The Nika Riots during the Reign of Emperor Justinian

The Nika riots were a series of violent uprisings that occurred in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, in AD 532. The riots were triggered by a chariot race at the Hippodrome, where fans of two rival factions joined forces to protest against the Emperor Justinian I. The riots quickly escalated into a full-blown rebellion, with large parts of the city being set ablaze and numerous buildings being destroyed. The rebellion was finally quelled by a brutal military crackdown that left tens of thousands of people dead. The Nika riots were a turning point in the history of Constantinople, the emperor rebuilt the city grander than before, and appealed to it's citizens.