The Byzantine Empire Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία Византийская империя

The Eastern Roman Empire, Many consider Emperor Constantine I (reigned AD 306--337) to be the first "Byzantine Emperor". It was he who moved the imperial capital in 330 from Rome to Byzantium, refounded as Constantinople, or Nova Roma ("New Rome"). Constantine inaugurated his new capital, the process of hellenization and increasing Christianization was already under way. The Empire is generally considered to have ended after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, although Greek rule continued over areas of the Empire's territory for several more years, until the fall of Mystras in 1460 and Trebizond in 1461. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire