Constantinopolis

Region: West Asia · Coordinates: 41.008, 28.980 · 295 events

Events

Year	Source	Account
AD 324	Zosimus, New History	Constantine 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 337	Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus	Constantine's body is carried to the city that bears his name, and the Roman people mourn deeply.
AD 408	Procopius, History of the Wars	In Byzantium, the dying Arcadius worries about how to secure the empire's future for his young son Theodosius.
AD 518	Procopius, History of the Wars	Anastasius dies and Justin succeeds to the throne, while Kavadh frets about who will take the throne after his own death.
AD 531	Procopius, History of the Wars	The Roman peace envoys under Hermogenes fail; Belisarius, stripped of command, is recalled to Byzantium.
AD 532	Procopius, History of the Wars	In Byzantium the Blues and the Greens suddenly stage a great uprising (the Nika revolt).
AD 532	Procopius, History of the Wars	Belisarius and Mundus lead troops against the crowd that surged toward the hippodrome and suppress it; the revolt ends.
AD 532	Procopius, History of the Wars	The 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 533	Procopius, History of the Wars	Justinian proclaims the expedition against the Vandals, but many oppose it, recalling the failure of Leo's expedition.
AD 533	Procopius, History of the Wars	Around midsummer of the seventh year, the governor's ships anchor at the shore before the palace; Patriarch Epiphanios prays, and they set sail.
AD 534	Procopius, History of the Wars	Belisarius arrived at Constantinople with Gelimer and the Vandals, an honor of triumph that no general had received in six hundred years.
AD 540	Procopius, History of the Wars	Belisarius arrived at Constantinople with Witigis, Gothic nobles, and wealth; the emperor welcomed him gladly.
AD 542	Procopius, History of the Wars	The plague in Byzantium lasts four months, its peak three months, with five thousand to over ten thousand dying each day.
AD 548	Procopius, History of the Wars	The emperor first sent Pacurius and Sergius to Italy and prepared a new expeditionary force.
AD 548	Procopius, History of the Wars	With Artabanes at the center, a plot to assassinate Justinian was hatched.
AD 549	Procopius, History of the Wars	Belisarius returned from Italy to Constantinople after five years; he could not land on the mainland and only came to the coastal fortresses.
AD 551	Procopius, History of the Wars	After long negotiations at Constantinople, Isdigousnas, envoy of Chosroes, agreed to a five-year truce with Justinian.
AD 552	Procopius, History of the Wars	Monks from India promised the emperor they would make silk themselves, aiming to break the dependence on Persia.
AD 600	Theophanes, Chronographia	Phocas has the sons of Maurice, Germanus and his daughter executed on the island of Prote.
AD 600	Theophanes, Chronographia	Angry at the Prasini faction, Phocas condemns them so that they cannot hold public office.
AD 600	Theophanes, Chronographia	Phocas has Macrobius Scribonius shot dead with arrows in the forum and hung at the fortress of Hebdomon.
AD 602	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Phokas becomes emperor by rebellion and kills Maurice and his sons
AD 610	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Heraclius reaches Constantinople with a large fleet and defeats Phokas in a naval battle in the harbor of Sophia
AD 610	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Heraclius has Phokas's limbs and head cut off and the rest of his body burned in the Forum Bovis
AD 610	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Heraclius is crowned by Patriarch Sergius in the oratory of St. Stephen in the palace and takes the throne
AD 610	Theophanes, Chronographia	Heraclius goes as far as the Long Wall to meet Shahen (Chagan) and secure peace, but Chagan breaks the oath and makes a surprise attack.
AD 613	Theophanes, Chronographia	Heraclius sets out on the Persian campaign after Easter, melting down church vessels beforehand to raise money.
AD 626	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	The Avars pour in from Thrace and attack Constantinople for ten days with ships and engines, but fail and withdraw (at the same time the Persian Shahrbaraz besieges Chalcedon)
AD 674	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	The Arab fleet appears off the coast before Constantinople and keeps up naval warfare and siege for seven years
AD 695	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Leontios rebels, seizes Justinian II, cuts off his nose and exiles him to Cherson
AD 698	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Apsimar (Tiberius) sails into Sykai, takes the capital by treachery, cuts off Leontios's nose and shuts him in a monastery
AD 705	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Justinian II returns with Bulgarian and Slavic troops from Tervel and retakes Constantinople
AD 780	Theophanes, Chronographia	Leo IV dies (8 September).
AD 780	Theophanes, Chronographia	Irene takes the throne with her son Constantine (VI) (September, Indiction 4).
AD 788	Theophanes, Chronographia	Constantine VI marries Maria of Armenia (November, Indiction 12). The original says his mother had him break the betrothal to a Frankish princess.
AD 789	Theophanes, Chronographia	A great earthquake in Constantinople: people cannot sleep in their houses and stay in tents and gardens.
AD 795	Theophanes, Chronographia	Constantine VI marries Theodote (September, Indiction 4, at the Palace of St. Mamas). The original calls it an unlawful marriage.
AD 797	Theophanes, Chronographia	Constantine VI is confined in the Porphyra chamber and blinded (15 August, on Irene's side's orders).
AD 811	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Staurakios is gravely wounded and withdraws, and Michael (Rangabe, the kouropalates) is proclaimed emperor by the senate and the army
AD 811	Theophanes, Chronographia	Michael I is acclaimed emperor at the Hippodrome by the senate and military units (2 October, first hour).
AD 811	Theophanes, Chronographia	Michael I crowns his son Theophylact emperor in the great church (25 December).
AD 813	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Leo enters by the Golden Gate and seizes the palace, and Michael gives up the throne
AD 813	Theophanes, Chronographia	Leo, the commander of the East, is raised up by the army, acclaimed Roman emperor on the platform before the capital, and about noon enters by the Golden (Chrysê) Gate and goes into the palace.
AD 813	Theophanes, Chronographia	Hearing of Leo's elevation, Michael takes refuge with his wife (the original "Proco-cia" breaks at a line end) and children in a prayer house beside the market, has his head shaved and puts on a monk's habit.
AD 813	Theophanes, Chronographia	On 11 July, at the ambo of the great church, Patriarch Nikephoros places the crown on Leo (coronation).
AD 815	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Leo V formally decides on the destruction of icons and forces church leaders to consent
AD 815	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	After Nikephoros's exile, Theodotos Melissenos takes the archbishop's seat (Easter Sunday)
AD 819	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Leo V receives an accusation of a plot by Michael II and questions him personally. Michael is sentenced to death
AD 820	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Leo V is murdered inside a church during Christmas dawn prayers
AD 820	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael II is crowned by the patriarch's hand in the great church and acclaimed emperor
AD 821	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Thomas's land and naval forces together besiege Constantinople. The chain of the harbor is broken
AD 822	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael II opens the gates, makes a surprise sortie and crushes Thomas's army. Thomas's fleet also scatters
AD 829	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael II dies of dysentery and his body is laid in the Church of the Holy Apostles (the imperial chamber of Justinian)
AD 829	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael II's son Theophilos becomes emperor in October
AD 829	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	After accession Theophilos summons officials of his father's Leo V faction to the Magnaura, then arrests and executes them
AD 842	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Theophilos dies of illness. Before his death he gathers the senate in the Magnaura and entrusts his wife and his son Michael to it. Reign of 12 years and 3 months
AD 842	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	The regent Theodora restores the veneration of icons. She drives out Patriarch John and installs Methodios as patriarch, then restores the icons in the churches
AD 842	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Bardas conspires with Michael III to remove the chief minister Theoktistos from the palace. Theoktistos, fleeing, is struck down by the sword and dies
AD 856	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	The Rus' fleet from the northern sea ravages the Black Sea coast and threatens as far as Constantinople. They then withdraw and ask for baptism
AD 867	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael III is murdered in the palace at the third hour of the night. Basil succeeds to power, having survived an assassination plot ordered by Michael
AD 895	Al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings	The Slavs besiege Constantinople
AD 913	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Symeon camps from Blachernai to the Golden Gate eyeing the city, but seeing the wall defenses he withdraws and asks for peace
AD 920	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	With no one to stop them, the Bulgarians burn the palace of Pegai and Stenum
AD 920	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Romanos prepares a meeting place on the shore at Kosmidion and readies a talk with Symeon aboard ship (Symeon had earlier burned a temple)
AD 920	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	After Symeon's death peace is made with Peter of Bulgaria, who marries Romanos's daughter Maria
AD 944	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	On 15 August the Image of Edessa arrives at the Church of the Virgin at Blachernai; the next day Patriarch Theophylact and others carry it in procession through the great church and install it in the Pharos church
AD 944	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Stephen Lekapenos (his son) deposes his father Romanos I and exiles him to the island of Prote
AD 948	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Romanos I dies and is buried at the Myrelaion
AD 959	Leo the Deacon, History	Romanos succeeds to the throne after the death of Constantine
AD 959	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Constantine VII returns to the city after being given poison and dies
AD 963	Leo the Deacon, History	Nikephoros marches from Caesarea to the capital
AD 963	Leo the Deacon, History	Joseph tries to seize the capital but fails amid internal unrest and flees
AD 963	Leo the Deacon, History	Nikephoros enters the capital and receives the crown
AD 963	Leo the Deacon, History	Nikephoros marries Theophano
AD 963	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Emperor Romanos II dies (15 March)
AD 963	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Nikephoros Phokas receives the imperial crown in the great church
AD 968	Leo the Deacon, History	On 22 December, at the fourth hour, the sun is obscured in a clear sky and the land goes dark; Leo writes that he was in Constantinople at the time.
AD 969	Leo the Deacon, History	Empress Theophano secretly brings John Tzimiskes into the palace, and a conspiracy to depose Nikephoros is hatched.
AD 969	Leo the Deacon, History	On the night of 11 December the conspirators kill Nikephoros in a bedchamber inside the palace; John is acclaimed emperor on the spot.
AD 969	Leo the Deacon, History	John accepts the conditions of Patriarch Polyeuktos, sends Empress Theophano to the island of Prote, hands over Leo Balantes as the assassin, and is crowned in Hagia Sophia.
AD 969	Leo the Deacon, History	The empress, in league with the Domestic, lets assassins in through the passage of a chapel beside the bedchamber, and Emperor Nikephoros is killed in his sleep
AD 969	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Tzimiskes and his band kill Nikephoros Phokas in the palace
AD 969	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Tzimiskes receives the imperial crown in the great church at Christmas
AD 971	Leo the Deacon, History	John Tzimiskes marries Theodora, daughter of Constantine Porphyrogennetos; in November of the second year of his reign.
AD 972	Leo the Deacon, History	Leo Kouropalates (brother of Nikephoros) escapes from exile on Lesbos, lands secretly opposite Constantinople, and tries to gain entry by forging the palace keys; discovered, he and his son have both eyes put out.
AD 972	Leo the Deacon, History	The emperor returns in triumph to Constantinople, renames Dorostolon 'Theodoropolis', and gives King Boris of Bulgaria the title of magistros.
AD 975	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Basil and Constantine (sons of Romanos) rise together as emperors, while real power rests with the praeses Basil
AD 986	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	An earthquake brings down houses and churches and damages part of the dome of the great church. The emperor spends 10 kentenaria of gold on its rebuilding
AD 1042	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	A popular uprising restores Zoe and Theodora. Michael V is blinded and exiled to a monastery
AD 1043	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Vladimir, prince of the Rus', attacks the capital with a large fleet. Basil Theodorokanos makes a night attack, burns seven ships with fire ships and sinks three. The Rus' fleet strikes rocks and most of it is wrecked
AD 1044	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	On 9 March the emperor's public procession is halted by an uproar of the citizens, who oppose the empress status of Monomachos's mistress Skleraina and shout to kill her; the emperor returns to the palace
AD 1047	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	In September the rebel Tornikios besieges the capital, with a camp on the Blachernai side. The emperor's side sorties in the evening, breaks the palisade and drives them off, and Tornikios withdraws
AD 1054	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Monomachos dies. Funeral near the Mangana monastery; Empress Theodora begins her sole rule
AD 1056	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Empress Theodora dies, at the end of August, of an intestinal illness
AD 1056	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Eunuchs and Leo Synkellos acclaim the aged Michael Stratiotikos emperor, while real power is held by his entourage
AD 1056	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Theodosios's revolt: he heads for the great church but the patriarch and clergy close the doors against him; his forces scatter and he is arrested and exiled to Pergamon
AD 1057	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael VI Stratiotikos gives up the throne and goes home. The next day Amboustos enters the palace, and Isaac enters that evening as well
AD 1057	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Isaac Komnenos is crowned emperor in the great church on 1 September after a formal procession
AD 1071	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	The side of John the Caesar sends Empress Eudokia to a convent, proclaims Michael emperor, and refuses Romanos's return
AD 1078	Skylitzes–Kedrenos, Synopsis of Histories	Michael VII is driven from the palace and sent to a monastery, and Botaneiates enters
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	Before dawn the Komnenoi opened the gates, took their families out to the Forum of Constantine; this was the start of the coup.
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	The rebels broke the lock of the Blachernae gate and entered the imperial stables.
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	On Good Friday (fourth indiction, April 6589), the Komnenian army entered Constantinople.
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	When Palaiologos arrived with the fleet and the cheering began, the Komnenian side on the walls told them to be quiet.
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	Alexios was crowned by the right hand of Patriarch Kosmas, without the empress.
AD 1081	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	In the eighth month of the fourth indiction, Alexios left Constantinople and entrusted the administration of the city to Isaac.
AD 1082	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	In the Blachernae palace the emperor convened a church council and, as the accused, justified the seizure of church property.
AD 1096	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	The emperor summoned the counts and Godfrey to take the oath of vassalage.
AD 1096	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Peter gathers the remnants of the scattered army and arrives at Constantinople
AD 1096	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Godfrey sends envoys to the emperor to have the detained Hugh freed, and arrives at Constantinople
AD 1097	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	A battle broke out between the Latin army and the imperial side, with casualties on both sides.
AD 1097	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	The counts arrived at the capital and deployed their troops from near the monastery of Kosmidion to Hieron.
AD 1097	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	When Bohemond gave his explanation, the emperor, half in jest, recalled their old hostility at Dyrrachium.
AD 1097	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	A great battle before the walls of Constantinople; the Greek army suffers heavy losses
AD 1097	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Duke Robert of Normandy and Eustace receive great gifts and a welcome from the emperor at Constantinople
AD 1100	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	For the disciples of Basil, the Bogomil leader, a pyre was built at the Tzykisterion in the palace.
AD 1101	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	The emperor incites the Turks to ambush the pilgrims; only the survivors reach Jerusalem
AD 1118	Anna Komnene, The Alexiad	Just before the emperor drew his last breath, the empress threw herself at his bedside: the death of Alexios.
AD 1148	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Emperor Conrad returns home, and the king of France remains in Syria
AD 1157	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Count Thierry of Flanders arrives; a marriage embassy of the king is sent to Constantinople.
AD 1161	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	The 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 1171	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	The king goes to Constantinople with some of his nobles; the emperor meets him.
AD 1171	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	He is brought before the emperor, treated with courtesy, and they confer on what is needed.
AD 1180	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	The king gives his sister in marriage to Humphrey, her third husband; the emperor of Constantinople dies.
AD 1182	William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea	Unrest breaks out in Constantinople; Andronikos rises to power, and the Latins are persecuted.
AD 1203	George Akropolites, History	The army of the Fourth Crusade arrives at Constantinople with Alexios, son of Isaac.
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The Crusader fleet sails up the strait and anchors off the monastery of St. Stephen, opposite Constantinople
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	They attack and take the Tower of Galata in the harbor of Constantinople — breaking the harbor chain and bringing the fleet into the harbor
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	On the morning of Thursday, 17 July 1203, after nearly ten days of preparation, the Crusaders launch a general assault on the walls
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The blind Doge, carrying the banner of St. Mark, presses the landing — the Venetians take 25 wall towers
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Alexios III flees Constantinople with gold and silver, and the blinded Isaac II is restored as emperor
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The young Alexios is crowned in Greek imperial fashion on 1 August, the feast of St. Peter — he distributes the money owed
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Greek and Latin inhabitants clash, a fire breaks out and burns the city for two days and nights — about 15,000 Latins move across the strait to the Crusader camp
AD 1203	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The Greeks send seven burning ships on the strait wind toward the Crusader fleet — the Venetian ships tow the fire ships away all night and let them drift out to sea
AD 1204	George Akropolites, History	After a 40-day siege the Crusaders take and sack Constantinople (April).
AD 1204	George Akropolites, History	Alexios V Doukas kills Alexios IV and marries his daughter Eudokia.
AD 1204	Novgorod First Chronicle	Opening of the account of the fall of Constantinople: Alexios blinds his elder brother Isaac, takes the throne, and imprisons his son, also named Alexios.
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The Greek noble Mourtzouphlos drags Alexios IV from his bed at night, imprisons him and makes himself emperor — Isaac II soon dies as well, and Alexios IV is strangled
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	On Thursday 8 April they board the ships and from the morning of Friday attack the walls in a hundred places — the Crusaders are pushed back to the ships
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	On Monday 12 April the Crusaders cross the wall towers and take the city — Mourtzouphlos flees by the Golden Gate
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	On the morning of the 13th, the Boukoleon Palace surrenders to Boniface and the Blachernae Palace to Henry — the gold and silver inside and the court ladies are seized
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	The plunder is gathered in three churches and divided — 50,000 marks to Venice, and over 100,000 marks shared among the troops (two foot soldiers counting as one horseman)
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Coronation of Baldwin in Hagia Sophia — 16 May 1204
AD 1204	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Mourtzouphlos (who had the blinding and killing done) is executed by being thrown from a column in Constantinople
AD 1206	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Coronation of Emperor Henry in Hagia Sophia — 20 August 1206
AD 1207	Villehardouin, The Conquest of Constantinople	Emperor Henry marries Agnes, daughter of Boniface, in Hagia Sophia — around 4 February 1207
AD 1231	George Akropolites, History	John of Brienne, king of Jerusalem, comes by sea and arrives at Constantinople.
AD 1261	George Akropolites, History	At night Strategopoulos's unit lets more than 15 men in through a gap in the wall.
AD 1261	George Akropolites, History	Strategopoulos and the Roman army enter Constantinople, the Latins flee and the city returns to Roman hands (25 July).
AD 1261	George Akropolites, History	Emperor Michael reaches Constantinople on 14 August and camps at the Kosmidion monastery near Blachernae.
AD 1324	Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica	In February 300,000 Tatar horsemen enter Greece and plunder up to near Constantinople, staying until April; over 150,000 people are killed or enslaved
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Having finished the story of Andronikos III, the account turns to his nine-year-old son John, who was left behind.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Three days after her husband's funeral, the empress Anna returns to the palace.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The patriarch and bishops produce the late emperor's testament (codicil), said to contain instructions for his wife and children.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Apokaukos and the patriarch visit the empress privately and urge her to strip Kantakouzenos of his authority.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos steps before the empress and her entourage and begins a speech.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos hears that the empress Anna has fallen ill, and Apokaukos again plots.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos leaves Byzantium for the cities of Thrace.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The released Apokaukos returns to Byzantium.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The patriarch leaves his church seat to stay at the palace beside the empress and acts together with Apokaukos.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos's relatives and associates gather and send envoys to the patriarch and Apokaukos asking them not to harm him, then clash with the crowd.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos's mother is unjustly imprisoned and her house is torn down.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The patriarch's side sends bundles of letters of excommunication and interdict against Kantakouzenos's supporters to provinces and cities.
AD 1341	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Some of Kantakouzenos's soldiers, invited by citizens of Byzantium, defect to the Byzantium side.
AD 1343	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Roman cities of Byzantium and Thrace go hungry for lack of grain.
AD 1345	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Apokaukos is killed by prisoners in the old palace of Byzantium.
AD 1345	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A public debate before the young emperor: Gregoras refutes point by point Palamas's distinction between divine essence and energy.
AD 1345	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The young emperor rules in Gregoras's favor but does not publish the verdict, as Kantakouzenos defers to the Palamite side.
AD 1345	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A synod is held concerning Palamas (an editor's note; the text does not mention a council).
AD 1347	Doukas, History	John VI Kantakouzenos's army enters the city, and Empress Anna, confined in the palace, and the young emperor surrender. Kantakouzenos sends the Turkish troops home with gifts and thanks his son-in-law Orhan.
AD 1347	Doukas, History	John V marries Helena, daughter of Kantakouzenos, and is crowned at the Church of the Virgin at Blachernae. Kantakouzenos also becomes co-emperor, and his son Matthew is proclaimed despot.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Emperor Kantakouzenos sends Anna's envoys back, saying he could take the fortress by force but has given up the idea.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The next day Kantakouzenos's soldiers and officers secretly storm the fortress; around midday they set fire to the gate by the Blachernae church with missiles and fire.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Armed bands break in, seize the seaward part of the fortress and plunder residents' property; the emperor sends men to stop the assault.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	After a sleepless night, Empress Anna sends envoys at the morning council to ask for reconciliation; she asks no pardon but demands authority, then yields, accepting Kantakouzenos as co-emperor on condition that she ranks first.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor expels Patriarch John and has him confined under guard in the Byzantium palace.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Venetian fleet commander leaves Euboea and sails for Byzantium, waiting there for the emperor to come.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	More than 18,000 Venetian naval men gather at Byzantium, food prices double, and the Venetian command is pressed by shortages of supplies.
AD 1347	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The author Gregoras is under severe oppression during his confinement (a retrospective passage).
AD 1348	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Palamas is summoned from Didymoteichon and hurries to Byzantium; the doctrinal dispute begins.
AD 1348	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Latin Galatians make war on Byzantium without clear cause; the text explains it as fear that Byzantium's shipping and revenues would grow.
AD 1348	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	For four days the Latins set fire to the whole Byzantine shoreline, burning ships at sea, ships hauled ashore and a trireme under construction.
AD 1348	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Latins try to raise gangways and poles on several large ships over the sea wall of Constantinople; the defenders repel them with stones and arrows.
AD 1348	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor gathers the citizens and rebukes them for the lack of funds and for earlier broken promises; the citizens promise to pay for a fleet.
AD 1349	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Byzantine sailors attack and burn a large Latin transport ship; the flames leap over the sea all night.
AD 1349	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Latin fleet surrounds and attacks the Byzantine fleet; ships capsize and many soldiers drown.
AD 1350	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Patriarch Isidore dies after a long bout of diarrhea.
AD 1350	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Palamites summon the Athonite monk Kallistos and install him as the successor patriarch.
AD 1350	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor and empress try to win over Gregoras with wealth and rank, but Gregoras refuses and states his opposition.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	In spring, 14 Venetian triremes reach the harbor of Byzantium; the Venetian-Catalan-Byzantine alliance seizes Genoese merchant ships at the mouth of the Black Sea.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos plans to convene a council with only 22 bishops of Thrace.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Before the council, Gregoras decides to take the monastic habit and cut off his visits to the court.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	On council day the Orthodox party enters the palace but is made to wait at the court entrance, while the Palamites dine inside.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos swears an ambiguous oath and, as Gregoras's side keeps speaking, cuts them off and threatens them into silence.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The day (27 May) on which Emperor Kantakouzenos summons Gregoras to the council by imperial edict.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	When the emperor and Palamas try to finish the debate in a day, Gregoras speaks at the council and the emperor cuts him off.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	At the bishops' assembly, a joint vote of emperor, patriarch and bishops proclaims Palamas's doctrine distinguishing essence and energy; Gregoras denounces it as blasphemy.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The bishops and the patriarch rise and begin to lay hands on Gregoras's men.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	First session of the palace council in the presence of Emperor Kantakouzenos: Gregoras refutes Palamas's doctrine of the Tabor light, and the emperor's side warns against opposing the emperor's will in the palace.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The first session is dismissed, with a new meeting set for three days later.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	After the session a crowd seeks out Palamas to harm him, and Palamas hides.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The next morning Palamas goes to the emperor and vents his anger that Gregoras's side stirred up unrest in the city.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Before the third session, Palamas's side tries to win Gregoras over with money and promises.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	During the session the emperor leaves the chamber and secretly discusses countermeasures with Palamas and the bishops.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor threatens confiscation of property and proclaims that anyone who comes to the next session and is caught will be sent to prison.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Gregoras rises and leaves the hall, and his companions follow (the emperor orders that they be stopped).
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Palamas advises the emperor to let them go, and Gregoras's group is allowed to withdraw.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	End of the third session of the council: only three of ten items were examined, Palamas was openly defeated on them, yet the session ends.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	During the night the high officials plot the next session and hold a public assembly to pass judgment; Gregoras's side is gagged.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Fourth session: when Gregoras begins reading chapter 4, Palamas flies into a rage and an uproar breaks out among the bishops.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Emperor, patriarch and bishops proclaim in a joint decree that divine activity (operatio) is distinct from essence; Gregoras condemns it as blasphemy.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Late at night, after torches are lit, the patriarch and bishops fall on Gregoras's side and lay hands on them.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Two bishops are attacked, their clothes torn, their episcopal insignia taken and their beards pulled out.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Gregoras's disciples are forcibly separated and jailed; the remaining disciples are threatened into breaking with him.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	An Antiochene-jurisdiction bishop (of Tyre) is rudely driven out of the council and thereafter breaks with it.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A few days later Gregoras is confined to his house and forbidden to speak, write or hear (an indefinite order of silence).
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor, patriarch, bishops and priests all sign a long document (tomos) by hand; supporters sign, opponents merely speak against it or sign anyway, and non-signers are threatened with punishment.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The emperor himself places the tomos on the altar as an offering, at the urging of the Palamites (Gregoras claims soothsayers' dream interpretations moved the emperor).
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A few days after the signing of the tomos, Genoese living at Galata burn down mansions outside the walls of Byzantium, prompting citizens to block the harbor gates and dig a moat along the shore outside the walls.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Emperor Kantakouzenos has a moat dug to bring in seawater and surround Byzantium's sea walls, in preparation against the Genoese.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Envoys sent by the emperor and patriarch (senators, nobles, bishops, scholars) come to Gregoras's house demanding he agree to a new tomos and edict and submit Palamas's writings; he refuses and they return empty-handed.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	When the envoys ask Palamas to submit written statements (libelli), all refuse together; Palamas says he will not write a repentance in any document.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Palamas, enraged, goes to the emperor and says he would rather die than hand a writing over to Gregoras.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The new edict and verdict are secretly sent to many places to inform people, and contact with Gregoras is forbidden even by ear or eye.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	More bolts are added to the door of Gregoras's house, guards are posted front, back and sides, and neighbors are used as watchers.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Gregoras's festal sermon enrages the Palamites, who treat the entire sermon as an object of anger.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The Palamites warn Gregoras not to defy the emperor's edict.
AD 1351	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Gregoras is confined again, more strictly: the door is barred and the jailer replaced by a harsher one.
AD 1353	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	While Kantakouzenos is at Orestias, Palaiologos appears at the mouth of Byzantium with 18 ships (single and double banked) and one trireme, threatening the capital.
AD 1353	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	Kantakouzenos's son Matthew is raised on a shield and proclaimed king (at the Roman court).
AD 1353	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A few days after Kallistos is expelled, Philotheos Kokkinos, from Perinthos in Heraclea, obtains the patriarchal throne.
AD 1354	Doukas, History	At night, 500 armed men come out of a trireme and enter the city, luring the gatekeeper by smashing oil jars to make noise before the Hodegetria gate. At dawn the citizens gather shouting "Long live John Palaiologos."
AD 1354	Doukas, History	Kantakouzenos gives up the throne and enters a monastery to live as a monk (Mount Athos).
AD 1354	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	An earthquake at night shakes the room where the author is confined, bringing down part of the wall and books.
AD 1354	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	On a winter midnight Palaiologos slips from Tenedos into the capital in three days, passing the eastern harbor with 2 double-banked ships and 11 single-banked ones.
AD 1354	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	A few days later Kantakouzenos leaves the palace, puts on a monk's habit and takes refuge with his wife Eugenia in the Mangana monastery.
AD 1354	Nikephoros Gregoras, Roman History	The king secretly returns to Byzantium and visits the queen.
AD 1369	Doukas, History	While Kantakouzenos runs the government alone, he rebukes his son-in-law John V for indulgence in pleasure; John leaves for Italy with two triremes.
AD 1373	Doukas, History	Murad's son Kuntuz and John's son Andronikos plot to overthrow their fathers. Murad blinds Kuntuz and demands that John do the same to Andronikos.
AD 1373	Doukas, History	John blinds Andronikos and his young grandson John, makes Manuel co-emperor and Theodore ruler of Lakedaimon. Andronikos is imprisoned in the Anemas tower.
AD 1376	Doukas, History	Andronikos escapes from the tower, fights his father with the help of the Genoese of Galata, enters the city and is proclaimed emperor, imprisoning his father and brothers in the same tower.
AD 1390	Doukas, History	Bayezid demands tribute and one of John's sons with 100 soldiers. Manuel is sent and serves under Bayezid. Bayezid blocks grain imports and burns Chios with a fleet of 60 ships.
AD 1390	Doukas, History	John builds up the defenses of the Golden Gate, tearing down stones from an old church (All Saints, the Forty Martyrs and St. Mocius) to use.
AD 1391	Doukas, History	Bayezid orders the Golden Gate defenses torn down and threatens to blind Manuel in Prousa if disobeyed. John, bedridden with gout, has them demolished but soon dies.
AD 1394	Doukas, History	Bayezid blockades the city, posting over 10,000 troops on all sides to stop traffic. Famine strikes, and with no firewood the citizens tear down tall houses to burn.
AD 1395	Doukas, History	Manuel tells the pope and the kings of France and Hungary that the city is besieged and starving and asks for help, warning that without it the city will fall to the enemies of the faith.
AD 1399	Doukas, History	Bayezid demands the city and, putting forward Andronikos's son John (of Selymbria), presses Manuel to abdicate. Amid civil unrest Manuel agrees to admit John to the city and leaves by trireme with his wife and children.
AD 1399	Doukas, History	John VII enters the city and takes the throne, and as Bayezid demands, places a Turkish judge in the city and hands Selymbria over to Bayezid.
AD 1402	Doukas, History	In spring, as the sun passes through Gemini, a bright comet appears in the western sky and lasts until the autumn equinox. Ducas describes it as an omen of war.
AD 1403	Doukas, History	Manuel returns to Byzantium and takes power back from his nephew. Bayezid's eldest son Musa (Suleiman) comes to Constantinople, prostrates himself at Manuel's feet and swears to be his son.
AD 1411	Doukas, History	Moses prepares siege engines against Constantinople and attacks Thessalonica, burning cities that Manuel had emptied of their relocated inhabitants.
AD 1414	Doukas, History	Mehmed's son Murad later goes to Amasya. Meanwhile Manuel's son John takes a Russian princess as bride, renamed Anna; she dies of plague three years later.
AD 1417	Doukas, History	A son of Bayezid held hostage studies with Emperor John, asks for baptism during the plague, and the emperor becomes his godfather. He dies the next day and is laid in the Stoudios monastery.
AD 1419	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	John VIII marries Sophia, daughter of the marquis of Montferrat, and is crowned at Hagia Sophia.
AD 1420	Doukas, History	Mehmed demands Mustafa's surrender, but Manuel refuses and swears not to let the two out of prison. Mustafa is sent to Lemnos, and they agree that Mehmed will pay 300,000 aspers a year for his upkeep.
AD 1421	Doukas, History	Manuel sends envoys to Italy to obtain the Marquis of Montferrat's daughter for John and Count Malatesta's daughter for Theodore. The weddings of John and Theodore are held.
AD 1421	Doukas, History	Manuel sends envoys to Murad demanding the handover of the two young princes as per the will, but the pasha refuses, saying a Muslim child cannot be raised by Christians. Manuel plans to release Mustafa.
AD 1422	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Murad II sends an army and besieges Constantinople on 8 June; he arrives in person on 15 June and attacks, then withdraws without success on 6 September.
AD 1422	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Ottoman advance forces encircle Constantinople on 10 June and begin the blockade.
AD 1422	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Murad's main force arrives and by order builds an earthen rampart (agger) outside the walls.
AD 1422	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	On 24 August a large Ottoman attack is repelled (over a thousand Ottoman casualties; on the defenders' side fewer than 100 wounded and no more than 30 dead).
AD 1425	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Emperor Manuel II dies on 21 July, having been tonsured a monk two days before his death, and is buried in the Pantokrator monastery.
AD 1426	Doukas, History	John shuns his Montferrat-born empress because of her looks, so she conspires with the Genoese of Galata, escapes by ship to Italy and lives as a nun at her family home.
AD 1426	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Empress Sophia leaves her husband John VIII and returns to her homeland (Montferrat).
AD 1427	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	John VIII marries a Komnenos princess of Trebizond and she is proclaimed Augusta.
AD 1436	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Zoe, daughter of Paraspondylis, enters Constantinople and marries Demetrios.
AD 1443	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Demetrios leads an army and besieges Constantinople.
AD 1443	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Despot Constantine leaves Constantinople for the Peloponnese.
AD 1448	Doukas, History	[Index] Emperor John dies, and the despot Constantine comes to Constantinople and takes the imperial throne.
AD 1448	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Emperor John VIII dies (31 October).
AD 1452	Doukas, History	[Index] Constantine asks the pope for aid and completes the church union. Cardinal Isidore comes to Constantinople as papal legate and holds a joint service in Hagia Sophia.
AD 1452	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Mehmed II arrives with a large army and besieges Constantinople.
AD 1453	Doukas, History	[Index] Mehmed has the huge bronze cannon moved near Constantinople, and the Turkish army takes Black Sea coastal cities and the small towns along the Propontis except Selymbria.
AD 1453	Doukas, History	[Index] The city falls: when the walls are breached, Giustiniani withdraws his men, and some Galata people flee with a few ships. The Turks take the citizens captive, and the grand duke (Notaras) is captured and kept under guard.
AD 1453	Doukas, History	[Index] Mehmed enters the city, goes to Hagia Sophia and has an imam pray. After identifying the head of Emperor Constantine, he has it hung on the Augusteion column.
AD 1453	Doukas, History	[Index] Mehmed comforts Notaras and has him list the nobles' names. He seeks Notaras's wife and comforts her, but when he orders the youngest son sent to a banquet, Notaras refuses; Mehmed has the son killed and Notaras beheaded. The nobles are all killed after paying ransom.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Ottomans build a bridge 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, mount a siege tower on it, bring ships alongside and begin to strike the harbor-side wall.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The emperor holds a council and assigns the wall sectors to commanders; Theophilos Palaiologos is given the area near the Selymbria Gate.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Venetian Giacomo Coco attempts a night raid with three ships (Greek fire devices) but fails; 40 youths die and are executed by the Ottomans the next morning. The emperor then has 260 Turkish prisoners executed. A quarrel arises between Venetians and Genoese.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Ottoman great helepolis (siege tower) on the hill of St. Theodore (opposite Galata) burns and sinks one main Christian ship at the harbor mouth; the ships had earlier withdrawn toward Galata.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	After his order (the evening of 27 May: fast and bathe), Mehmed addresses his soldiers the next evening, promising them the city for three days.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Around the second cockcrow the general assault begins without signal; attacking at once with the helepolis, ladders and ships, they fight fiercely for nearly two hours.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Genoese commander Giustiniani is hit by an arrow in the right foot, leaves his post, crosses to Galata and dies there; the commander's departure unsettles the troops.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The janissary Hasan (Chasanes) climbs the wall with about 30 men and drives back the defenders, then is struck down by a stone. The Ottomans then take the wall, and the defenders who abandoned the outer wall crowd to the gate and are pushed into the city.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Ottomans set up a great helepolis near the Gate of St. Romanus, bring the wall down, and first enter the city through the breach.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Cretan sailors hold out in two towers, then come down on a promise that they may leave with their ships and goods; persuading them takes time.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The Ottomans take control of the whole city; the text records the hour of the fall as the second and a half hour of the third day.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	After the fall come plunder and the taking of captives; women and clergy are dragged from churches, and the destruction and looting of sacred objects continue (the text's account).
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	The emperor (text: imperator, dominus meus) is killed in battle; his body is identified by the imperial boots and gold eagle ornaments and buried with imperial ceremony. The text gives his life as 49 years, 3 months and 20 days.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Grand Duke Notaras offers Mehmed gold, jewels and other wealth and begs for his life; Mehmed has him jailed on the spot, then summons him again the next day to question and rebuke him.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Mehmed executes Notaras and his two sons in the square (the "Dry Hill square"), killing the sons first and then Notaras himself.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Mehmed jails Ali Pasha in a tower and has him killed a few days later; the text says the reason was that he had advised against attacking the city.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Celebrating his victory, Mehmed proclaims that those who had hidden may return home and live as before by their own customs and religion, and has a patriarch elected.
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Bishops and clergy elect the scholar George Scholarios (then a layman) as patriarch; his name becomes Gennadios, and Mehmed gives him the patriarchal staff (pedum).
AD 1453	Sphrantzes, Chronicle	Mehmed brings settlers from Caffa, Trebizond, Sinope and Asprokastron to repopulate the city (the text's Turkish word "surgunides").

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