Byzantine Timeline

By Amina Khalif
  • 330

    Constantinople Founded

    Constantinople Founded
    Emperor Constantinople I rebuilt the Byzantine Greek city, renamed it, and made it the new capital of the empire. He named it after himself
  • Period: 527 to 565

    The Age of Justinian- Expanding of the Empire

    The byzantine empire reached its greatest size under Justinian. His army reconquered North Africa, Italy and southern Iberian peninsula.
  • 532

    The Nika Revolts

    The Nika Revolts where civil uprising against Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople. This period experienced increasing power of women in political issues.
  • 537

    Hagia Sofia

    Hagia Sofia
    Hagia Sofia was a church built in 537 A.D which meant Holy Wisdom. Its a domed monument that still stands in Istanbul to this day.
  • 540

    General Belisarius

    General Belisarius
    conquered much of Italy, and was offered the title of Western Roman Emperor
  • Period: Feb 8, 780 to Feb 8, 1180

    Muslims campaigns in Byzantine Terrirory

    Byzantine and Arab or Muslim wars lasted between 780 through 1180 A.D. This affected the Byzantine Empire as it was weakened and forced to give up territories as a result.
  • Feb 7, 1018

    Bulgarian Conquest

    Bulgarian Conquest
    Emperor Basil II conquers Bulgaria through his military. He was famous called "The Bulgar Slayer". Later after his reign ended they achieved their independence through uprising. He oversaw the stabilization of eastern Byzantine and finally defeated their European foe, the Bulgarians. The empire reached its greatest territorial extent since the Muslim conquests four centuries earlier.
  • Feb 7, 1054

    The Empire Diverged

    After the death of Theodosius the byzantine empire divided into western and eastern kingdoms because Charlemagne was crowned instead of the Byzantine Emperor.
  • Feb 7, 1054

    The Great Schism

    The Latin Roman Church and Greek Orthodox Church excommunicate one another
  • Feb 7, 1095

    Emperor Alexios I

    Alexios asks pope Urban II for military help to defeat the Muslims in the Middle East. He agrees even though they were rivals and work together as the both faced a threat from them.
  • Period: Feb 8, 1096 to Feb 8, 1291

    Crusades

    Thousands of Europeans participated in the crusades battling Muslims to recover conquered land by the Muslims. Especially the holy land.
  • Feb 7, 1099

    First Crusade

    The closest crusade to recovering the Holy Land. Christian Knights killed Muslims and Jews then retook the holy land.
  • Feb 7, 1187

    Saladin

    Jerusalem was reconquered by Salah Al-Din. After negotiations he allowed for pilgrims to come worship. Christians tried to recapture the holy land but they failed to.
  • Feb 7, 1204

    Fourth Crusade

    Constantinople was reconquered unintentionally. The fourth crusade was an expedition to recapture Jerusalem from Saladin who stalemated the attempt at the third crusade. This time they intended to go through it in a different way by attacking Egypt the base of Muslim power. This didn't work out well and lead them to conquering Constantinople.
  • Feb 7, 1453

    Fall of Constantinople

    The fourth crusade further weakened the Byzantine empire which had lost most of its territories. In its decline it faced further threat from the Ottoman Turks. It finally fell under the invading forces lead by Mehmet II.