History of the Byzatines

History of the Byzantines

Period: 300 to 1500

Byzantine Capital Founded

330

In 330, Emperor Constantine founded Constantinople in modern-day Turkey. This city would become one of the most influential and important cities during the middle ages. Constantinople would serve as the capital until the Byzantine empire collapsed in 1453.

Nika Revolts

532

As a result of unpopular leadership, the citizens of Constantinople revolted. This resulted in a large amount of property damage to the city. However, this revolt ultimately backfired because Justinian was able to strengthen his grip on power after he defeated the rebels.

Belisarius Military Campaigns

533

Belisarius was a general during the reign of Justinian. Due to his role in quelling the Nika Revolts, Belisarius was chosen to lead military campaigns in an effort to reclaim parts of the western Roman Empire. His campaigns were hugely successful and were a huge reason the Byzantine Empire reached its peak during the reign of Justinian. Belisarius is also well known for adding cavalry to the Byzantine Empire's military.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

After it was burned down during the Nika Revolts, the emperor Justinian rebuilt the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia served as a church, and later a mosque. This domed structure is considered the greatest monument of the Byzantines.

Early Islamic Conquest

632

After the death of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, Muslims began conquering large parts of the Middle East and Africa. They would force their enemies to either convert to Islam, live as second-class citizens to Muslims, or fight to the death. Byzantine endured several Muslim attacks over the course of a few hundred years.

Conquest of Bulgaria

986

Emperor Basil II sought to expand Byzantine during his rule. He most famously conquered Bulgaria a many years after he started attacking them in 986. After he captured the capital of Bulgaria he earned the name "Slayer of the Bulgars." After conquering Bulgaria he blinded the entire Bulgarian army, leaving only every 100th soldier with one eye. This event was so horrendous that the tsar died of shock when he saw what had happened to his men.

Great Schism

1054

In an event also known as the East-West Schism, Several differences caused the Eastern Orthodox church and the Roman Catholic church to separate. One of their main differences was the Roman Catholic church in the west having one leader, the pope, while the Eastern Orthodox church had several patriarchs.

Emperor Alexios I requests help from Pope Urban II

1095

With threat of invasion from Turks looming, Emerpor Alexios I sent a plea for military help in the Middle East. Pope Urban II saw this as an opportunity to retake the holy city of Jerusalem, which was under Turkish rule. The Christian soldiers were severely outmatched by the highly trained Muslim army. However, through their massive number of soldiers, they were able to capture Jerusalem. This war tras the first of seven holy wars that would become known as the Crusades.

Fourth Crusade

1204

Crusaders stopped fighting Muslims and raided the christian city Constantinople, which was the capitol of Byzantine. After it was attacked and plundered, Constantinople was left greatly weaken and unable to defend from other invasions. This act of greed and selfishness on the part of the crusaders was a large contributor to the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

Fall of Constantinople

1453

The Ottoman Turks, lead by Mehmet II, successfully captured Constantinople. This marked the end of the Byzantines and is also widely seen as the end of the European Middle ages. It was also seen as a harsh blow to Christianity and the pope unsuccessfully called for troops to recapture Constantinople.