Byzantine Timeline

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

271

Constantinople was built over a period of 6 years. He named this the new capitol because Rome was too far from the frontier. The city had an excellent spacious harbor that helped trade. The city was split into 14 different sections.

Nika Revolt

532

The Nika riots were the largest of their kind to take place in Constantinople. It lasted a week aand ended with thousands dead. The riot was caused when the city was to hang men guilty of murder. It was estimated that half the city was burned down.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

533

Belisarius went on a first conquest to capture north Africa such as Carthage. He was sucseeful in capturing the city which brought in lots of money for the Byzantine empire. He then went on to capture Naples and Rome.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

The Hagia Sophia was a great church built in Constantinople. It was dedicated to gods free will. It remained the largest church for among a thousand years. It was built for the Greek Orthodox Church.

Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine Territory

Feb 11, 623

The Arabs who were recently conected by Islam conquered lots of new territory. Some of that territory was of the Byzantine's empire who was recently weakened by a plauge and war. The Arabs went on to conquest Persia and Mesopotaimia.

Emperor Basil II Military Conquests of Bulgaria

Feb 11, 1014

Because of a series of conflicts Basil conquested Bulgaria and took over The Balkan peninsula. Basil's army captured the capitol of Bulgaria. The Byzantine empire then declared all of Bulgaria theirs even though they just occupied the eastern half.

Great Schism

Feb 11, 1054

This is the split of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthadox Church. Some factors that led to the split was the idea of The Holy Spirit or which bread to use. Cities becan shutting down churches they thought were incorrect.

Empror Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II

Feb 11, 1095

Emperor Alexios I requests to the pope that western volenteers come to his aid to help repel the attacking Turks. The obective changed to the recapturing of The Holy City. The fighting force captures the city after siege.

The Fourth Crusade

Feb 11, 1202

The fourth crusade began when the pope asked western leaders to take back The Holy City. On the way to Jerusalem, a Byzantine prince convinced the military to take over Constantinople and in return the prince would fund their expedition. Shortly after they took over the city the prince was assassinated.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

Feb 11, 1453

The Ottoman Empire was the only empire to take the city of Constantinople. The siege lasted 1 month, 3 weeks, and 2 days. The Ottoman's had many more men and a new technology, cannons. Many of the citizens were enslaved when the city was captured. Mehmed the II was the leader of the Ottoman Turks.