Nika riots
The Nika riots (Greek: Στάσις τοῦ Νίκα, romanized: Stásis toû Níka), Nika revolt or Nika sedition took place against the Roman emperor Justinian I in Constantinople over the course of a week in 532 AD. They are often regarded as the most violent riots in the city's history, with nearly half of Constantinople being burned or destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed. == Background == The Roman Empire had well-developed associations known as demes, which supported the different factions (or teams) to which competitors in certain sporting events belonged, especially in chariot racing.