Byzantine Emperors

By msalazar2023
  • 280

    C

    C
    Constantine is born.
  • Period: 306 to 337

    Constantine the Great (Reign)

    Constantine was highly educated and millitary trained by Diocletian.
    He became emperor after his father died.
    He was the first Christian Emperor and stopped the Christian Persecution.
    Constantine wanted power and was harsh on his enemies.
    He made smart alliences and was strategic so won some battles this way.
    Also he built a lot of churches to get his coincience clean for killing his son.
  • 311

    C

    The Christian Persecution officially ends. Constantine allies with Licinius.
  • 313

    C

    Licinius and Constantine make an agreement that establishes religious tolerance. This is called the Edict of Milan.
  • 330

    C

    Constantine chooses Byzantium as the new Roman capital, and is named Constantinople.
  • 337

    C

    Constantine dies.
  • 347

    Th

    Th
    Theodosius is born in Cauca, Spain.
  • Period: 379 to 395

    Theodosius the Great (Reign)

    Theodosius was a Christian emperor who became emperor after proving his millitary excellence. He reunited the Eastern and Western Empire. He created a great army and defeated invadors. Theodosius was really smart and made strong alliances.
  • 395

    Th

    Theodosius dies.
  • 482

    J

    J
    Justinian is born in Tauresium.
  • Period: 527 to 565

    Justinian I (Reign)

    Justinian I is also known as Justinian the Great.
    He inherited his uncle's power and married Theodora who was key for some of the successes in his reign.
    Justinian expanded the empire and divided it into sections.
  • 532

    J

    Because of the rising taxes, there is a revolt of the Nika Riots, which Justinian kills in the hippodrome.
  • 534

    J

    Justinian creates a code of laws called the Justinian Code which include laws that protect women and slaves.
  • 537

    J

    J
    The Hagia Sophia is finished.
  • 565

    J

    Justinian dies in Constantinople.
  • 575

    H

    H
    Heraclius is born in Cappadocia.
  • Period: 610 to 641

    Heraclius (Reign)

    Heraclius became emperor by overthrowing Phocas.
    He ended with the corruption of the past reign.
    He made Greek the official language of the Byzantine Empire.
  • 627

    H

    Heraclius wins the war against the Persians.
  • 630

    H

    Heraclius restors the cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
  • 641

    H

    Heraclius dies in Constantinople.
  • 752

    I

    I
    Irene is born in Athens.
  • 787

    I

    Irene restores the cult of images after they had been prohibited in 730.
  • 798

    I

    Irene opens diplomatic relations with Charlemagne, the Western emperor.
  • Period: 798 to 802

    Irene (Reign)

    Irene was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
    She was considered a Saint of the Greek Orthodox Church.
    Irene created the second council of Nicea.
  • 803

    I

    Irene dies in Lisbon.
  • 958

    B

    B
    Basil II is born in Constantinople.
  • Period: 976 to 1025

    Basil II (Reign)

    Basil II was also known as the Bulgar Slayer.
    His brother was Constantine VIII.
    He was a skilled commander who had a slow way of conquering.
    The Bulgar Slayer traded his sister to Russia in exchange of aid for the war.
    Basil had a strong, fearceful, personality.
    He blinded the Bulgarian army leaving just 1 man out of 100 with one eye working so that he vould lead the others back to their tsar.
    Basil II re-conquered and expanded the empire.
  • 978

    Z

    Z
    Zoe is born in Constantinople.
  • 981

    TP

    TP
    Theodora is born in Constantinople.
  • 1025

    B

    Basil II dies.
  • Period: 1028 to 1050

    Zoe (Reign)

    Zoe was ruler of the Byzantine Empire after her father Constantine VIII died.
    She got married three times and had a sister who she later ruled with.
    She was really ambitious and greedy and was a Porphyrogenita which means born in the purple (in royalty).
    Zoe increased the power of the senate, made generous donations for poor people, stopped riots with her return, and had her own coinage system with her sister Theodora.
  • Period: 1042 to 1056

    Theodora Porphyrogenita (Reign)

    Theodora was co-empress of the Byzantine Empire with her sister Zoe until 1055, and then was empress herself for a year.
    She had a strong character and had refused to mary the emperor after her father died.
    She fixed abuses from past reigns and had her own coinage with her sister.
    Theodora made sure no more abuses occured but was too harsh on her enemies.
  • 1050

    Z

    Zoe dies in Constantinople.
  • 1056

    TP

    TP
    Theodora dies in Constantinople.