Byzantine Empire

Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
Basileía Rhōmaíōn
Imperium Romanum
CapitalConstantinople
(330–1204, 1261–1453)
Common languages
  • Late Latin, Koine Greek (395–610)
  • Medieval Greek (610–1453)
Religion
Christianity (Eastern Orthodox)
(tolerated after the Edict of Milan in 313; state religion after 380)
GovernmentRepublican monarchy[better source needed]Absolute monarchy
Notable emperors 
• 395–408
Arcadius
• 527–565
Justinian I
• 610–641
Heraclius
• 717–741
Leo III
• 976–1025
Basil II
• 1081–1118
Alexios I Komnenos
• 1259–1282
Michael VIII Palaiologos
• 1449–1453
Constantine XI
Historical eraLate Antiquity to Late Middle Ages
• First division of the Roman Empire (diarchy)
1 April 286
• Founding of Constantinople
11 May 330
• Final East–West division after the death of Theodosius I
17 January 395
• Nominal end of the Western Roman Empire
25 April 480
• Fourth Crusade; establishment of the Latin Empire
12 April 1204
• Reconquest of Constantinople by Palaiologos
25 July 1261
• Fall of Constantinople
29 May 1453
• Fall of Trebizond
15 August 1461