History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

Emperor Constantine I established Constantinople in 330. The Byzantines considered themselves Romans, but huge differences between them and the Romans kept them in separate. The city was built intentionally to rival Rome. The Byzantines were Christian and spoke Greek, Constantine was one of the last emperors of the entire Roman empire.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

505

Belisarius was rewarded by Justinian and was given troops to mount an expedition against the Vandal kingdom to fight for land. The Romans had reasons for this expedition which were religious, strategic and political reasons. The Christians were being persecuted in the Vandal kingdom, and the new king didn't like the Romans. Belisarius ended up winning the battle against the Vandal forces.

Nika revolt (riots)

532

The Nika riots were against the Emperor Justinian I, they lasted a week in Constantinople. They were the most violent riots in the history of Constantinople. Nearly half the city was burned, destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed.

Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

622

Islam was a religion that began in Arabia in 622. The Muslim conquests brought about the collapse of the Sassanid Empire and a territorial loss for the Byzantine Empire. Then eventually took down the Byzantine Empire.

Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

986

A series of conflicts between the Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire led to the gradual conquest of Bulgaria by the Byzantines. Who then re-established their control over the entire Balkan peninsula for the first time since the 7th-century Slavic invasions. Emperor Basil II in 986, gathered a 30,000-man army, and marched on the Bulgarian city of Sofia and laid siege to it. After many losses he headed home but fell into an ambush and lost the Battle of the Gates of Trajan.

Great Schism

1054

The Great Schism was the break of communion between what are now the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, which has lasted since the 11th century. The sides disagreed on religious topics.

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

1095

Emperor Alexios I reached out to Pope Urban II for assistance during the Seljuq Turkish invation he was dealing with. Pope Urban and Emperor Alexios had been rivals for a long time, but Pope Urban still agreed to help, he sent Christian knights and called for a crusade to free the Holy Land.

Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)

1204

The fourth crusade was intended to win back Jeruselum, but instead it led to an attack on Constantinople by the Westerners.The Mutinous Crusader armies captured and destroyed parts of Constantinople, which is the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (official end to Byzantines)

1453

The siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and was one of the most heavily fortified cities in the whole world, took place in 1453. Sultan Mehmed II, who is the ruler of the Ottoman Turks, led the assault to happen. Then the city was defended by about 10,000 men.