, and a base for further conquests into Africa. When Emperor Heraclius died, the Islamic Military took over Constantinople. Then the Islamic Military used Constantinople for a base for future attacks.

Emperor Basil II Military Conquests Of Bulgaria

986

One of Basil's goals was to regain territory the Empire has lost before. With a bunch of conflict going on, Basil sent an army of 30,000 into Bulgaria and captured a city. Worried about the Government, Basil headed back and then was raided and suffered a serious defeat at the Battle of the Gates of Trajan

Great Schism

1054

This is a very important event that led to the division of the Eastern Christian church which was led by the patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius and the Western churches which were led by Pope Leo IX. The Pope's claim over authority brought up many conflicts with the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs, causing them to divide up.

Emperor Alexios I Contacts Pope Urban II

1095

Conflict between the Turks and Byzantines stop travel to the Holy Land and was threatening the lives of the Byzantine Empire. By 1095, Alexius I needed Christian Knights badly so he asked Pope Urban II, even though they were basically rivals. Many went into battle and only few came back.

Fourth Crusade

1202

The Fourth Crusade was an armed journey that was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead The Crusaders of Western Europe raided and captured the City of Constantinople taking it over and making it their own.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

1453

The Fall of Constantinople involved the raiding army of the Ottoman Turks taking over the Byzantine Capital. The city of Constantinople was then transformed into the city we know today as Istanbul. The Byzantine Empire had lasted a crazy 1,500 years. This event marked the Middle Ages for some historians.