Byzantine History

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

Emperor Constantine finds the capital city of Byzantine. It is originally named Byzantium. Later, it was renamed Constantinople. Constantine named it after himself. Constantinople remained the capital for over a thousand years.

Nika Revolt

532

The Nika revolt was a riot that took place over the course of a week in the capital city, Constantinople. It was the most violent riot in Byzantine history. Thousands of people perished during the riot.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

533

Belisarius was a Byzantine army general, the leading military figure in the age of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. As one of the last important figures in the Roman military history, he led armies against the Persians, the Vandal kingdom of North Africa, the Ostrogothic regime of Italy, and the barbarian tribes who tried attacking Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

The Hagia Sophia was an Orthodox cathedral. It was ordered to be builit by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It was very famous for its' massive dome that set an architectural trend. The cathedral was one of the largest in the world for almost a thousand years. It eventually became a mosque.

Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

Feb 17, 629

The Arabs who recently adopted the religon of Islam, conquered lots of new territory. Some of that territory was of the Byzantine's empire. The Arabs went on to conquest Persia and Mesopotaimia.

Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

Feb 17, 1002

Emperor Basil II was a emperor from the Macedonian dynasty. He killed so many Bulgarians, that his nickname was "the Bulgar Slayer". Many conflicts caused Emperor Basil II to conquest Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula.

Great Schism

Feb 17, 1054

The Great Schism is also known as the East-West Schism. This event marked the divide between Eastern Christian churches and the Western churches. Michael Cerularius led the Eastern Christian churches and Pope Leo IX led the Western churches.

Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in Middle East

Feb 17, 1095

In 1095 Seljuk Turks were posing a big threat to the Byzantines. They had already taken over most Byzantine land in Asia Minor and took power of the Holy Land. The Byzantines needed help. Alexius asked Pope Urban II for Christian knights to help fight. Despite the inner conflict, the pope agreed to help.

Fourth Crusade

Feb 17, 1204

The Fourth Crusade was a Western European expedition intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by invading through Egypt. Instead, the Crusaders ended up conquering the city of Constantinople, the backbone of the Byzantine Empire.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

May 29, 1453

The Fall of Constantinople was caused by an invading army of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans were led by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, who defeated an army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. The capture of Constantinople brung an end to the Roman Empire.