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330
The Founding on Constantinople
The current emperor of the Roman empire, Constantine, dediced that the empire was too large for one man to rule completely. He moved his capital to Constantinople in modern-day Turkey and effictevly split his empire in half- east and west. 330 AD -
476
Fall of the Western Empire
Romulus Augustulus was the final emperor of the western Roman empire. At this time, the eastern empire was still considering themselves Romans-even though the two sections were starting to become different in both culture and level of economy stability. After the official fall of the Roman empire, as we know it, in 476 AD the Eastern Empire survived the castrosophe and became known as the Byzantine Empire by us. -
526
Justinian's Reign As Emperor
Many consider Justinian I to be the greatest empreror of the empire, yet others disagree. For all intents and purposes, he was a wonderful ruler that built and created many marvelous things. One of his first orders of buisness was to "reconquer" the fallen parts of the Western Empire (also known as Italy, Spain, and Africa). He also constucted the Hagia Sofia; today known as the Blue Mosque: as well as established a written gathering of Roman laws, today called the Justinian Code. -
Dec 6, 610
The Loss of Land to Islam: and the Rise of Islam
During the rule of Heraclius, the official language of the empire changed from the ancient Latin to Greek. After defeat the Persians, the Byzantines were weakened and almost completely caught off guard by the new peoples:the Muslims. The Muslims eventually took most of North Africa (what they now call the holy land) by 690 AD. In 693 AD, the Muslim forces made a raid on Constantinople--failing of course to the pride and joy of the defense minister. Towering walls discouraged all from invading. -
Dec 6, 721
The Byzantine's Take Back What Was Rightfully Their's.
After trying and failing to raid Constantinople once again during 717-718 AD, the Muslims has no idea who they were messing with. The Byzantine empire sent a large part of their extensive army to Asia Minor and "reconquered" the area under the name of the double golden eagle. This particular part of Asia Minor was very important as this was both a prime trading port and a way to stop the ever-increasing Muslims from moving closer. Ironically, this area would be fought over for centuries to come. -
Dec 6, 1054
The Split of the Churches: Excommunication is Fun to Do
The Split of the Roman Catholic and the Greek Orthodox Church was caused by nothing greater than a panjadrum blame game. The Emperor of the Byzantines and the Pope of the Chruch were starting to have conflicting ideas. After attending a service, the Pope became so offended that he placed an excommmunication order on the Hagia Sofia for the Emperor himself. Naturally, he wasn't very happy about that and excommunicated the Pope. To this day, the chruchs don't have much to do with the other.1054 AD -
Dec 6, 1071
Defeat at Manzikert: Loss of Asia Minor and Curses! It wasn't worth it the battles!
The Turks were starting to become a bit antsy, not to mention bored, and decided taking parts of the empire away would relieve their boredom. Unbeknownest to them, this sudden action brought them great rewards. At the battle at Manzikert, the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine forces and took control over most of Asia Minor. This part of Asia Minor never returned to either the Byzantine's or the Muslims--the only two that were actually constantly fighting over it. Irony, thy name is the Turks! -
Dec 6, 1204
The Fourth Crusade: I don't know what happened to the first 3.
In the name of Christanity, amusing since the Byzantine's were Christians, the 4th crusaders marched onward to the waiting Byzantine's forces. lightbulb The crusaders realized that they had left Constantinople unprotected and attacked their instead but soon discovered the walls were imprentable--except from the inside. Through bribing, the crusaders quite literally walzted into the city and sacked it for three days, burning and pillaging, before the enraged army kicked them out solidy. -
Dec 6, 1453
The Fall of Byzantine Empire: The Empire That Is Never Recongnized
The pillaging and loss of the capital for a short amount of time was a challenge that the Byzantine's never truly recovered from. Yet, 200 years they were still in Constantinople--facing the oncoming Ottomans. In a seige that lasted almost a full year, the Ottomans finally defeated the Byzantine's and took the city for itself. The mighty Byzantine Empire had fallen. 1453 AD Moment of Respect: This empire survived for 200+ years after having their capital sacked. Match that. -
The Russian's Join the Party
Prince Igor of Kiev attempted to attack the city of Constantinople by both land and sea in hopes of obtaining it for himself. Unfortunately for him, the Byzantine's had Greek Fire (or modern-day napalm) that set their wooden ships on fire. The land attack proved no more fruitful and the Russians were utterly defeated. However, as a consonlation prize to losing, Prince Igor converted to Christianity. Fun fact: A later Russian ruler married the last daughter of the last Byzantine Empire.
