Roman Empire Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων 1261–1453 The flag of the later Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire ca. 1265 Capital Constantinople Common languages Greek Religion Greek Orthodoxy (Predominantly), Roman Catholicism and Sunni Islam (Minority) Government Autocracy Emperor • 1261–1282 Michael VIII • 1448–1453 Constantine XI History • Recapture of Constantinople from the Latins July 25 1261 • Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans May 29 1453 Preceded by Succeeded by Empire of Nicaea Latin Empire Despotate of Epirus Ottoman Empire