Roman and Byzantine Emperors Quiz

October 28, 2025

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Test your grasp of imperial turning points from Augustus to Justinian. Track how reforms, revolts, and faith reshaped Rome and Byzantium.

Who is recognized as the first Roman emperor?

Augustus

Tiberius

Julius Caesar

Nero

The Senate granted Octavian the honorific Augustus in 27 BCE, marking the start of the principate. His rule stabilized Rome after decades of civil war.

Which emperor refounded Byzantium as Constantinople in AD 330?

Diocletian

Constantine I

Theodosius I

Trajan

Constantine dedicated his new capital at the Bosporus in 330, shifting imperial focus eastward. The city later became the heart of the Byzantine Empire.

Which 313 decree legalized Christianity across the Roman Empire?

Edict of Caracalla

Edict of Thessalonica

Edict of Milan

Edict of Nantes

Issued by Constantine and Licinius, it permitted Christian worship and restored confiscated property. It ended state persecution and set a new religious course.

Who established the Tetrarchy to stabilize imperial succession?

Septimius Severus

Hadrian

Marcus Aurelius

Diocletian

Diocletian’s 3rd‑century reform split power among two Augusti and two Caesars. The system sought orderly succession during the crisis years.

Justinian’s great codification of Roman law is known as the ______.

Corpus Juris Civilis

Twelve Tables

Codex Theodosianus

Lex Romana

Compiled in the 6th century, it organized centuries of statutes and juristic writings. The compilation shaped legal traditions across Europe.

The Nika riots of 532, which nearly toppled the emperor, erupted in which city?

Rome

Constantinople

Antioch

Alexandria

Violence flared at the Hippodrome before spreading through the city. Justinian and Theodora ultimately crushed the revolt.

Which monumental church, completed in 537, became a symbol of Justinian’s reign?

Hagia Irene

St. Peter’s Basilica

Hagia Sophia

San Vitale

Built with an immense dome, it showcased imperial ambition and engineering. Hagia Sophia later served as a cathedral, mosque, museum, and mosque again.

Which general defeated the Vandals in 533–534 during Justinian’s reconquests?

Narses

Aetius

Stilicho

Belisarius

Belisarius shattered Vandal power at Ad Decimum and Tricamarum, restoring North Africa to imperial control. His campaigns also advanced into Italy.

What year marks the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans?

1453

410

476

1204

Mehmed II’s forces breached the walls after a prolonged siege. The conquest ended the Byzantine Empire.

Upon whose death in 395 was the Roman Empire permanently divided between his sons?

Valentinian I

Theodosius I

Honorius

Constantius II

Theodosius’s heirs ruled east and west separately, formalizing the split. Arcadius governed the east and Honorius the west.

Starter

Brush up on emperors, dates, and reforms—then retake the quiz for a stronger score.

Solid

You know your emperors. Tighten timelines and policies to reach the top tier.

Expert!

Outstanding command of imperial history—your recall spans Rome to Byzantium.

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