THE NIKA REBELLION

THE DEADLY RIOT

• Most violent riot in history if Constantinople.
• It killed tens of thousands of people.
• Nearly half the city was destroyed or burned.

SETTING

• Date ~ January 13, AD 532
• Took place in the hippodrome
• Lasted about 5 days

BLUES VS. GREENS

• Got their colors from two of the four colors worn by circus charioteers.
• Greens ~ they supported monophysitism and were the lower class
• Blues ~ they supported orthodoxy and the upper classes
• Came together to overthrow Justinian and Theodora
• Blues left the greens during the riot because the emperor would be a green

THE RIOTS END

• Justinian wanted to flee but Theodora refused to go.
• Justinian ordered narses to talk to the blues and remind them a green would be emperor
• After hearing this the blues suddenly stormed out and left the greens.
• Then Belisarius and Mundus led imperial troops and killed the remaining people.
• Justinian then had Hypatius executed and exiled the senators in the riot

RESOURCES

• En.wikipedia.org/wiki/nika_riots
• Greatistanbul.com/nika_riot.htm
• Infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/blues-greens.html
• Google images