Byzantine Empire Historical Timeline

Overview

Time span: 330–1453 Major powers: Byzantine Empire, Sassanid/Islamic dynasties, Bulgarian/Serbian kingdoms, Seljuk/Ottoman Empire, Crusaders/Latin Empire Core narrative: Constantinople founded, Justinian's reconquest and Code, Justinianic Plague, Iconoclasm, Macedonian Renaissance, Battle of Manzikert, Komnenian dynasty, Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople (1204), Nicaean exile, Palaiologan restoration, Ottoman expansion, Fall of Constantinople (1453).

Key events

• Constantinople Dedication — 330
  Emperor Constantine expanded Byzantium into new eastern capital New Rome After six years dedication ceremony held May 11 330 with Senate and Church Created heart of Eastern Roman Empire Europe richest city for a millenni
• Justinian the Great Accession — 527
  Justin I crowned Justinian co-emperor died months later Justinian crowned at Hagia Sophia ruled jointly with Theodora Began golden age reconquered West codified law built Hagia Sophia
• Corpus Juris Civilis Promulgated — 529
  Roman law accumulated centuries of conflicting statutes needing codification Tribonian led commission Codex Justinianus 529 later Digest and Institutes Compiled all Roman law foundation of civil law tradition for millenn
• Nika Revolt — 532
  Constantinople chariot factions Blues and Greens clashed into anti-government riot Crowds shouting Nika stormed palace besieged Hippodrome proclaimed new emperor Belisarius and Narses massacred 30000 rioters strengthened
• Vandalic War — 533
  Vandal kingdom controlled North Africa Justinian sought to restore Roman control Belisarius led 15000-man expedition defeated Vandals at Ad Decimum 533 Recovered wealthy North Africa destroyed Vandal kingdom restored wes
• Gothic War — 535
  Ostrogothic kingdom ruled Italy Justinian used regicide pretext Belisarius took Sicily and Naples captured Ravenna 540 Recovered Italy and Sicily war lasted 20 years devastating peninsula
• Plague of Justinian — 541
  Yersinia pestis from Ethiopia through Egypt reached Constantinople spring 541 Plague killed thousands daily city paralyzed corpses piled up Reduced empire population by quarter weakened military and economy
• Heraclius Accession — 610
  Phocas tyranny sparked revolt Carthage governor sent fleet to install his son Heraclius entered Constantinople 610 executed Phocas crowned Founded Heraclian dynasty theme system made Greek official language
• Siege of Constantinople 626 — 626
  Avar Khaganate allied with Sassanid Persia jointly besieged Constantinople Persians from east coordinated with Avars from Thrace Heraclius campaigned afar Byzantines under Patriarch Sergius prevailed broke Persian-Avar a
• Battle of Yarmouk — 636
  Caliph Umar united Arabia and expanded into Syria August 636 Khalid ibn al-Walid defeated 50000 Byzantine army at Yarmouk Syria permanently lost to Arabs Arab conquest era began
• Iconoclasm Period — 726
  Leo III believed icon veneration violated Ten Commandments 726 Leo III ordered removal of icons sparking nationwide conflict Iconoclasm lasted a century divided society devastated religious art
• Macedonian Dynasty Established — 867
  Michael III assassinated by co-emperor Basil I Basil I from Armenian peasant family rose through court ranks Founded Macedonian dynasty golden age lasting nearly two centuries
• Basil II Accession — 976
  John I died suddenly young Basil II succeeded facing rebellions After civil wars against Bardas Phokas and Skleros Basil took sole power Began military zenith conquered Bulgaria expanded to Danube
• East-West Schism — 1054
  Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I clashed over liturgy 1054 papal legates placed excommunication on Hagia Sophia altar Formal split between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches
• Battle of Manzikert — 1071
  Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan raided Anatolia August 26 1071 Romanos IV defeated and captured at Manzikert Anatolia opened to Turkic migration Byzantium lost heartland of Asia Minor
• Komnenian Dynasty Established — 1081
  Empire near collapse after Manzikert general Alexios Komnenos staged coup Alexios entered Constantinople crowned Alexios I founded Komnenian dynasty Began Komnenian restoration empire recovered but relied on external aid
• First Crusade Arrives — 1096
  Alexios I asked Pope Urban II for help against Seljuks 1096 crusader armies arrived at Constantinople Alexios demanded oath Crusaders helped recover Nicaea but mutual distrust
• Latin Massacre of 1182 — 1182
  After Manuel death pro-Western regency sparked popular anger Andronikos incited Constantinople mobs to attack Latin residents Some 60000 Latins killed Byzantium-West relations irreparably damaged
• Sack of Constantinople 1204 — 1204
  Fourth Crusade diverted by Venice to attack Christian Zara then Constantinople April 13 1204 crusaders stormed Constantinople looted relics and treasures Byzantine Empire temporarily destroyed divided into Latin Nicaea E
• Recapture of Constantinople 1261 — 1261
  Michael VIII Palaiologos planned recapture July 25 1261 general Alexios Strategopoulos took city while Latin garrison absent Byzantine Empire restored Palaiologan dynasty established

Related graphs

• European history maps
• Roman Empire Historical Timeline
• Iberian Reconquista Historical Timeline

Source and editorial notes

This page organizes events into a readable, searchable, and interactive historical timeline. Event selection emphasizes major political changes, wars, reforms, successions, cultural shifts, and cross-period context.