Byzantine Empire under the Isaurian dynasty: Difference between revisions
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
===Theodosius III=== |
===Theodosius III=== |
||
{{main|Theodosius III}} |
{{main|Theodosius III}} |
||
The Opsikion Thema chose Theodosius, an unwilling tax-collector to rule the Empire. The choice was hardly based upon his skills |
The Opsikion Thema chose Theodosius, an unwilling tax-collector to rule the Empire. The choice was hardly based upon his skills; when Leo the Isaurian, ''strategos'' of the Anatolikon Thema asked the Senate and the Patriarch for his support in becoming Basileus it took little persuading to obtain it. |
||
== Leo III the Isaurian == |
== Leo III the Isaurian == |
||
Revision as of 23:36, 26 October 2007
The Byzantine Empire or Byzantium is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered around its capital of Constantinople. As the direct continuation of the Roman Empire, Byzantium survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire during Late Antiquity, and continued to function until its conquest by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. During this time, many different imperial dynasties ruled over the empire; in the context of Byzantine history, the period c.717 - c.802 AD was under the Isaurian dynasty, after the Byzantine General Leo the Isaurian who seized power from Theodosius, a tax-collector unwillingly brought to the throne
Under the Isaurian dynasty the Byzantine Empire stagnated; religious controversies, rebellions and foreign invasions negating the earlier achievements of the dynasty. At the end of the Isaurian dynasty in 802 AD the Byzantine Empire continued to fight the Arabs and the Bulgars for their very existence with matters made more complicated with the ressurection of the Western Roman Empire under Charlemagne.
Background: Non-Dynastic
After Justinians' overthrow the Byzantine Empire spiralled into another era of chaos matched only by Phocas' mishandling of the last Persian War. Philippicus Bardanes, the crimean renegade who seized the throne proved to be totally incompetent for rule. Rather than face the looming threat of the Bulgars or the Arabs he intended to reignite the religious controversies by imposing the much hated Heraclian-monothelitism. When King Tervel of Bulgaria (who was an ally of Justinian II) invaded Thrace Bardanes had no choice but to summon the Opsikion Thema troops to combat the Bulgars. Unfortunately for the Emperor the troops had no loyalty whatsoever to him and after the ritual blinding was replaced by the chief secretary of the Emperor, Artemis.
Artemis
Artemis was crowned as Basileus Anastasius II. Anastasius gave the Empire a brief taste of good leadership, improving the walls of the capital and filling the granaries of the capital to bursting point, in order that the newly reported Arab invasion be dealt with. Every citizen was told to gather enough food for three years for if the Arabs were to reach the straits it would undoubtedly be a lengthy siege.
However, Anastasius proved too good for the Empire; in an effort to avert the Arab siege of the Capital, Anastasius planned a pre-emptive strike against the invaders, using Rhodes as a base. However the Opsikion Thema once more revolted and Anastasisu found himself in a Thessalonika monastery.
Theodosius III
The Opsikion Thema chose Theodosius, an unwilling tax-collector to rule the Empire. The choice was hardly based upon his skills; when Leo the Isaurian, strategos of the Anatolikon Thema asked the Senate and the Patriarch for his support in becoming Basileus it took little persuading to obtain it.