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532
Nika Revolts
Tense and angry crowds had arrived at the hippodrome for the chariot races, emperor Justinian could watch the races from his palace, which was right next to the races. The crowed began to hurl insults at him, and eventually attacked the palace. The palace was under siege for five days, and a fire from the palace had spread and destroyed most of the city. -
565
General Belisarius Military Campaigns
Byzantine armies led by General Belisarius reconquer North Africa, Italy, and the Southern Iberian Peninsula. However it was only for a short time, the battles had drained the Byzantine Empire's economy, and they did not have the resources to defend the territory. -
Jan 1, 1005
Emperor Basil II Military Campaigns in Bulgaria
Samuel of Bulgaria attacked and looted the Byzantine city of Adrianopole. When he returned home, he was intercepted by a Byzantine army commanded by the emperor. They defeat Samuel's army and the loot was returned to Adrianople. in 1005 a Bulgarian governor surrendered his city to the Byzantines, marking the defeat of Bulgaria. -
Jan 1, 1050
Early Islamic Campaigns into Byzantine Territory
The once prosperous Byzantine Empire was now facing a serious threat from the Seljuk Turks. The Seljuk Turks had migrated from Asia to the Middle East, where they had converted to Islam and took over the Holy Land, an area where Jesus Christ had lived and preached. -
Jan 1, 1054
Great Schism
A splitting between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church disagreed with the Pope's claim to be head of all the churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church was also known as the Byzantine Empire. -
Jan 1, 1095
Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in the Middle East
When Muslim Turks had invaded the Holy Land, Emperor Alexios I ask the Pope for christian knights to help defend against the Turks. At the Council of Clermont in 1095 the Pope called for war, and encouraged both knights and ordinary citizens to go to Constantinople to help fight off the invasion. -
Jan 1, 1453
Fourth Crusade
A time when Muslim Turks were fighting with the Byzantine Empire in the Middle East. The muslim invaders had taken Jerusalem and were threatening the safety of Constantinople. The Pope encouraged many Roman Catholic knights to make the journey to Constantinople to defend the Holy Land. The Turks eventually conquered Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire. -
Jan 1, 1453
Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Turks
The fourth crusade further weekend the the Byzantine Empire which had already lost many of its lands. Only the first crusade had came close to defeating the invaders. Constantinople finally fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD.
