The Byzantine Empire was ruled by emperors of the Doukas dynasty between 1059 and 1081. There are six emperors and co-emperors of this period: the dynasty's founder, Emperor Constantine X Doukas (r. 1059–1067), his brother John Doukas, katepano and later Caesar, Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071), Constantine's son Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078), Michael's son and co-emperor Constantine Doukas, and finally Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 7 January 1078 – 1 April 1081), who claimed descent from the Phokas family. Under the rule of the Doukids, Byzantium was fighting a losing battle against the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Seljuk-Turks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seljuk Turks</a>, losing most of its remaining possessions in Asia Minor following the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 and the following civil war after the death of Romanos IV Diogenes. Byzantium also incurred substantial loss of territory in the Balkans, to the Serbs, as well as losing its final foothold in Italy, to the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Norman-Conquest-of-Southern-Italy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Normans</a>. Although the Crusades gave the empire a temporary respite during the 12th century, it never recovered fully and eventually entered its period of fragmentation and terminal decline under the pressure of the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-the-Ottoman-Empire" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ottomans</a> in the late medieval period.

Visual Timelines

Byzantine Empire: Doukid dynasty Timeline

Byzantine Empire: Doukid dynasty Timeline

Rise of the Doukid Dynasty

Reign of Constantine X Doukas

Weakening of the frontier

Norman Conquest of Calabria

Alp Arslan conquers Ani

Oghuz Turks invade the Balkans

Battle of Caesarea

Reign of Romanos IV Diogenes

Romanos IV fights the Saracens

Siege of Iconium

Norman mercenaries rebel

Decline and Fall

Reign of Michael VII Doukas

Final Byzantine outpost in Italy lost

Battle of Manzikert

Uprising of Georgi Voyteh

Fall of Byzantine Asia Minor

Reign of Nikephoros III Botaneiates

Rebellion of Nikephoros Bryennios

Alexios's Rebellion

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