Byzantine Emperors and Events Timeline

Constantine The Great (306-312)

306

Constantine was born in February 27, after 280 CE and died May 22, 337. He ruled from 306 to 312 AD. He was the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. Signed the Edict of Milan, which means that persecution for religion is prohibited. He fought in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. He built the church of Holy Wisdom, also known as the Hagia Sophia. Constantine renamed Byzantium to Constantinople. He called the first Council of Nicaea, and produced the Christian belief (Nicene Creed).

Battle of the Milvian Bridge

312

It ended with Constantine I being a sole emperor and Christianity established in his empire. In 306, Maxentius claimed the title of the emperor in Rome. In 312, Constantine I was prepared to battle with his rivals forces, beside the Tiber River at the Milvian Bridge. It is said, that the night before the battle, Constantine had a dream of a cross and a message saying "In this sign, prevail". The next day, all of the soldiers had a cross on their shields and called themselves "Christian Soldiers"

Theodosious I (379-392)

379

Theodosius I was born in January 11, 347 and died in January 17, 395. He ruled between 379 and 392. He was a military leader, a co-emperor, and a sole emperor. He was known as Theodosius the Great. He ruled both the Eastern and the Western part of the Roman Empire. He is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He also fought against the Goths and the Barbarians, but he didn't destroy them.

Justinian I (527-565)

527

He was born in 483 in Tauresium, Dardania and died November 14, 565 in Constantinople. He was the Byzantine Emperor since 527 to 565. He is noted for his reorganization of the empire and its government and for his sponsorship of the codification of laws known as the "Codes Justinianus". He was a part of the Nika Riots and built the Hagia Sophia. All this, by the side of his wife, co-emperor and adviser, Theodora.

Theodora

527

She was born in Cyprus in 497 and died in Constantinople in June 548. She ruled with her husband Justinian I between 527 and 548. She was the first ruler to recognize the rights of women and to altering the divorce laws. She succeeded in ending persecution of religion. Theodora was Justinian's adviser.

Justinian Code of Laws "Codex Justinianus"

529

Means "Body of Civil Law". The laws were developed by the Emperor Justinian I from 529 to 565. The works did not constitute a new legal law, but they provided basically two reference works containing the past laws and opinions of the great Roman jurists. They were Justinian's own new laws for the empire.

The Nika Riots

532

In 532, people in the Hippodrome was screaming and insulting Justinian. When the races ended, people started to assault the palace screaming "Nika" which means "victory" or "conquest". This riot lasted five days. The fire was destructing much of the city. The city was a caos and Justinian considered fleeing, but Theodora convinced him to stay and fight. Justinian murdered and executed the majority of people that was involved in this riot.

Creation of the Hagia Sophia

537

The creation of the Hagia Sophia is very famous and very important until this days. It was built in 537 in the reign the emperor Justinian I and his wife Theodora; because of the other one's destruction because of the Nika revolt. It is served as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral. It is mostly remembered because "it changed the history of architecture".

Heraclius (610-641)

610

Heraclius was born in 575 in Cappadocia and he died in February 11, 641 in Constantinople. His reign was between 610 to 641. He introduced the Greek Language to the empire and made it an official language. His reign was marked by several military campaigns. Heraclius strengthen the military for the battles. He tried to solve the conflict between the two sides of the church, but the empire was lost in the eastern part.

Second Council of Nicaea (730-787)

730

The Second Council of Nicaea was called by Irene of Athens, the first woman empress in the Byzantine Empire. This condemned iconoclasm as heretical and brought to an end the first iconoclast period.

Irene of Athens (797-802)

797

She was born in 752 in Athens and was from a noble family, and died August 9, 803. Her reign was between 797 to 802. Irene was the first woman to hold the throne in the Byzantine Empire. She married Leo IV and had a son named Constantine VI. Her son overthrew him, but she was very strong and went back to power. She restored icons about religion (Christianity). She reduced taxes and abolished some rules too. She was very ambitious and strong. She fought with the Arabs and gained territory.

Basil II (976-1025)

976

Basil was born in 957 and died December 15, 1025. He was a Byzantine Emperor between 976 to 1025. He extended the rule in the Balkans, Mesopotamia, Georgia and Armenia. He also increased the domestic authority by attaching the powerful interests of the military aristocracy and the church. He is known by being one of the most forceful and strong emperors. Fought the warfare between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgars.

Warfare- Bulgaria and Byzantine (986-1014)

986

In the emperor Basil II reign, a warfare between Byzantine and Bulgaria occured. I lasted from 986 to 1014. Basil had support from the Venetians to protect the Dalmatian Coast and the Adriatic waters from the Bulgarians. Basil slowly was approaching the Bulgarian territory. After some years, Byzantine finally, he had the victory and Basil blinded all of the Bulgarian army. Leaving one eye to each 100th man, so that the soldiers could go back. They named him the "Slayer of the Bulgars".

Zoe Porphyrogenita (1028/1042-1050)

1028

She was born in Constantinople in 978 and became empress since the day she was born. She died in June 11, 1050. She was an empress since 1028 by marriage and in her own right in 1042. Theodora was her most hated sister, and for a period of time, the two sisters ruled together. Zoe married to Romanos III, Michael IV and Constantine IX. She was a beautiful woman and very strong.