Emperor Constantine V

The year was 741 AD. Emperor Leo III, founder of the Isaurian Dynasty, passed away. He had

greatly stabilized the military front against the Arabs whose Umayyad caliphate was disintegrating.

The stage was set for the reign of Constantine V, an able ruler and relentless soldier,

whose uncompromising religious policies would cast a long shadow over his legacy.

Born during the Arab siege of Constantinople, Constantine had been groomed for the throne. The

year prior to his accession, he and his father participated in the great victory at Akroinon.

Yet, his legitimacy was not secured. A challenger arose for the Roman scepter : his brother-in-law,

Artavasdos. As a supporter of Leo’s claim to power back in 717, and having ties to the dynasty,

Artavasdos believed that he should be emperor. When Constantine prepared for

a campaign in the east and moved to the Opsikion Thema to rally local troops,

Artavasdos launched his rebellion. Defeated, Constantine retreated to the safety of Amorion.

The last Greek Pope of Rome, Zacharias, assumed office in December. With Constantine

tied up in the East, Zacharias resorted to his diplomatic acumen to safeguard papal interests.

Early in his papacy, he persuaded Lombard King Liutprand to abandon his planned

assault on Rome and to restore several cities previously seized from the Duchy of Rome.

Artavasdos secured his position in Constantinople,

gaining political support by presenting himself as a restorer of icons,

thus setting himself apart from the Iconoclast Isaurians. He sent his son, Niketas, to rally

support from the Armeniakon, while his other son, Nikephoros, was crowned by the Patriarch.

Emperor Constantine, far from idle, rallied support while recovering in Amorion.

Backed by the Thrakesion and Anatolikon Themata, he marched against Artavasdos,

defeating him at Sardis and pursuing him to Kyzikos. Yet once Artavasdos took refuge

behind the formidable Theodosian Walls, there was little Constantine could do.

Niketas, rushed to his father’s defense with troops from the Armeniakon and quite a few

Armenian allies. However, Constantine once again prevailed, this time at Modrine. His

military capabilities were already becoming evident. This civil strife drew the attention

of Arab commander Suleiman ibn Hisham, who exploited the turmoil with raids into Anatolia.

Constantine pressed his advantage by blockading Constantinople, bringing severe hardship to the

City. Artavasdos, desperate to confront the young emperor, launched a fleet armed with Greek Fire,

but was forced to retreat. Niketas attempted the same at Chrysopolis, only to be defeated and later

captured at Nicomedia. With their efforts spent, Constantinople’s fall was imminent.

After a prolonged blockade, Constantine stormed and reclaimed the capital. Artavasdos and his

sons were all captured and blinded, then publicly humiliated in a parade through

the Hippodrome—the first of many such displays under Constantine. In time,

the Emperor would become known for using public punishment to assert authority and break his

enemies’ will. As for Artavasdos’ followers, many were executed. Even Sisynnios, the strategos of

the Thrakesion and a former ally of Constantine, was found guilty of conspiracy and put to death.

Now aware of how precarious his hold on power truly was, Constantine moved to

curb the authority of provincial commanders and strengthen central control. He split the powerful