Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

667 BC Legend tells us that Byzas, a citizen of the city of Megara, northwest of Athens, travels up the Bosphorus and founds Byzantium on the site of Lygos. 512 BC The army of the Persian emperor Darius captures the city; after the Persians’ retreat in 478 BC, Byzantium chooses to join the Athenian League for protection. 335 BC Byzantium is granted independence but stays under the Athenian umbrella, withstanding with Athenian help a siege by Philip, father of Alexander the Great, in 340 BC. AD 79 Byzantium is officially incorporated into the Roman Empire ruled by the soldier emperor Vespasian; it retains its status as a free state but pays high taxes to the empire. 330 Constantine the Great declares Byzantium the capital of the Roman Empire; the city soon becomes known as Constantinople. 380 Theodosius I declares Christianity the imperial religion; a year later, he summons an ecumenical council to Constantinople to define Church orthodoxy. 527 Justinian takes the throne; his introduction of heavy taxes leads to the Nika riots of 532 and half of the city is destroyed. 548 Theodora dies; during her reign she was known for granting women more rights in divorce cases, allowing women to own property, and enacting the death penalty for rape.