Syrian dynasty

As the Syrian dynasty (often incorrectly called the Isaurian dynasty ), that of the Byzantine emperor Leo (n) III. established dynasty (717–802). The dynasty belonged to Leo III. the emperors Constantine (os) V , Leo IV. and Constantine VI. as well as the Empress Irene .

The name of the dynasty comes from the homeland of Leo III. back, who came from Germanikeia (today: Kahramanmaraş / Turkey) in what was then Syria , although Theophanes incorrectly specifies Isauria ( AM 6209). Leo III. and Constantine V were militarily successful emperors (defense against Arab attacks and the proto-Bulgarians ), who also achieved some domestic political reforms (according to the Eclogue collection of laws ). However, they are mentioned in the surviving Byzantine sources due to their position during the iconoclastic controversy that began by Leo III. was triggered, portrayed very negatively. In more recent research, on the other hand, their considerable successes are underlined and many statements in the image-friendly sources are viewed more critically, as these are often tendentious and distorting in order to emphasize the point of view of the victorious (image-friendly) side. Irene last ruled as the first empress of the empire, before she was deposed in 802 and replaced by Nikephorus I , which ended the Syrian dynasty.

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 .
• John F. Haldon: The Empire That Would Not Die. The Paradox of Eastern Roman Survival, 640-740. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (Massachusetts) 2016.