-
Period: 300 to Jan 1, 1500
History of the Byzantines
-
330
Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Captial
Roman emperor Constantine I founded Constantinople, a "new Rome," on the site of the ancient Greek colonony of Byzantium. The ceremony of inauguration was held in 330 AD after the new city had been built for six years. Constantinople started as a Christian city and was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. -
532
Nika Revolts
The Nika Revolts were riots that took place over a week in Constantinople. The riot started at the Hippodrome, near Justinian's palace. They sieged the palace for five days and tried to make Hypatius the new emporer. Justinian considered fleeing, but his wife stopped him and generals Belisarius and Mundus stopped the riots. The riot resulted in the burning of nearly half the city and thousands of deaths. It was the most violent riot in Constantinople's history. -
Period: 533 to
General Belisarius Military Campaigns
General Belisarius was a Byzantine general at the time of Justinian I. Belisarius defeated the Persians through a series of brilliant victories. Justinian sent Belisarius to Africa where he quickly defeated the Vandals who had taken the African provinces of the old Roman Empire. Next, Justinian sent Belisarius to Italy, where he defeated the Ostrogoths. -
537
Hagia Sophia Completed
The Hagia Sophia was burned down by the Nika Revolts in 532. Immediately after the revolts, Emperor Justinian ordered that it be rebuilt. The architects in charge of rebuilding the Hagia Sophia were Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus. The Hagia Sophia was one of the most important and impressive structures of the Byzantine Empire. -
Period: Jan 1, 622 to Jan 1, 750
Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine Territory
During the 600s and 700s, Arab forces invaded areas of the Byzantine Empire. They overran the provinces of Egypt and Syria before advancing to Constantinople. Constantinople managed to hold up and the Islamic armies eventually turned back. -
Jan 1, 1054
Great Schism
The Great Schism was the division between Western and Eastern churches. Western churches became the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern churches became the East Orthodox Church. The Great Schism was the result of a number of differences between the two bodies of churches that had existed for quite some time. -
Mar 1, 1095
Emperor Alexios I Contacts Pope Urban II
Emperor Alexios was ruling the Byzantine Empire when it was being raided by Saljuq (Muslim) Turks. He sent an ambassador to the Council of Piacenza where they appeared before Pope Urban II. Alexios requested a few mercenaries to help fight off the Turks, but Pope Urban II sent a huge force that ended up fighting the First Crusade. -
Period: Jan 1, 1202 to Jan 1, 1204
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was an expedition by Western Europeans that originally intended to conquer Jerusalem, which was controlled by Muslims, using an invasion through Egypt. After a series of events, the crusaders ended up sacking Constantinople and setting up a new Latin Empire. -
May 29, 1453
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks
Sultan Mehmed II led the Ottoman Turks against the Byzantine army led by Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. The Turks, who heavily outnumbered the Byzantines, sieged Constantinople for 53 days. The Turks used cannons to destroy the walls of Constantinople as well as warships and extensive infantry. -
Period: to Jan 1, 1018
Emperor Basil II Military Conquests of Bulgaria
Emperor Basil II led the Byzantines in a military campaign against Bulgaria, led by its tsar Samuel. Year after year, Basil pushed farther into Bulgaria. He won a huge victory at the Battle of Kleidon and earned his nickname "Slayer of the Bulgars." After the victory, he blinded 99 out of every 100 Bulgarian and had the ones who could see lead the others to Samuel, who died from a heart attack after seeing his blinded men. The Bulgarians resisted Basil until 1018 when they submitted to his rule.
