European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
End of the Isaurian Dynasty / Nicophoran Dynasty (AD 802-813)

Rome Aquitani Tribes Canaanite States & Groups Celtic Tribes Germanic Tribes Iberian Tribes Mesopotamian States & Groups Syrian States & Groups

In AD 395, the Roman empire finally split permanently, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by William Willems, from Frankish Kingdoms under the Carolingians 751-987, R McKitterick (1983), from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, from Popular Revolt, Dynastic Politics, and Aristocratic Factionalism in the Early Middle Ages: The Saxon Stellinga Reconsidered, Eric J Goldberg (Speculum, Vol 70, No 3, Jul 1995), and from External Links: the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and Encyclopaedia.com, and Cranach Digital Archive (in German and English), and Carolingian Empire (Holy Roman Empire Association), and Carolingians (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science).)

802 - 811

Son of Isaurian Constantine V. Killed by Bulgar Khan Krum.

807

The intervention of the Niceta fleet reaffirms Eastern Roman sovereignty over the lagoon region of Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia.

Under Charlemagne's leadership, the Franks greatly expanded their borders eastwards, engulfing tribal states, the Bavarian state and its satellite, Khorushka, and much of northern Italy, with the Avars now an eastern neighbour (click or tap on map to view full sized)

811

Stung by constant Bulgarian raiding and the capture of pockets of frontier territory, Emperor Nicephorus I launches a major raid which sees the Bulgarian capital pillaged and burned.

On its way back to the empire, the imperial army is surprised by a scratch-force of soldiers and peasants, led by Krum. The army is destroyed, the emperor is killed, and his son is paralysed, with the result that his own position is usurped later in the year.

811

Son. Paralysed in battle and usurped. Died 812.

811 - 813

Brother-in-law. Usurped throne. Abdicated.

812 - 813

The 'Peace of Aachen' in 812 confirms Dalmatia as a Frankish domain, other than the Eastern Roman cities and islands. The boundaries within Dalmatia which are imposed by this treaty are unclear (forcing an embassy to be sent to Aachen in 817 to clarify them).

During the same year Khan Krum seizes towns in Thrace, forcing Michael Rhangabé into a confrontation at Versinikia, on the route towards Adrianople.

The battle, when it comes on 22 June 813, is a complete Bulgarian success. Constantinople is besieged, with the result that Michael abdicates to become a monk. He is succeeded by the Non-Dynastic Emperor Leo V.