Byzantine Timeline

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

Emperor Constantine I transferred the capital of the Roman Empire and designated his new capital officially as New Rome. As the city became the sole remaining capital of the Roman Empire after the fall of the West, and its wealth, population and influence grew.

Nika Revolt (Riots)

532

Took place against emperor Justinian I in Constantinople over the course of a week. They were the most violent riots in the city’s history, nearly half of Constantinople being buried or destroyed and thousands of people killed.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

Also known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom, built at Constantinople under the direction of Justinian I. The most important Byzantine structure and one of the worlds greatest monuments.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

565

Belisarius had an unlikely Slavic background. One of the last important figures in Roman Military traditions, he led armies against Persia, the Kingdom or North Africa , Italy and the Barbarian tribes coming up to Constantinople. He was appointed to command when he came to the emperor Justinians attention.

Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine Territory

632

The Muslim community spread through the Middle East through conquest. The resulting growth of the state provided growth which revealed faith could take root and flourish.

Emperor Basil II Military Conquest of Bulgaria

976

Basil II aimed only at the extension and consolidation of imperial authority at home and abroad. The main fields of external conflict were in Syria, Armenia, eastern Georgia and southern Italy.

Great Schism

1054

The first major division in Christianity, between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches. The disagreements that caused the division were who the leader should be of the Christian Church and which way the Trinity was to be understood.

Emperor Alexios I Contacts Pope Urban II

1095

Pope Urban II made the most influential speech of the Middle Ages. He gave rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims to reclaim the Holy Land, which is now commonly known as the Middle East.

Fourth Crusade

1204

Western Europe Crusaders invaded the Christian city of Constantinople. It was originally intended to be an invasion through Egypt. As a result, Latin and Greek churches stopped and there was an outbreak of Latin wars.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (Official End to Byzantines)

1453

After 10 centuries of wars, defeats and victories. The Byzantine Empire came to an end when Constantinople was defeated by the Ottoman Turks.