Byzantium Timeline

Muslim Arabs begin their massive invasion into Byzantine lands seizing Syria, North Africa and the Levant. Eventually reaching the gates of Constantinople they are only turned back by the mysterious power of Greek Fire.

A period of massive internal strife and upheaval in which there was essentially no stable government. The only reason the Empire survived this period was a remarkably strong military and the Arabs failure to take advantage of the Byzantine's weak situation.

Leo III's reign is marked by the brief return to stability and the repulsion of most invaders from Byzantine lands. After repelling the invaders, Leo attempted to retake land from the Muslims but these campaigns ended in defeat. It was these defeats that led Leo to launch the Iconoclast.

The Iconoclasts was a period of time in which the Byzantine Church was dysfunctional as the unpopular iconoclasm of Leo III had divided the Empire upon the topic of religious Icons.

Michael III's regent, his mother Theodora, brought about the end of Iconoclast disasters by declaring Icons legal and supported by the imperial throne. When Michael ascended to the throne and began to expand the empire, he was very successful in reclaiming Byzantine lands and defending against hostile neighbours. Unfortunatley, he fell under the influence of Basil the Macedonian. Basil coerced him into appointing Basil as Co-Emporer. The new Co-Emporer proceeded to murder Michael and seize power.

The Macedonian revival otherwise known as the Byzantine Renaissance marked a period of time in which Byzantium experienced unprecedented wealth, growth and success. The new Macedonian emperors expanded the Orthodox faith to the Slavic peoples and reconquered Syria, Anatolia and Northern Mesopotamia. However, this revival would come to an end with the Great Schism.

Basil II, subjugated Bulgaria ending centuries of warfare and adding valuable territory to the Empire. He also married his sister to Vladimir I of the Kievan Rus’ which converted the northern Slavic peoples to Orthodox Christianity and formed an important alliance.

The Bulgarian Kingdom, a long-time thorn in the side of Byzantium, is finally defeated by Basil II securing the western borders of Byzantium from immediate danger.

After centuries of religious cooperation, the build up theological disagreements comes to a head when the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope excommunicate each other. This firmly divides the church into east and west and will prove disastrous for the Byzantines as they now hold no influence over Catholic Europe.

The Byzantine Emperor, Romanos Diogenes, is defeated at the Battle of Manzikert by the Seljuk Turks. The empire is forced to cede most of Anatolia to the Seljuks over the next decade.

Alexios I founded the Komnenian Dynasty during a time when the empire was collapsing due to constant warfare against both the Seljuks and Normans. Upon defeating the Normans he secured the Balkans for the Empire. Focused on retaining the Byzantine holding in Anatolia, Alexios I called on Pope Urban II to aid in the Christian war against the Muslims resulting in the Crusades.

Pope Urban II in response to Alexius I's plea for help against the Muslims calls a crusade to retake the Holy Land.

The Venetians and their rogue crusaders sack Constantinople effectively shattering Byzantium and bringing about the beginning of the end for the empire.