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The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
AD 395 - 1453
In AD 395, the Roman Empire finally
split permanently between Eastern and Western
Empires, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years. As the Western Empire
declined in the face of barbarian incursions and settlement, the Eastern Empire survived and,
in some periods, actually thrived. The citizens of the Eastern Empire thought of themselves
as the true survivors and descendants of Rome, and called themselves Romans until at least
the end of the first millennium.
The accession of Honorius and Arcadius was marked by a basic change in the role
of the emperor. It affected east and west differently, and what happened is of
major importance in comprehending what occurred subsequently in the two
halves of the empire. Roman emperors after Theodosius were heads of state
but no longer held effective power. This now fell into the hands of their
chief ministers. The change was complete in the west, but less so in the
east where occasional emperors still took direct command. Perhaps the crucial
difference was that in the east the ministers were usually civilians, but in
the west they were almost without exception professional soldiers who tended
to dominate their emperors. |
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DYNASTY OF THEODOSIUS |
395 - 408 |
Arcadius |
Son of Theodosius, last sole ruler of
Rome. |
405 - 408 |
Arcadius is dominated by his praetorian prefect, Anthemius, who is the real
power behind the throne. |
408 - 450 |
Theodosius II |
Nephew of Honorius. |
423 - 425 |
Upon the death of the
Western Roman emperor, Honorius, his patrician elevates Johannes as
emperor. Theodosius II elevates Valentinian III first to Caesar, then to
co-emperor as Augustus. In late 424, he sends Aëtius to the
Huns to seek military help,
but while Aëtius is away Johannes is betrayed and captured. Aëtius returns
with sizable Hunnic army and comes to an agreement that establishes the
political landscape of the Western Roman Empire for the next thirty years.
The Huns are paid off and sent home, while Aëtius is promoted to magister
militum. |
450 - 457 |
Marcian |
m.Pulcheria,
granddaughter of Theodosius I. |
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DYNASTY OF LEO
Emperor Anastasius enacted vast reforms which restored Constantinople's economic
and military strength. These paved the way for Justinian's later invasion of Italy. |
457 - 474 |
Leo I |
|
473 |
Leo sends his own candidate to rule the remains of the
Western empire. Upon the
arrival of Julius Nepos, Glycerius immediately surrenders. |
474 |
Leo II |
|
474 - 491 |
Zeno the Isaurian
(Tarasikodissa) |
Sent the
Ostrogoths
to regain Italy for the East. |
476 |
The last Western Roman
emperor is removed from office and the
Gothic commander of the
army rules Italy directly. Zeno still regards Julius Nepos as rightful
emperor of the West until the latter's death in 480. |
475 - 476 |
[Basiliscus] |
|
491 - 518 |
Anastasius I |
|
497 |
Anastasius returns
the Western Roman
imperial regalia which Constantinople had received in 476,
confirming acceptance of Theodoric's
Ostrogothic kingdom of
Italy. |
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DYNASTY OF JUSTINIAN |
518 - 527 |
Justin I |
Rebuilt the Roman Empire. |
523 - 525 |
Under pressure
from Byzantium, the Christian kingdom of
Ethiopia
installs a Christian king in Yemen (Saba). |
|
530 - 552 |
In
536, Rome is retaken, and an
Exarchate
set up at Ravenna in 552 to govern the Eastern Empire's central and southern Italian
holdings. By 568, however, the Lombards had begun to incur
from the north, and the power of Byzantium in the west wanes over the course of the next
two centuries. |
|
533 - 534 |
General Belisarius is sent to North Africa with an army, and in one
campaigning season, the
Vandals
are conquered. |
527 - 565 |
Justinian I |
|
565 - 578 |
Justin II |
|
578 - 582 |
Tiberius II |
Caesar (vice-ruler)
574-578. |
582 - 602 |
Maurice |
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NON-DYNASTIC |
602 - 610 |
Phocas |
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607 - 616 |
The
Persians
invade and conquer Byzantine Syria, Egypt & Asia Minor. |
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DYNASTY OF HERACLIUS |
610 - 641 |
Heraclius |
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623 - 628 |
Heraclius attacks the
Persians to
regain recently lost territory. His campaigns also return
Armenia
to Byzantine control. |
|
c.632 - c.651 |
The Bulgars form a capital
at Phanagoria on the Taman Peninsula and make peace with the Byzantines. |
|
646 |
With the end of the Persian Marzban of Eastern
Armenia,
the eastern state is fully reunited under Byzantine control. |
641 |
Constantine III |
|
641 |
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Heracleon |
|
641 - 668 |
Constans II Pogonatus |
Last emperor to visit Rome. |
668 - 685 |
Constantine IV |
|
682 |
North African
Morocco is lost to the
Islamic
Empire. |
685 - 695 |
Justinian II Rinotmetus |
Banished. |
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NON-DYNASTIC
These emperors belong
to no dynasty and obtained brief power in a disturbed period when the
Islamic
Empire was sweeping through the Byzantine North African possessions. |
695 - 698 |
Leontius |
|
698 |
Tunisia and
Algeria are
conquered by the
Islamic
Empire. |
698 - 705 |
Tiberius III |
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705 |
Armenia is lost. |
705 - 711 |
Justinian II |
Restored. |
711 - 713 |
Philippicus Bardanes |
|
713 - 716 |
Anastasius II |
|
716 - 717 |
Theodosius III |
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717 - 718 |
Constantinople is besieged by the
Arab Empire. |
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ISAURIAN (SYRIAN / ICONOCLASTIC) DYNASTY |
717 - 741 |
Leo III |
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726 - 728 |
Byzantine control of the Exarchate
of Ravenna is briefly ended as the
Lombards
take control. |
741 - 775 |
Constantine V Capronymus |
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752 |
The Byzantines permanently lose control of the
Exarchate of Ravenna to the
Lombards. |
|
767 |
Georgian Abasgia rises
in revolt and throws off Byzantine rule. |
775 - 780 |
Leo IV the Khazar |
|
780 - 797 |
Constantine VI |
Blinded &
murdered by his mother Irene. |
797 - 802 |
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Empress Irene |
Regent 780 - 790. |
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END OF THE ISAURIAN DYNASTY / NICOPHORAN DYNASTY |
802 - 811 |
Nicephorus I |
Killed in battle by
Bulgar Khan Krum in 811. |
811 |
Strauracius |
|
811 - 813 |
Michael I Rhangabé |
|
813 - 820 |
Leo V the Armenian |
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|
c.820 |
Cyprus is taken by the
Islamic Empire. |
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PHRYGIAN (AMORIAN) DYNASTY |
820 - 829 |
Michael II the Stammerer |
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|
827 |
Sicily is occupied by the
Aghlabids
as part of the
Islamic Empire. |
829 - 842 |
Theophilus I |
|
842 - 867 |
Michael III |
Drunkard &
gambler. Murdered by Basil I. |
867 |
[Theophilus II] |
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MACEDONIAN DYNASTY |
867 - 886 |
Basil I |
|
886 - 912 |
Leo VI the Wise |
|
886 - 913 |
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Alexander |
|
912 - 959 |
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus |
|
919 - 944 |
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Romanus I Lecapenus |
|
924 |
Constantine (VIII) |
Son of Romanus,
attempted usurpation. |
944 - 945 |
Stephen |
|
944 - 945 |
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Constantine (?) |
|
959 - 963 |
Romanus II |
|
963 |
Regency of Theophano |
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963 |
Theophano, widow of
Romanus II, Regent for her infant sons Basil II and Constantine VIII (IX). |
963 - 969 |
Nicephorus II Phocas |
m.Theophano. Murdered by John I. |
|
965 |
Cyprus is recovered from the
Islamic Empire. |
|
969 |
Nicephorus regains Antioch from the
Islamic Empire. |
969 - 976 |
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John I Zimiskes |
Held power. |
963 - 1025 |
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Basil II Bulgaroctonus |
|
976 - 1028 |
Constantine VIII (IX) |
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|
988 |
Bulgaria
takes the Greek region of Epirus
from the Byzantine Empire. |
1028 - 1050 |
Zoë Porphyrogenita |
|
1028 - 1034 |
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Romanus III Argyrus |
|
1034 - 1041 |
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Michael IV the Paphlagonian |
|
1041 - 1042 |
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Michael V Calaphates |
|
1042 - 1050 |
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Theodora Porphyrogenita |
Joint Empress with Zoë. |
|
1042 |
Zoë marries and
confers the diadem on: |
1042 - 1055 |
Constantine IX (X)
Monomachus |
|
1050 - 1056 |
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Theodora |
Sole Empress from 1055 |
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NON-DYNASTIC |
1056 - 1057 |
Michael VI Stratioticus |
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PRELUDE TO THE COMNENIAN DYNASTY |
1057 - 1059 |
Isaac I Comnenus |
Abdicated. |
1059 - 1067 |
Constantine X (XI) Ducas |
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|
1064 |
Armenia is conquered
by the Seljuq
Turks invading Asia Minor. |
1067 - 1071 |
Romanus IV Diogenes |
|
1071 |
Constantine (XII) |
Claimed title. |
1071 - 1078 |
Michael VII Ducas |
|
1078 - 1081 |
Nicephorus III Botaniates |
Revolt of Nicephorus Bryennius. |
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DYNASTY OF THE COMNENI |
1081 - 1118 |
Alexius I Comnenus |
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|
1086 |
The Turkic
Sultanate of Rum is established out of Byzantine territories in Asia
Minor. |
1118 - 1143 |
John II Calojohannes |
|
1143 - 1180 |
Manuel I |
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1163 - 1180 |
The
Serbs
and Bosnians fall to Byzantium. |
|
1176 |
The Byzantines
are defeated by the Seljuqs of
Rum at the Battle of Myriocephalon. |
1180 - 1183 |
Alexius II |
|
1183 - 1185 |
Andronicus I |
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DYNASTY OF THE ANGELI |
1185 - 1195 |
Isaac II Angelus |
Dethroned. |
|
1192 |
Cyprus is
seized from the Byzantines by Richard the Lionheart of
England and handed over to the Christian king of
Jerusalem. |
1195 - 1203 |
Alexius III |
|
1203 - 1204 |
Isaac II |
Restored. |
1203 - 1204 |
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Alexius IV |
|
1204 |
Alexius V Ducas Murtzuphius |
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1204 |
Capture of
Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, and establishment of
Latin
Emperors in the city. The Byzantines withdraw to Nicæa in Anatolia,
but rival claimants also established holdings in Trebizond and
Epirus so that, at one point, there are four claimants to the Byzantine
throne, as well as the Bulgar and
Serb states. |
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EASTERN ROMAN EMPERORS IN NICÆA |
1204 - 1222 |
Theodorus I Lascaris |
|
1222 - 1254 |
John III Ducas Vatatzes |
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1242 |
Epirus is defeated by John III and its
ruler is reduced to a despot. |
|
1246 |
Thessalonica falls to
John III. |
1254 - 1258 |
Theodorus II Lascaris |
|
1258 - 1261 |
John IV Lascaris |
|
1259 - 1282 |
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Michael VIII Palæologus |
Returns to Constantinople. |
|
1261 |
Constantinople
is recaptured and the Eastern Roman
Emperors are re-established there. |
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RIVAL EASTERN EMPERORS IN TREBIZOND |
1204 - 1222 |
Alexius I Comnenus |
|
1222 - 1235 |
Andronicus I Gidus |
|
1235 - 1238 |
John I Axuch |
|
1238 - 1263 |
Manuel I |
|
1263 - 1266 |
Andronicus II |
|
1266 - 1280 |
George |
|
1280 - 1297 |
John II |
|
1297 - 1330 |
Alexius II |
|
1330 - 1332 |
Andronicus III |
Retook
Epirus. |
1332 |
Manuel II |
|
1332 - 1340 |
Basil |
|
1340 - 1341 |
Irene Palaeologina |
|
1341 - 1342 |
Anna Comnena |
Also ruled for a
short time in early 1341. |
1341 |
Michael |
First rule. |
1342 - 1344 |
John III |
|
1344 - 1349 |
Michael |
Restored. |
1349 - 1390 |
Alexius III |
|
1390 - 1416 |
Manuel III |
|
1416 - 1429 |
Alexius IV |
|
1429 - 1459 |
John IV |
|
1459 - 1461 |
David |
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|
1461 |
Trebizond falls to
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. |
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RIVAL EASTERN EMPERORS IN EPIRUS (THESSALONICA)
Claimants to the Byzantine throne set up rival powerbases, including this
one in the territory of the former Greek kingdom of
Epirus. |
1204 - 1215 |
Michael I Ducas |
|
1215 - 1230 |
Theodore Ducas |
Emperor in
Thessalonica 1227-30. Captured by John II
Asen. |
|
1224 |
The Crusader kingdom
of Thessalonica is gained, and the Epirians move their court
there. From 1231, Michael II rules Epirus as a subsidiary state. |
1230 - 1237 |
Manuel |
Emperor in Thessalonica. |
1237 - 1242 |
John |
Emperor in Thessalonica. |
|
1242 |
John
is defeated by John III Ducas Vatatzes of Nicæa,
and is reduced to a despot. |
1242 - 1244 |
John |
Despot. |
1244 - 1246 |
Demetrius |
Despot. |
|
1246 |
Thessalonica falls to
John III Ducas Vatatze of Nicæa. Epirus is isolated. |
1231 - 1271 |
Michael II |
Granted title of
despot of Epirus by John III in 1249. |
1271 - 1296 |
Nicephoras I |
|
1296 - 1318 |
Thomas |
|
1213 - 1323 |
Nicholas Orsini |
|
1323 - 1335 |
John Orsini |
|
1335 - 1337 |
Nicephoras II |
Re-established his claim in 1340. |
|
1337 & 1340 |
Epirus absorbed by
Byzantine Emperor Andronicus III. |
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LATIN EMPERORS AT CONSTANTINOPLE |
|
1204 |
Backed by Venice and
France. The leader of the Fourth Crusade also sets up other
minor states in Greece. |
1204 - 1205 |
Baldwin I of Flanders |
Count Baldwin IX of
Flanders. |
1206 - 1216 |
Henry of Flanders |
Count of
Flanders. |
1217 |
Peter de Courtenay |
|
1217 - 1219 |
Yolanda of Flanders |
Countess of
Flanders. |
1221 - 1228 |
Robert de Courtenay |
|
1228 - 1237 |
John of Brienne |
|
1228 - 1261 |
Baldwin II |
The Byzantine Emperor
returned to Constantinople. |
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DYNASTY OF THE PALÆOLOGUS |
|
1261 |
Emperor Michael,
based at
Nicaea, returns to Constantinople. |
1261 - 1282 |
Michael VIII Palæologus |
|
1282 - 1328 |
Andronicus II |
Knights of the
Hospital of St John of Jerusalem took Rhodes. |
1293 - 1320 |
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Michael IX |
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|
1320 - 1328 |
In a
period of anarchy Prusa [Bursa] is lost to the Ottomans
in 1326. |
1328 - 1341 |
Andronicus III |
|
1341 - 1376 |
John V Cantacuzenes |
|
1341 - 1354 |
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John VI |
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|
1348 |
Semi-rival to the
title sets up a power base in Morea, and in 1354 - 1376 is the only
Byzantine power. |
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DESPOTS OF MOREA |
1348 - 1380 |
Manuel Cantacuzenus |
|
1380 - 1383 |
Matthew Cantacuzenus |
|
1383 |
Demetrius Cantacuzenus |
|
1383 - 1407 |
Theodore I Palaeologus |
|
1407 - 1443 |
Theodore II Palaeologus |
|
1428 - 1449 |
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Constantine XI Dragases |
Only remaining
claimant for the Byzantine crown. |
1428 - 1460 |
Thomas, Despot of Morea |
Daughter Zoe married
Ivan III of the Russian
Moscow State. |
|
1432 |
The principality of
Achaia is inherited. |
|
1460 |
Mistra, Morea, falls
to Ottoman Turk Mehmed II. |
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DYNASTY OF THE PALÆOLOGUS (CONTINUED) |
1376 - 1379 |
Andronicus IV |
|
1379 - 1391 |
John V |
Restored. |
1390 |
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John VII |
|
1391 - 1425 |
Manuel II |
|
1425 - 1448 |
John VIII |
|
1449 - 1453 |
Constantine XI (XIII) Dragases |
Despot of
Morea. Last Byzantine Emperor. |
|
1453 |
Constantinople is
captured by Mahomet II of the Ottoman
Empire and Greece becomes an Ottoman province. |
|
1461 |
Trebizond
falls to Mehmet. End of the Roman Empire. |
|
1461 - 1924 |
Part of the
Ottoman Empire. |
|
1821 - 1829 |
Greece fights a war of independence which leads to the founding of the
Kingdom of Greece. |
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Fourth Crusade States
All of these small states were founded by Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat in 1204. |
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KINGDOM OF THESSALONICA
AD 1204-1224 |
1204 - 1207 |
Boniface, Marquis of
Montferrat |
Founder. Killed. |
|
1224 |
Falls to the Rival
Eastern Emperor in Epirus, who takes title of Emperor of
Thessalonica. |
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DUCHY OF ATHENS
AD 1205-1456 |
|
1456 |
Conquered by
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. |
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PRINCIPALITY OF ACHAIA
AD 1205-1432 |
|
1432 |
Inherited by the
Byzantine Palaeologi Dynasty. |
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