History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

324

Emperor Constantine I Founded Byzantine and renamed the capital after himself (Constantinople). He dedicated it "a new Rome". Its located on the strait linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean

Nika revolt (riots)

532

The Nika revolt was over the span of a week. They were the bloodiest battles in Constantinople history. About half the city was burned or destroyed, tens of thousands of people were killed.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

533

Belisarius began conquering Western Rome by going with a small army to attack the Vandals in North Africa. After this he began conquering other territories.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

Hagia Sophia means "Holy wisdom" it was build to serve as a cathedral (place a pastor or bishop is associated and teaches in) in Constantinople.

Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

636

A small number of the Islamic military charges into byzantine territory which has a large number of people. This led to the indefinite loss of Syria, Palestine, Egypt and large areas of Mesopotamia.

Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

1014

In 1014 the Byzantines won the decisive battle of Kleidion and their general died a few weeks later. 2 emperors took the throne after his death. After the death of the last emperor in 1018, there was no qualified heir to the throne of Bulgaria and since the Roman Emperor offered a solution most of them chose to surrender.

Great Schism

1054

The Great Schism is the splitting of the Greek and Latin (eastern and western) branches of the Chalcedonies Christianity church. This happened when a representative of the Roman pope excommunicated the patriarch of Constantinople

Emperor Alexios asks Pope Urban for military help

1095

Emperor Alexios I Komnenos was being attacked by Muslim Turks who had taken large territories of Byzantines land. He was hoping Pope Urban could help him retake his lands.

Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)

1204

A Western European armed mission called by the Pope, its original purpose was to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by an invasion through Egypt. Instead, a sequence of events caused the Crusaders to hit the city of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

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

May 29, 1453

The Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople under the leadership of Mehmet II and overthrew their government.