History of the Byzantines

  • 330

    Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

    Emperor Constantine I transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium in 330 AD and named his new capital Nova Roma or New Rome. Later the city was changed to Konstantinoupolis or Constantinople.
  • 505

    General Belisarius Military Campaigns

    Flavius Belisarius was the general of the Byzantine Empire, he reconquered much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire.
  • 532

    Nika revolt (riots)

    The Nika revolt or riots, although they lasted just about the total of a week. They were the most violent and deadly riots in the history of Constantinople. Tens of thousands of people killed and half of the city was destroyed.
  • 537

    Hagia Sophia Completed

    Hagia Sophia or the Church of the Holy Wisdom was a cathedral that was built at Constantinople in the 6th century. It was built under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I.
  • 634

    Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

    The Muslims raided the territories of the Byzantines. Although the Byzantines put up a fight, the Islamic slowly took over cities one by one such as Caesarea and Jerusalem.
  • 970

    Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

    The fights and conflicts between the two empires took place from 970-1018. Through these years the Byzantines slowly but surely conquered the Bulgarians and took control.
  • 1054

    Great Schism

    The Great Schism or the east-west schism was the final separation between the eastern churches and the western church. The eastern churches were led by a patriarch out of Constantinople and the west was led by the Pope.
  • 1095

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

    After Alexios I talked to Pope Urban II about it, the Pope called all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of “Deus vult!” or “God wills it!”
  • 1204

    fourth crusade

    Known as the Siege of Constantinople was when crusaders attacked Constantinople the capitol of the Byzantine Empire. They robbed and destroyed the city.
  • 1453

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

    The siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire fell Sultan Mehmed II, attacked the city. The city was defended by 10,000 men.
  • Period: 1500 to 300

    History of the Byzantines