Byzantine Empire

  • 285

    Roman empire is split

    The Roman empire is split into the Western and Eastern Roman empires.
  • 313

    Constantine I tolerates Christianity

    Roman emperor Constantine I tolerates Christianity
  • 330

    Constantinople is founded

    Constantinople is founded on the site of old Byzantium as “the new Rome.”
  • 361

    Julian attempts to revive Paganism

    Roman emperor Julian attempts to revive Paganism.
  • 376

    Visigoths enter

    The Visigoths are fleeing the Huns, entering the Eastern Roman Empire.
  • 378

    Goths defeat Emperor Valens

    The Goths defeat Emperor Valens is near Adrianople.
  • 391

    Theodosius closes pagan temples.

    Emperor Theodosius closes pagan temples.
  • Period: 395 to 637

    Byblos

    Byblos is a colony of the Byzantine Empire (formerly known as the Eastern Roman Empire).
  • Period: 395 to 408

    Reign emperor Arkadios.

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Arkadios.
  • Period: 408 to 450

    Reign of Thedosius II

    Reign of Byzantine Emperor Thedosius II.
  • Period: 410 to 413

    Theodosian Walls are built

    The Theodosian Walls are built to better protect Constantinople.
  • Period: 450 to 457

    Reign of emperor Marcian

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Marcian.
  • 457

    Leo I is crowned

    Leo I is crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople, the first Byzantine emperor to be crowned by a bishop.
  • Period: 457 to 474

    Reign emperor Leo I

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Leo I.
  • 469

    Anastasian Wall

    The Byzantine Empire builds the Anastasian Wall.
  • Period: 491 to 518

    emperor Anastasios I introduces the copper follis coin

    Byzantine emperor Anastasios I introduces the copper follis coin (288 are worth one gold nomisma).
  • 493

    Long Wall built

    Byzantine emperor Anastasios I builds the Long Wall in Thrace to protect Constantinople.
  • 498

    abolishment of the chrysargyron

    Byzantine emperor Anastasios I abolishes the chrysargyron, an unpopular tax on business transactions.
  • 506

    peace treaty between Byzantine and Persians

    A peace treaty is signed between the Byzantine Empire and the Persians.
  • Period: 513 to 515

    Vitalian leads a revolt

    Vitalian leads a revolt in Byzantine Thrace.
  • Period: 518 to 527

    Reign of emperor Justin I.

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Justin I.
  • Period: 527 to 565

    Reign of Emperor Justinian I.

    Reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
  • Period: 527 to 646

    Byzantine Empire controls Egypt

    The Byzantine Empire controls Egypt.
  • Period: 533 to 534

    Vandal War

    The Vandal War launched
    aimed at reconquering Africa from the Vandals.
  • 534

    conquer the Vandal kingdom in Africa.

    Justinian of the Byzantine Empire conquers the Vandal kingdom in Africa.
  • 536

    Rome falls

    Rome falls to Belisarius.
  • Period: 536 to 563

    Byzantine Empire conquers Italy

    The Byzantine Empire conquers Italy.
  • 554

    conquer southern Iberia.

    Byzantine Empire conquers southern Iberia.
  • Period: 565 to 578

    Reign of Justin II

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Justin II.
  • Period: 578 to 582

    Reign of Tiberius II

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Tiberius II
  • Period: 582 to 602

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Maurice

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Maurice.
  • Period: 602 to 610

    Reign of emperor Phocas.

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Phocas.
  • Period: 607 to 627

    East Rome defeats Sasanian Persia

    East Rome defeats Sasanian Persia.
  • Period: 610 to 641

    Reign of emperor Heraclius

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Heraclius.
  • 627

    Victory over the Persian army

    Byzantine emperor Heraclius wins a crushing victory over the Persian army at Nineveh.
  • 628

    re-take Alexandria, Egypt, from the Persians.

    Byzantine Empire re-takes Alexandria, Egypt, from the Persians.
  • 636

    army crushed by Arab force

    A Byzantine army is crushed by an Arab force at the battle of Yarmuk.
  • 637

    Byzantines driven out of Levant

    Muslim invasion of the Levant. The Byzantines are driven out.
  • Period: 641 to 668

    Reign of emperor Constans II.

    Reign of Byzantine emperor Constans II.
  • 642

    Alexandria falls to the Arab Caliphate.

    Byzantine Alexandria falls to the Arab Caliphate.
  • 654

    Crete, Kos and Rhodes fall

    Byzantine Crete, Kos and Rhodes fall to the Arab Caliphate.
  • 659

    peace treaty between Byzantine Empire and Arab Caliphate.

    A peace treaty is signed between the Byzantine Empire and the Arab Caliphate.
  • 691

    coins to depict Jesus Christ.

    Byzantine emperor Justinian II mints the first coins to depict Jesus Christ.
  • 711

    Pope Constantine visits Constantinople

    Pope Constantine visits Constantinople at the invitation of Byzantine emperor Justinian II.
  • Period: 717 to 718

    Greek Fire is used by Byzantine ships

    Greek Fire is used by Byzantine ships to attack an Arab fleet besieging Constantinople.
  • 838

    Arab Caliphate defeats a Byzantine army

    The Arab Caliphate defeats a Byzantine army and captures the cities of Ankara and Amorion.