Hagia Sophia: Construction and Reconstruction

Political events

Second Balkan War

The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 16 (O.S.) / 29 (N.S.) June 1913. Serbian and Greek armies repulsed the Bulgarian offensive and counter-attacked, entering Bulgaria. With Bulgaria also having previously engaged in territorial disputes with Romania, this war provoked Romanian intervention against Bulgaria. The Ottoman Empire also took advantage of the situation to regain some lost territories from the previous war. When Romanian troops approached the capital Sofia, Bulgaria asked for an armistice, resulting in the Treaty of Bucharest, in which Bulgaria had to cede portions of its First Balkan War gains to Serbia, Greece and Romania. In the Treaty of Constantinople, it lost Edirne to the Ottomans.

— Wikipedia article on the Second Balkan War

Hagia Sophia: Construction and Reconstruction

Earthquake The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built The First Hagia Sophia is inaugurated by Constantius II A fire destroys the roof Church of Theodosius II The Hagia Sophia burns to the ground Construction of the new Hagia Sophia The new Hagia Sophia is dedicated by Emperor Justinian Earthquake Earthquake The dome collapses The restored church is consecrated Images destroyed during the Iconoclast Controversy are restored Restoration by Basil I The redecoration of Hagia Sophia begins Earthquake Rebuilding under rule of Basil II Changes during the Latin Empire Reign of Michael VIII Andronicus II carries out works to restabilize the church 1st reign of John V Palaeologus Earthquake The eastern part of the dome collapses Restoration The cross is substituted by a crescent and a provisional wooden minaret is built Redecoration under Mehmed II Architect Sinan is invited to reform Hagia Sophia Tomb of Sultan Selim II Tomb of Sultan Murad III Tomb of Sultan Mehmed III Reign of Murad IV Elementary school Hagia Sophia Fountain Restoration under Sultan Abdulmejid The timing room is built Earthquake Restoration by members of the Byzantine Institute of America A long-lost portrait of Emperor Alexander is rediscovered