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Maxentius was the son of a co-emperor. He liked his father to get the throne but his power wasn’t legitimate. He starts getting control from inside by cutting taxes.
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Born: February 27, 272
Death: May 22, 337
Son of an emperor, Constantine was a good tactician under Diocletian’s reign. He was later name emperor, he offered protection and gained people’s trust by fighting with them. -
Constantine makes an alliance with another co-emperor, Licinius, to defeat Maxentius together. To seal the deal Constantine gives his sister to Licinius.
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Constantine and Licinius sign an agreement that allow all Romana to have freedom of religion.
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A civil war between Licinius (east) and Constantine (West) begins. They fight and finally Constantine and his son Chryspus defeat Licinius. Constantine is now the emperor of all the Empire.
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Constantine establishes Christianity as the official religion of the Empire.
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The Christian church separated into the Eastern Orthodox church, and the Western Catholic Church.
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The incredible Theodosian wall with three layers of protection begins to be constructed.
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Born: 11 January 347
Death: 11 January 347
Theodosius was a Christian emperor with not much education. He was son of an important military leader, was very smart, and made good alliances. He defeated most invaders, and made people happy. When he died, he left the pier to his sons, they were very young, and consequently it was a disaster. -
Justinian- born: 482 death: 14 November 565
Theodora- born: 500 death: 28 June 548
Justinian and Theodora strengthen the empire. Justinian was even named a saint. They modified and created rules, and reconstructed the Hagia Sophia. They created the hippodrome, and constructed the Theodosian wall. Justinian created the Justinian wall, and divided the empire for better organization. -
The set of by emperor Justinian I is written. The empire had a new legal code.
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A set of riots is taking place in Justinian and Theodora's reign because of the raise of taxes. Thousands of people are against the emperors. Justinian almost wanted to leave and run, but his defiant wife, Theodora encourages him to stay and fight. So they put a new plan going. They make all the rebels go to the hippodrome with he excuse of getting to an agreement. Instead, soldiers are waiting for them there. They close the door and a giant massacre takes place.
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There was a large confrontation against the Persians for land. I t lasted 26 years, but finally Heraclitus forced the Persians to play defensive on 622 and won.
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Born: 575
Death: February 11, 645
During his time of rule. Heraclitus confronted many enemies because he had many threats coming for every border. He conquered a big portion of land, and introduced Greek as the official language. He was a great military leader, which helped him get back a lot of lost territory. -
The holy images and icons are prohibited in the Empire.
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Empress Irene restored the icons that were prohibited in the iconoclasm.
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Born: 752
Death: August 9, 803
Irene came from a noble family and was the first female ruler of the Byzantine empire. She was humble, helped the poor and the old. She is considered a Saint by the Orthodox church. She married Leo IV, but her son rebelled against her and she was sent to exile. -
Born: 958
Death: 15 December 1025
Basil, also called the Bulgar Slayer, was a fierce leader. She was a skilled and committed leader. He came to power because his father was a co-emperor, and after his death, he took the throne. He created a war machine and expanded the empire. -
From 986 to 1014 there was a confrontation between the Byzantines and Bulgaria for territory. Basil finally won the war, and to mark it he blinded the whole Bulgarian army, except for each 100th man. He left him with one eye so that he could guide the army back to Bulgaria, this way everybody knew what he did and was given the name of "Bulgarian Slayer"
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Born: 978
Death: June 11, 1050
Zoe was en empress with a very complicated life. She married three times and had an adopted son. She was exiled by her son and sent to a monastery. But, she finally came back because the people liked her and ended up ruling with her sister, Theodora whom she hated. She helped the poor and gave them some money and privileges. Her biggest accomplishment was a new way of money, a coin that she created with her sister.