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Period: 300 to 1500
History of the Byzantine Empire
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530
General Belisarius' Military Campaigns
General Belisarius was the the leading military figure of the Byzantine Empire during his life. He won his first laurels as commander in 530, and continued to launch many military campaigns throughout his life. His last great military adventure was defeating the Huns that threatened to move into Constantinople in 559. After that, he resumed his retirement, and died in 565 A.D. -
532
Nika Revolt
The Nika Riot was a fight between the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and the fans of the Blue and the Green chariot teams. Justinian' reforms were already making him unpopular with the people, but the situation escalated in 532 when he punished the ringleaders of the Blue and Green factions to death. Rioters burned the city for five days. The word "nika" meant "to conquer" and became the unifying cry for the Blues and Greens against the Emperor. -
634
Early Islamic Military Campaigns into the Byzantine Empire
The invasions by the Arabs into the Byzantine Empire began in 634, and they were able to achieve victories in only two years. These invasions caused strain on the Empire. The decisive battle in these invasions was the Battle of Yarmuk, in which the Arabs won after six days of fighting and massacring the Byzantine soldiers. -
986
Emperor Basil II's Military Conquests of Bulgaria
From 986-1014, the Byzantine Empire was at war with Bulgaria as the Byzantine Emperor Basil II tried to win territory. Finally, he captured the capital, Ochrida, and took control over Bulgaria. This gave him the nickname, "Slayer of the Bulgars". Apparently, he then blinded the entire Bulgarian army, leaving one eye to each 100th man. -
1054
The Great Schism
The Great Schism was the separation of the of the Byzantine Empire from the Roman Catholic Church. The theology of the East was different than that in the West, and combined with political jealousies and disputes, eventually lead to Pope Leo IX excommunicating the East from the Roman Catholic Church in 1054. The patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, excommunicated the Roman Church back in turn. This lead to the division of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. -
1095
Emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for military help in the Middle East
The Seljuk Turks had overrun most Byzantine lands in Asia Minor and had extended their power over the Holy Land, including Jerusalem. This area was important to Christians, as they often made pilgramages there. The conflict between the custody of the Holy Land was threatening to destroy the Byzantine Empire, so the Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for knights to help him fight the Muslim Turks and take back the Holy Land. -
1202
Fourth Crusade (Attack on Constantinople)
The Fourth Crusade was yet another attempt to regain possession of the Holy Land from the Turks. It lasted from 1202-1204. After helping Venice by defeating their Byzantine trade rivals in 1204, the crusaders looted and captured Constantinople. -
1453
The Fall of Constantinople
After the Fourth Crusade, the Byzantine Empire was weakened. This allowed the Ottoman Turks to conquer the city in 1453, therefore putting an end to the Byzantine Empire. It is also regarded as the end of the European Middle Ages.
