History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

On the 11 of May, 330, Constantine I founded the city of Byzantium, and the name was later changed to Constantinople. The city became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The founding of Constantinople marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. When completed, Constantine I liked to call this city "New Rome".

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

527

Flavius Belisarius was a general for the Byzantine Empire. His command of the military started in the year 527 AD when he commanded the army to help prevent any attacks from the Sassanians. He also helped Emperor Justinian reconquer land around the Mediterranean Sea that was taken by the Roman Empire.

Nika revolt

532

The Nika revolt was a 5-day siege against Emperor Justinian of the Byzantine Empire in 532 AD. It started at the Hippodrome, a stadium for horse/chariot racing. When a group of spectators said the word "Nika!" (which means "win", "victory", or "conquer") at the same time, everybody started to destroy and vandalize the stadium and other areas in Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

The Hagia Sophia is now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey, which used to be Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The two architects behind the monument are Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. Construction started in 532 AD and was finished in 537 AD. In Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia was used as a Christian church.

Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

622

The early Islamic conquests were battles against the Byzantine Empire, started by the Rashidun and Umayyad caliphs. The battles were intended to spread the religion of Islam into the Byzantine Empire and beyond. The Muslim attackers were successful in their endeavors of spreading their religion in the Byzantine Empire.

Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

976

Emperor Basil II, also known as the Bulgar slayer, was a very important Emperor in the Byzantine Empire. In 976 AD, he completed conquering the neighboring land of Bulgaria, expanding the Empire even further. Not only did he help conquer Bulgaria, but also Mesopotamia and the areas surrounding it.

Great Schism

1054

The Great Schism of 1054 was the splitting of the Byzantine Christian church in the Byzantine Empire. One of the main causes of the split of the church was because of the separation of the Roman Empire between the east and the west. The eastern side of the Byzantine Empire became Eastern Orthodox Christian, and the western side became Roman Catholic Christian.

Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in Middle East

Nov 27, 1095

On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II ordered to all Christians of Europe to start a war with the Muslims, in order to take back the holy land (First Crusade). When the Seljuk Turks threatened to attack the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Alexios I came to Pope Urban II and requested that he help prevent this from happening.

Fourth Crusade (Attack on Constantinople)

1204

The original intent of the Fourth Crusade was to take back the Muslim controlled areas of Jeruselum. Rather, the Crusaders started stealing property and destroying Christian areas of Constantinople. They did this by traveling through and invading Egypt.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (official end to Byzantines)

1453

In 1453, the Ottoman Turks attacked Constantinople in a 50 day-long siege to conquer the Byzantine Empire. The capital was only being defended by about 10,000 men, while the Ottoman Turks had over 100,000 men attacking from their side. The Turks won the battle, and took over the land of what used to be the Byzantine Empire.