Cupid dynasty

As Amorische dynasty by the will Byzantine Emperor Michael II. Founded dynasty called (820-867). The dynasty belonged to Michael II. Emperor Theophilos , the regent Theodora II. And Emperor Michael III. on.

The name of the dynasty goes back to the homeland of Michael II, who came from the city of Amorion in Asia Minor . Michael II first had to prevail in a bloody civil war against Thomas , who had usurped power in the east of the empire as a counter-emperor and was supported by the strengthened Paulican communities. After the victory over Thomas, the empire was besieged by the caliphate in the time of the Cupid emperors in the east; Arab troops captured and even destroyed Amorion in 838. At the Bulgarian border, however, there was largely calm. In terms of domestic politics, Michael II and Theophilos were on the side of the opponents of the images during the second phase of the iconoclastic argument. The iconoclasm was, however, in the reign of Michael III. settled after his mother, Theodora II, reintroduced and forcibly enforced religious image worship during her reign.

The alternative name Phrygian Dynasty, which is less used in recent research, goes back to Phrygia , the region of origin of Michael II.

literature

• Leslie Brubaker, John F. Haldon: Byzantium in the Iconoclast era. c. 680-850. A history. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge et al. 2011, ISBN 978-0-521-43093-7 .
• Ralph-Johannes Lilie : Byzantium - The second Rome. Siedler, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-88680-693-6 .
• Warren Treadgold : The Byzantine Revival, 780-842 . Stanford University Press, Stanford 1988.