History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

Roman emperor Constantine along with his successors shift their bases to the Mediterranean. Constantine rebuilt the Greek city Byzantine and renamed it Constantinople after himself. In 330 AD he made Constantinople the new capital of the Byzantine empire

Byzantine Empire

Period: 330 to Feb 20, 1453

Justinian Become Emperor of the Byzantines

527

The Byzantone emperor reached it peak under the role of Justinian. Justinian ruled from 527 to 565. he wanted to revive ancient Rome by recovering the overrun lands. The empire reconquered North Africa, Italy, and southern Iberian peninsula. His treasury and defenses were weakened and his victories were only temporary.

General Belisarius Mililtary Campaigns

533

General Belisarius led the imperial armies against Persia, the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, Italy, and the Barbarian tribes.

The Hagia Sophia was Completed

537

Hagia Sophia means 'Holy wisdom'. Justinian ordeered the construction of Hagia Sophia in 532 after the previous church was destroyed during riots. It served as a cathedral for Eastern Orthodox, Christianity, Roman CHristian, and an Islamic Mosque

Islamic Conquests Part of Byzantine Territory

Feb 20, 600

Arab armies gained contol of much of the Mediterraneanworl. Constantinople withstood the Islamic attacks and Bryzantine held onto the heartlands in the Balkans and Asia MInor

Emperor Basil II Military Conquests

Feb 22, 1025

Emperor Basil invaded Bulgaria in 991 he was forced to suspend his campaign until 1001 because of troubles in the east. After that he campaigned every year up until 1014, and in 1018 he conquered Bulgaria. Basil was planning invasion on Sicily when he died in 1025

Great Schism

Feb 23, 1054

The Great Schism was the final separation between the Eastern Christian church and the Western Christian Church

Emperor Alexios I and Pope Urban II

Feb 23, 1095

Alexios I was the emperor of the Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118. He stopped the Byzantine decline and restored the military, financial, and territorial issues, this is know as the Komnenian restoration. Pope Urban II was the pope from 1088 up until his death in 1099. He initiated the first crusade which was from 1096-1099, he also set up the modern day Roman Curia.

The Fourth Crusade

Feb 23, 1204

The fourth crusade started in 1202 and lasted 2 more years until 1204. The intentions of the Fourth Crusade was to conquer Jerusalem by an invasion through Egypt. Instead the crusade invaded Constantinople the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This was seen as one of the final acts of the Great Schism, and it also resulted in the establishment of the Latin Empire.

End of the Byzantines

Feb 23, 1453

The Ottoman Turks conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453. A six year long civil war devastated the Byzantine Empire and the Serbian ruler Stefan IV Dushan overran the remaining territory of the Byzantine Empire. There was an earthquake in 1354 that allowed the Ottomans to establish themselves in Europe after they defeated the Serbians.