-
Period: 300 to Sep 22, 1500
History of Eastern Roman Empire
-
330
Emperor Constantine Founded the Byzantine Capital
After the German invaders conquered the Roman Empire in the west, the Roman Emperor Constantine and his successors moved their base to the eastern Mediterannian. Constantine rebuilt the Greek city of Byzantium, then renamed it after himself, Constantnople. By 330 Constantine make Constantinople the new Capital of the Empire. In time the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire. -
530
General Belisarius Miliraty Campaigns
The Byzantine Empire had retaken over the northern part of Aftica, Italy and the southern Iberian peninsula because of Gereral Belisarius. In result of all the fighting Justinian's treasury was exhausted and his defenses were weak. Belisarius was a strong leader and had many victories for the Buzantine empire during his military career. -
532
Nika Riots
On January 13, 532 a crowd went to the Hippodrome to watch the chariot races. From the stands in the stadium the crowd could see the Byzantine Emperor Justinian watch the races from his palace. It started with just insults shouted at the Emoeror, but by the time it got to race 22 the crowd broke into a riot and attacked the palace. For the next 5 days the palace was in chaos during the attacks. Afterwards 531 some people were arrested for murder and the deaths that happened during the riots. -
537
Hagia Sophia Completed
For over 900 years the Hagia Sophia was a place for royal ceremonies. It was really important for the Patriarch of Constantinople. It was turned into a mosque in 1453. The Muslims thought that the images of the human form were disrespectful so they covered it up with plaster. For 500 years the main mosque if Instanbul was showed as a model for many of the Ottoman mosques of Constinople. -
Jan 1, 1001
Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria
In 1001 Basil went on a conquest into Bulgaria to take back some of his land that was being controlled by Samuel and his brothers. Operating from Thessalonica, Basil II took control of Vodena, Verrhoia, and Servia. He also cut off the communications between Samuel's Macedonian heartland and Moesia. In response Samuel launched a raid on Adrianople. On his way back he was intercepted by a Byzantine commander who attacked the Bulgarian camp and defeated them. -
Jan 1, 1054
The Great Schism
The Great Schism is the split between eastern and western Christianity. The Byzantine Christian became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The western church became known as the Roman Chaotic church. This split happened because the citizens of the Byzantine Empire would pray to images of Jesus and Mary and the Saints, which the Emperor thought was against God's commandments. This conflict led to the split. -
Jan 1, 1095
Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in Middle East
The Seljuk Turks and the Byzantine Empire were in conflict and it was affecting the way to the "holy land" which was threatening the survival of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Emperor Alexios I went to Pope Urban II for and asked Christian knights to help the Byzantine empire fight the Muslim Turks. Despite the rivalry between the Roman Popes and the Byzantine Empire the Pope agreed. -
Apr 12, 1204
The Fourth Crusade
The fourth crusade was when a Western European expedition intended to go to Jerusalem and take it back from the Muslims that had conquered it. But while they were on their way the prince of the Byzantine Empire, Alexios Angelos, made an agreement with most of the leadership of the expidition to change their route to go through Constantnople and make the prince's father the emperor again. They did this in exchange for military and financial support from the Byzantine Empire. -
May 29, 1453
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (official end to Byzantines)
On Tuesday, May 29 the Ottoman Empire, who were commanded by the 21-year old Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, attacked the Byzantine Capital of Constantinople. On the attack they captured the city and marked the end of the Byzantine Empire. The capture of Constantinople was at the end of a 7 week siege that started on April 6. -
Early Islamic military campaigns in Byzantine territory
The Muslims entered and took Byzantine's southern territories. Immediately Byzantium defended, but their counterattack led to conflict in Asia. Byzantium beat the Muslim defense and regained control of Syria. Basically, all of the fights going back and fourth led to the Muslims taking Constantinople under their control.
