Byzantine control of the southern Balkans (330–1453)

1. Constantine dedicates Constantinople as new capital

   May 11, 330Labels: Constantine I, Constantinople

   • Britannica
   • WorldHistory

2. Justinian I strengthens imperial rule in the Balkans

   Jan 1, 527Labels: Justinian I, Balkans

   • Britannica
   • Encyclopedia

3. Avar and Slavic pressure erodes interior Balkan control

   Jan 1, 568Labels: Avars, Slavs

   • AvarWars
   • Britannica

4. Avar-Slav siege of Thessalonica fails

   Jan 1, 617Labels: Thessalonica, Avars

   • Thessalonica
   • Britannica

5. Byzantium recognizes Bulgaria after defeat, 681

   Jan 1, 681Labels: First Bulgarian, Byzantium

   • Britannica
   • WorldHistory

6. Theme of Hellas formed to organize southern Greece

   Jan 1, 687Labels: Theme of, Byzantine themes

   • HellasTheme
   • Britannica

7. John I Tzimiskes campaigns in Bulgaria, 971

   Jan 1, 971Labels: John I, Bulgaria

   • Britannica
   • Sviatoslav

8. Basil II wins pivotal victory at Kleidion

   Jul 29, 1014Labels: Basil II, Battle of

   • Britannica
   • Kleidion

9. Byzantines conquer Bulgaria and reorganize the region

   Jan 1, 1018Labels: Basil II, Byzantine provinces

   • Britannica
   • Balcanica

10. Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople, fracturing Balkan rule

    Apr 12, 1204Labels: Fourth Crusade, Constantinople

    • Britannica
    • WorldHistory

11. Nicaean forces recapture Constantinople and restore empire

    Jul 25, 1261Labels: Empire of, Michael VIII

    • Britannica
    • FHWA

12. Stefan Dušan’s expansion strips Byzantium’s Balkan heartlands

    Jan 1, 1348Labels: Stefan Du, Serbian Empire

    • Britannica
    • Analecta

13. Ottomans capture Thessalonica, a major Byzantine stronghold

    Mar 29, 1430Labels: Ottoman Empire, Thessalonica

    • Thessalonica
    • Britannica

14. Ottomans take Constantinople, ending Byzantine imperial rule

    May 29, 1453Labels: Ottoman Empire, Constantinople

    • Britannica
    • Britannica