The Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire (395–1204 A.D. and 1261–1453 A.D.) was the
Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. The Empire (which was also called Romania) was ruled by emperors from its capital city of
Constantinople (which was also referred to as
New Rome). It was Roman Emperor Constantine I that transfered the capital of the empire from Nicomedia (in Anatolia) to Byzantium on the Bosphorus, which was renamed Constantinople.
The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire was one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in
Europe, despite setbacks and territorial losses due to wars. After 1071 A.D. much of Asia Minor, the Empire's heartland, was lost to the Seljuk Turks. The Empire received a mortal blow in 1204 A.D. by the Fourth Crusade, when it was dissolved and divided into competing Byzantine Greek and Latin realms. Despite the re-establishment of the Empire in 1261 A.D., under the Palaiologan emperors, successive civil wars in the 14th century further sapped the Empire's strength. The complete disenegration of the Empire culminated with the Fall of
Constantinople and its remaining territories to the
Muslim Ottoman Turks in the 15th century.
