The Nika riots were a violent uprising in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, that nearly overthrew the emperor Justinian I. The two main chariot-racing factions, the Blues and the Greens, who normally opposed each other, united against the emperor's tax policies and his officials during the races at the Hippodrome, and the rioters shouted nika, meaning conquer. Parts of the city were burned, including the Hagia Sophia, and a rival emperor, Hypatius, was proclaimed. Justinian considered fleeing, but his wife Theodora is said to have urged him to stay. His generals Belisarius and Mundus then attacked the crowd in the Hippodrome and killed a great many people, ending the revolt. Justinian then rebuilt the Hagia Sophia.
Before and after
- from 519 CE to 927 CEKingdom of Wessex
- from 526 CE to 532 CEIberian War
- from 527 CE to 918 CEKingdom of Mercia
- 528 CECorpus Juris Civilis
- January 532 CENika Riots
- from June 533 CE to March 534 CEVandalic War
- from 535 CE to 554 CEGothic War of 535–554
- 536 CEThe volcanic winter of 536
- 537 CEConstruction of Hagia Sophia
More in Wars, politics & history
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- 1212Children's Crusade
- from 1213 to 1221Fifth Crusade
- from 1248 to 1254Seventh Crusade
- from 18 July 1270 to 30 October 1270Eighth Crusade
- 30 March 1282Sicilian Vespers
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 6th century.