Constantinople

Region: West Asia · Coordinates: 41.007, 28.966 · 45 events

Events

YearSourceAccount
AD 324Zosimus, New HistoryConstantine widens the walls of Byzantium by 15 stadia and builds a palace, hippodrome, forums and temples, and houses for the senators who followed him from Rome.
AD 337Aurelius Victor, De CaesaribusConstantine's body is carried to the city that bears his name, and the Roman people mourn deeply.
AD 408Procopius, History of the WarsIn Byzantium, the dying Arcadius worries about how to secure the empire's future for his young son Theodosius.
AD 518Procopius, History of the WarsAnastasius dies and Justin succeeds to the throne, while Kavadh frets about who will take the throne after his own death.
AD 531Procopius, History of the WarsThe Roman peace envoys under Hermogenes fail; Belisarius, stripped of command, is recalled to Byzantium.
AD 532Procopius, History of the WarsIn Byzantium the Blues and the Greens suddenly stage a great uprising (the Nika revolt).
AD 532Procopius, History of the WarsBelisarius and Mundus lead troops against the crowd that surged toward the hippodrome and suppress it; the revolt ends.
AD 532Procopius, History of the WarsThe emperor reinstates Belisarius as commander-in-chief of the East and sends him on the campaign against the Vandals in Libya; Persia comes to regret the peace.
AD 533Procopius, History of the WarsJustinian proclaims the expedition against the Vandals, but many oppose it, recalling the failure of Leo's expedition.
AD 533Procopius, History of the WarsAround midsummer of the seventh year, the governor's ships anchor at the shore before the palace; Patriarch Epiphanios prays, and they set sail.
AD 534Procopius, History of the WarsBelisarius arrived at Constantinople with Gelimer and the Vandals, an honor of triumph that no general had received in six hundred years.
AD 540Procopius, History of the WarsBelisarius arrived at Constantinople with Witigis, Gothic nobles, and wealth; the emperor welcomed him gladly.
AD 542Procopius, History of the WarsThe plague in Byzantium lasts four months, its peak three months, with five thousand to over ten thousand dying each day.
AD 548Procopius, History of the WarsThe emperor first sent Pacurius and Sergius to Italy and prepared a new expeditionary force.
AD 548Procopius, History of the WarsWith Artabanes at the center, a plot to assassinate Justinian was hatched.
AD 549Procopius, History of the WarsBelisarius returned from Italy to Constantinople after five years; he could not land on the mainland and only came to the coastal fortresses.
AD 551Procopius, History of the WarsAfter long negotiations at Constantinople, Isdigousnas, envoy of Chosroes, agreed to a five-year truce with Justinian.
AD 552Procopius, History of the WarsMonks from India promised the emperor they would make silk themselves, aiming to break the dependence on Persia.
AD 895Al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and KingsThe Slavs besiege Constantinople
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadBefore dawn the Komnenoi opened the gates, took their families out to the Forum of Constantine; this was the start of the coup.
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadThe rebels broke the lock of the Blachernae gate and entered the imperial stables.
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadOn Good Friday (fourth indiction, April 6589), the Komnenian army entered Constantinople.
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadWhen Palaiologos arrived with the fleet and the cheering began, the Komnenian side on the walls told them to be quiet.
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadAlexios was crowned by the right hand of Patriarch Kosmas, without the empress.
AD 1081Anna Komnene, The AlexiadIn the eighth month of the fourth indiction, Alexios left Constantinople and entrusted the administration of the city to Isaac.
AD 1082Anna Komnene, The AlexiadIn the Blachernae palace the emperor convened a church council and, as the accused, justified the seizure of church property.
AD 1096Anna Komnene, The AlexiadThe emperor summoned the counts and Godfrey to take the oath of vassalage.
AD 1096William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaPeter gathers the remnants of the scattered army and arrives at Constantinople
AD 1096William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaGodfrey sends envoys to the emperor to have the detained Hugh freed, and arrives at Constantinople
AD 1097Anna Komnene, The AlexiadA battle broke out between the Latin army and the imperial side, with casualties on both sides.
AD 1097Anna Komnene, The AlexiadThe counts arrived at the capital and deployed their troops from near the monastery of Kosmidion to Hieron.
AD 1097Anna Komnene, The AlexiadWhen Bohemond gave his explanation, the emperor, half in jest, recalled their old hostility at Dyrrachium.
AD 1097William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaA great battle before the walls of Constantinople; the Greek army suffers heavy losses
AD 1097William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaDuke Robert of Normandy and Eustace receive great gifts and a welcome from the emperor at Constantinople
AD 1100Anna Komnene, The AlexiadFor the disciples of Basil, the Bogomil leader, a pyre was built at the Tzykisterion in the palace.
AD 1101William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaThe emperor incites the Turks to ambush the pilgrims; only the survivors reach Jerusalem
AD 1118Anna Komnene, The AlexiadJust before the emperor drew his last breath, the empress threw herself at his bedside: the death of Alexios.
AD 1148William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaEmperor Conrad returns home, and the king of France remains in Syria
AD 1157William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaCount Thierry of Flanders arrives; a marriage embassy of the king is sent to Constantinople.
AD 1161William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaThe king proposes his sister Millicent, the countess of Tripoli, but a year later the emperor refuses her and takes Maria, Raymond's daughter, as wife.
AD 1171William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaThe king goes to Constantinople with some of his nobles; the emperor meets him.
AD 1171William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaHe is brought before the emperor, treated with courtesy, and they confer on what is needed.
AD 1180William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaThe king gives his sister in marriage to Humphrey, her third husband; the emperor of Constantinople dies.
AD 1182William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaUnrest breaks out in Constantinople; Andronikos rises to power, and the Latins are persecuted.
AD 1204Novgorod First ChronicleOpening of the account of the fall of Constantinople: Alexios blinds his elder brother Isaac, takes the throne, and imprisons his son, also named Alexios.
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