Constantinople Timeline

Possible year of Emperor Constantine's birth.

Constantine I named "caesar" of the west.

Constantinople is founded on the site of old Byzantium as "the new Rome."

The Great Palace of Constantinople is first built by Constantine I.

Death of Constantine.

Death of Emperor Constantine I.

First Hagia Sophia built in Constantinople.

Death of Julian the Apostate.

Reign of Theodosius the Great.

Christianity becomes official religion of Empire.

The Theodosian Walls are built to better protect Constantinople.

Coronation of Justinian I and Theodora in the Hagia Sophia Church in Constantinople.

Nika Revolt in Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia rebuilt by Justinian.

Hagia Sophia is built anew in Constantinople.

A coalition of Persians, Slavs, Avars and Bulgars unsuccessfully lays siege to Constantinople.

The Arab Umayyad Caliphate unsuccessfully besieges Constantinople.

First recorded use of Greek Fire in Byzantine warfare during the Arab siege of Constantinople.

Justinian II besieges Constantinople and reinstates himself as Byzantine emperor, removing the usurper Tiberios III.

Pope Constantine visits Constantinople at the invitation of Byzantine emperor Justinian II.

Greek Fire is used by Byzantine ships to attack an Arab fleet besieging Constantinople.

Byzantine emperor Leo III decrees that all religious icons be destroyed.

Reign of Byzantine emperor Constantine V

Greek Fire is used by Byzantine ships to attack a Slav fleet besieging Constantinople.

Thomas the Slav unsuccessfully besieges Constantinople.

Reign of Byzantine emperor Basil I.

Oleg, Prince of Kiev, attacks the Byzantine capital Constantinople.

Greek Fire is used by Romanos I's fleet against a Russian fleet attacking Constantinople.

Reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II.

Trdat the Architect completes his reconstruction of the dome of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople.

Reign of Byzantine emperor Constantine VIII.

The First Crusaders arrive at Constantinople.

Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos celebrates a triumph in Constantinople after five successful campaigns in Asia Minor.

The armies of the Second Crusade arrive in Constantinople.

A fleet led by George of Antioch attacks Constantinople.

The Fourth Crusade is formed to recapture Jerusalem for Christendom. Instead, the Crusaders attack Constantinople.

The army of the Fourth Crusade arrives at Constantinople.

Constantinople is sacked by the Fourth Crusaders.

Count Baldwin of Flanders is made the first Latin Emperor of Constantinople.

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II sacks Constantinople.