The Byzantine Empire
A timeline of the Eastern Roman Empire from 476 to 1100 CE — the survival of Rome in the East through Justinian's ambitions, Arab sieges, and the Great Schism.
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The last Western Roman emperor is deposed. The Eastern Empire — soon to be called Byzantine — continues from Constantinople.
Justinian I Becomes Emperor
Justinian I ascends to the Byzantine throne, beginning the most ambitious and consequential reign in the empire's history.
Nika Riots
A massive urban revolt nearly topples Justinian. Empress Theodora's courage saves the throne; the subsequent rebuilding produces the Hagia Sophia.
Hagia Sophia Completed
Justinian's masterpiece is completed in just five years — the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, its dome a marvel of engineering.
Justinian's Reconquests
General Belisarius reconquers North Africa and Italy for the empire, briefly restoring much of the old Western Roman territory.
Plague of Justinian
Bubonic plague strikes Constantinople, killing perhaps a quarter of the empire's population and undermining Justinian's ambitious projects.
First Arab Siege of Constantinople
Arab forces besiege Constantinople for four years. The deployment of Greek fire — a devastating incendiary weapon — helps save the city.
Second Arab Siege of Constantinople
A massive Arab siege is repelled, securing Constantinople for centuries. The failure marks the high-water mark of Arab expansion into Anatolia.
Varangians Arrive in Kievan Rus'
Norse merchants establish trading posts along Russian rivers, founding the Rurikid dynasty that will link Scandinavia to Byzantium.
Christianization of Kievan Rus'
Prince Vladimir I adopts Orthodox Christianity from Byzantium, aligning Eastern Europe with the Byzantine cultural sphere for the next millennium.
The Great Schism
Mutual excommunications between Rome and Constantinople formally split Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches.
Battle of Manzikert
Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine army, opening Anatolia to Turkish settlement — a turning point that triggers the call for the First Crusade.