Thomas the Slav

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Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Arabs (miniature from the Madrid illuminated manuscript of the Skylitz )

Thomas ( Greek Θωμάς , † October 823 in Arkadiopolis ), known as the Slav in modern times , was a Byzantine counter-emperor from 821 until his death .

Life

Thomas was originally a senior Byzantine officer ( Turmarch ). After Emperor Leo V was murdered as a result of a conspiracy by General Michael, who then ascended the Byzantine throne as Michael II , Thomas rose against him in Asia Minor . After Thomas had defeated some generals loyal to the emperor and came to an understanding with the Arabs under Caliph al-Ma'mūn , he quickly gained followers, especially since he appeared as a protector of the poor and, like Leo V in the east of the empire , was able to rely on the support of the growing Paulicanism .

Thomas, allegedly known as Constantine VI. issued, was crowned emperor - he made two of his followers under the names Konstantios and Anastasios one after the other co-emperors - and from the end of 821 besieged Constantinople without success . When the Bulgarenkhan Omurtag , called for help by Emperor Michael II, intervened in 822 , Michael gained ground again. In the spring of 823 Thomas wanted to resume the siege, but was defeated by Michael's troops in May. This pushed Thomas back to a few permanent places in Thrace . Finally, Thomas, besieged by Michael's troops in Arcadiopolis , Thrace, was extradited by his own men in October 823 and executed by impalation ; his co-regent Anastasios suffered the same fate. Two supporters of Thomas, Choireas and Gazarenos Colony , were able to stay in Asia Minor until March 824. The uprising of Thomas failed, but it left behind a militarily weakened empire. At about the same time the Arabs, taking advantage of the Byzantine civil war, conquered the island of Crete .

The three-year civil war was among the worst in Byzantine history. An assessment of Thomas is made difficult by the sources, all of which are tendentious. Thomas is also portrayed as an admirer of icons (see Byzantine Pictorial Controversy), which is controversial, especially since the pictorial dispute probably played no role in the dispute between Thomas and Michael.

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personal data
SURNAME Thomas the Slav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Byzantine counter-emperor
DATE OF BIRTH 8th century
DATE OF DEATH October 823
Place of death Arcadiopolis