Theophilos (emperor) - Wikipedia Theophilos (emperor) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Byzantine emperor from 829 to 842 For other people with the same name, see Theophilus (disambiguation). Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans Theophilos Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans Theophilus, in the Chronicle of John Skylitzes Byzantine emperor Reign 2 October 829 – 20 January 842 Coronation 12 May 821 Predecessor Michael II Successor Michael III Born 812 Died 20 January 842 (aged 30) Consort Theodora Issue Constantine, Michael III, Maria, Thekla, Anna, Anastasia, Pulcheria Dynasty Phrygian Father Michael II Mother Thekla Amorian or Phrygian dynasty Chronology Michael II 820–829 with Theophilos as co-emperor, 822–829 Theophilos 829–842 with Constantine (c. 833–835) and Michael III (840–842) as co-emperors Michael III 842–867 under Theodora and Theoktistos as regents, 842–855, and with Basil I the Macedonian as co-emperor 866–867 Succession Preceded by Leo V and the Nikephorian dynasty Followed by Macedonian dynasty Theophilos (Greek: Θεόφιλος; sometimes Latinized or Anglicized as Theophilus or Theophilo; c. 812  – 20 January 842) was the Byzantine Emperor from 829 until his death in 842.[1] He was the second emperor of the Amorian dynasty and the last emperor to support iconoclasm.[2] Theophilos personally led the armies in his long war against the Arabs, beginning in 831. Contents 1 Life 1.1 Early 1.2 War against the Arabs 1.3 Relations with Bulgaria and Serbia 1.4 Death and legacy 2 Family 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links Life[edit] Early[edit] Theophilos on a coin of his father, Michael II, founder of the Phrygian dynasty Theophilos was the son of the Byzantine Cappadocian Greek Emperor Michael II and his wife Thekla, and the godson of Emperor Leo V the Armenian. Michael II crowned Theophilos co-emperor on 12 May 821 (Whitsunday), shortly after his own accession.[3] Unlike his father, Theophilos received an extensive education from John Hylilas, the grammarian, and was a great admirer of music and art.[2] On 2 October 829, Theophilos succeeded his father as sole emperor.[4][5]:1363 Theophilos continued in his predecessors' iconoclasm, though without his father's more conciliatory tone,[2] issuing an edict in 832 forbidding the veneration of icons.[6] He also saw himself as the champion of justice, which he served most ostentatiously by executing his father's co-conspirators against Leo V immediately after his accession.[5]:2066 War against the Arabs[edit] The Byzantine embassy of John the Grammarian in 829 to Ma'mun (depicted left) from Theophilos (depicted right) At the time of his accession, Theophilos was obliged to wage wars against the Arabs on two fronts. Sicily was once again invaded by the Arabs, who took Palermo after a year-long siege in 831, established the Emirate of Sicily, and gradually continued to expand across the island. The defence after the invasion of Anatolia by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Ma'mun in 830 was led by the Emperor himself, but the Byzantines were defeated and lost several fortresses. In 831 Theophilos retaliated by leading a large army into Cilicia and capturing Tarsus. The Emperor returned to Constantinople in triumph, but in the autumn he was defeated in Cappadocia. Another defeat in the same province in 833 forced Theophilos to sue for peace (Theophilos offered 100,000 gold dinars and the return of 7,000 prisoners),[7] which he obtained the next year, after the death of Al-Ma'mun. During the respite from the war against the Abbasids, Theophilos arranged for the abduction of the Byzantine captives settled north of the Danube by Krum of Bulgaria. The rescue operation was carried out with success in c. 836, and the peace between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire was quickly restored. However, it proved impossible to maintain peace in the East. Theophilos had given asylum to a number of refugees from the east in 834, including Nasr, a Persian.[8] He baptized one of the refugees, Theophobos, who married the Emperor's aunt Irene and became one of his generals.[6] As relations with the Abbasids deteriorated, Theophilos prepared for a new war. Follis of a new type, minted in large quantities in celebration of Theophilos' victories against the Arabs from c. 835 on. On the obverse he is represented in triumphal attire, wearing the toupha, and on the reverse the traditional acclamation "Theophilos Augustus, you conquer". In 837 Theophilos led a vast army of 70,000 men towards Mesopotamia and captured Melitene and Arsamosata.[9] The Emperor also took and destroyed Zapetra (Zibatra, Sozopetra), which some sources claim as the birthplace of Caliph al-Mu'tasim.[10] Theophilos returned to Constantinople in triumph. Eager for revenge, Al-Mu'tasim assembled a vast army and launched a two-pronged invasion of Anatolia in 838. Theophilos decided to strike one division of the caliph's army before they could combine. On 21 July 838 at the Battle of Anzen in Dazimon, Theophilos personally led a Byzantine army of 25,000 to 40,000 men against the troops commanded by al-Afshin.[11][12] Afshin withstood the Byzantine attack, counter-attacked, and won the battle. The Byzantine survivors fell back in disorder and did not interfere in the caliph's continuing campaign. Al-Mu'tasim took Ancyra, and al-Afshin joined him there. The full Abbasid army advanced against Amorium, the cradle of the dynasty. Initially there was determined resistance. Then a Muslim captive escaped and informed the caliph where there was a section of the wall that had only a front facade. Al-Mu'tasim concentrated his bombardment on this section, and the wall was breached. Having heroically held for fifty-five days, the city fell to al-Mu'tasim on 12 or 15 August 838.[6] In 838, in order to impress the Caliph of Baghdad, Theophilus had John the Grammarian distribute 36,000 nomismata to the citizens of Baghdad.[13] In 839 or 840, he initiated diplomatic contact with the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba. The name of his ambassador is somewhat garbled in the Arabic accounts of Ibn Hayyan, but it seems to have been the admiral Karteros. He was accompanied on his return by the Córdoban poet al-Ghazal, who signed a pact of friendship with Theophilos directed against the Abbasids.[14] Around 841, the Republic of Venice sent a fleet of 60 galleys (each carrying 200 men) to assist the Byzantines in driving the Arabs from Crotone, but it failed.[15] During this campaign Al-Mu'tasim discovered that some of his top generals were plotting against him. Many of these leading commanders were arrested and some executed before he arrived home. Al-Afshin seems not to have been involved in this, but he was detected in other intrigues and died in prison in the spring of 841. Caliph al-Mu'tasim fell sick in October 841 and died on 5 January 842. It is said that Theophilos, even though fighting the Arabs built a Baghdad-style palace near the Bosporus. In those days people went about a l'arabe in kaftans and turbans. Even as far as in the normal streets of Ghuangzhou during the era of Tang, the Arab-style kaftan was in fashion[16] Relations with Bulgaria and Serbia[edit] In 836, following the expiration of the 20-year peace treaty between the Empire and Bulgaria, Theophilos ravaged the Bulgarian frontier. The Bulgarians retaliated, and under the leadership of Isbul they reached Adrianople. At this time, if not earlier, the Bulgarians annexed Philippopolis (Plovdiv) and its environs. Khan Malamir died in 836. The peace between the Serbs, Byzantine foederati, and the Bulgars lasted until 839.[17] Vlastimir of Serbia united several tribes,[18] and Theophilos granted the Serbs independence;[19] Vlastimir acknowledged nominal overlordship of the Emperor.[17] The annexation of western Macedonia by the Bulgars changed the political situation. Malamir or his successor may have seen a threat in the Serb consolidation and opted to subjugate them in the midst of the conquest of Slav lands.[17] Another cause might have been that the Byzantines wanted to divert attention so that they could cope with the Slavic uprising in the Peloponnese, meaning they sent the Serbs to instigate the war.[20] It is thought that the rapid extension of Bulgars over Slavs prompted the Serbs to unite into a state.[17] Khan Presian I (r. 836–852)[21] invaded Serbian territory in 839 (see Bulgarian–Serbian Wars). The invasion led to a three-year war, in which Vlastimir was victorious;[22] Presian was heavily defeated, made no territorial gains, and lost many of his men. The Serbs had a tactical advantage in the hills,[23] and the Bulgars were driven out by the army of Vlastimir.[20] The war ended with the death of Theophilos, which released Vlastimir from his obligations to the Byzantine Empire.[24] Death and legacy[edit] The image of Theophilos on a contemporary gold solidus The health of Theophilos gradually failed, and he died on 20 January 842.[25] His reputation as a judge endured, and in the literary composition Timarion Theophilos is featured as one of the judges in the Netherworld.[5]:2066 Theophilos strengthened the Walls of Constantinople,[2] built the fortress of Sarkel on the Don river in Khazar territories, created the Cherson, Paphlagonia and Chaldia themes,[5]:2066 and built a hospital, which continued to exist until the twilight of the Byzantine Empire.[6] Family[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Solidus depicting Theophilos, with his father Michael II and his eldest son Constantine in the reverse By his marriage with Theodora, Theophilos had seven children: Constantine, co-emperor from c. 833 to c. 835. Thekla (c. 831 – after 867). She was named Augusta and her image appears in coinage during the regency of her mother. Later exiled to a monastery by her brother Michael. Anna (born c. 832). Exiled into the monastery of Gastria. Never recalled. Anastasia (born c. 833). Exiled into the monastery of Gastria. Never recalled. Pulcheria (born c. 836). Exiled into the monastery of Gastria. Never recalled. Maria (c. 838 – c. 842). Betrothed the Caesar Alexios Mosele. Died at the age of four. Michael III (19 January 840 – 24 September 867), who succeeded as emperor. See also[edit] Byzantine Empire portal List of Byzantine emperors Notes[edit] ^ Theophilos's age is discussed here - https://grbs.library.duke.edu/article/viewFile/8531/4731 ^ a b c d Timothy E. Gregory (2010). A History of Byzantium. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. p. 227. ^ Bury 1912, p. 80. ^ PmbZ, Michael II: Chronicon Altinate ^ a b c d Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911, p. 786. ^ J. Norwich, Byzantium: The Apogee, 47 ^ I. Sevcenko, Review of New Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Slavic Review, p. 111, 1968. ^ W. Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society, 440 ^ The claim that Sozopetra or Arsamosata was Mu'tasim's native city is found only in Byzantine sources. This claim is dismissed by most scholars as a later invention, i.e. as a parallel to Amorium, the likely birthplace of Theophilos. It was probably added deliberately to balance and lessen the effect of the blow that the latter's fall represented. Bury 1912, p. 262 (Note #6); Treadgold 1988, p. 440 (Note #401) harvnb error: no target: CITEREFTreadgold1988 (help); Vasiliev 1935, p. 141 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFVasiliev1935 (help). Kiapidou 2003 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKiapidou2003 (help), Note 1. ^ J. Haldon, The Byzantine Wars, 83 ^ W. Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society, 441 ^ J. Norwich, Byzantium: The Apogee, 43 ^ Signes Codoñer 2014, pp. 316–320. ^ J. Norwich, A History of Venice, 32 ^ Mackintosh-Smith, Tim (2019-04-30). Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18235-4. ^ a b c d Bury 2008, p. 372 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFBury2008 (help) ^ L. Kovacevic & L. Jovanovic, Историја српскога народа, Belgrade, 1894, Book 2, pp. 38—39 ^ S. Stanojevic, Историја српскога народа, Belgrade, 1910, pp. 46—47 ^ a b Известия за българите, pp. 42—43 ^ Fine 1991, p. 108 ^ Fine 1991, p. 110 ^ Runciman 1930, p. 88 ^ Houtsma 1993, p. 199 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHoutsma1993 (help) ^ Bekker, Immanuel, ed. (1838). "Libri III: 41". Theophanes Continuatus. p. 139. Paucos hinc dies vitae superstes vigesima die Ianuarii naturae debitum solvit, imperio potitus annos duodecim menses tres. References[edit] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Theophilus" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 786–787. Bury, J. B. (1912). History of the Eastern Empire from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil: A.D. 802–867. ISBN 1-60520-421-8. Fine, John V. A. Jr. (1991) [1983]. The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-08149-7. John Bagot Glubb The Empire of the Arabs, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1963 Haldon, John (2008). The Byzantine Wars. The History Press. Bosworth, C.E., ed. (1991). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXIII: Storm and Stress Along the Northern Frontiers of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Muʿtasim, A.D. 833–842/A.H. 218–227. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0493-5. Runciman, Steven (1930). A history of the First Bulgarian Empire. London: G. Bell & Sons. Signes Codoñer, Juan (2014). The Emperor Theophilos and the East: Court and Frontier in Byzantium during the Last Phase of Iconoclasm. Routledge. Treadgold, Warren (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2630-2. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theophilus. Theophilos (emperor) Phrygian dynasty Born: 813 Died: 20 January 842 Regnal titles Preceded by Michael II Byzantine emperor 2 October 829 – 20 January 842 Succeeded by Michael III v t e Roman and Byzantine emperors and ruling empresses Principate 27 BC – AD 235 Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus Commodus Pertinax Didius Julianus (Pescennius Niger) (Clodius Albinus) Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus Diadumenian Elagabalus Severus Alexander Crisis 235–285 Maximinus Thrax Gordian I Gordian II Pupienus Balbinus Gordian III Philip the Arab Philip II Decius Herennius Etruscus Hostilian Trebonianus Gallus Volusianus Aemilianus Valerian Gallienus Saloninus Claudius Gothicus Quintillus Aurelian Ulpia Severina Tacitus Florian Probus Carus Carinus Numerian Gallic emperors Postumus (Laelianus) Marius Victorinus (Domitianus II) Tetricus I with Tetricus II as caesar Palmyrene emperors Vaballathus Zenobia Septimius Antiochus Dominate 284–395 Diocletian Maximian Galerius Constantius I Severus Constantine the Great Maxentius Licinius Maximinus Daza (Valerius Valens) (Martinian) Constantine II Constantius II Constans I Magnentius Vetranio Julian Jovian Valentinian I (west) Valens (east) Gratian (west) Valentinian II (west) Theodosius I Magnus Maximus Victor (Eugenius) Western Empire 395–480 Honorius Constantine III with son Constans II Constantius III Joannes Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustulus Eastern/ Byzantine Empire 395–1204 Arcadius Theodosius II Marcian Leo I Leo II Zeno Basiliscus Marcus Anastasius I Dicorus Justin I Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice with son Theodosius as co-emperor Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Heraklonas Constans II Constantine IV with brothers Heraclius and Tiberius and then Justinian II as co-emperors Justinian II (first reign) Leontios Tiberius III Justinian II (second reign) with son Tiberius as co-emperor Philippikos Anastasios II Theodosius III Leo III the Isaurian Constantine V Artabasdos Leo IV the Khazar Constantine VI Irene Nikephoros I Staurakios Michael I Rangabe with son Theophylact as co-emperor Leo V the Armenian with Symbatios-Constantine as junior emperor Michael II the Amorian Theophilos Michael III Basil I the Macedonian Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos Romanos I Lekapenos with sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine as junior co-emperors Romanos II Nikephoros II Phokas John I Tzimiskes Basil II Constantine VIII Zoë (first reign) and Romanos III Argyros Zoë (first reign) and Michael IV the Paphlagonian Michael V Kalaphates Zoë (second reign) with Theodora Zoë (second reign) and Constantine IX Monomachos Constantine IX Monomachos (sole emperor) Theodora Michael VI Bringas Isaac I Komnenos Constantine X Doukas Romanos IV Diogenes Michael VII Doukas with brothers Andronikos and Konstantios and son Constantine Nikephoros III Botaneiates Alexios I Komnenos John II Komnenos with Alexios Komnenos as co-emperor Manuel I Komnenos Alexios II Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos with John Komnenos as co-emperor Isaac II Angelos Alexios III Angelos Alexios IV Angelos Nicholas Kanabos (chosen by the Senate) Alexios V Doukas Empire of Nicaea 1204–1261 Constantine Laskaris Theodore I Laskaris John III Doukas Vatatzes Theodore II Laskaris John IV Laskaris Byzantine Empire 1261–1453 Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos II Palaiologos with Michael IX Palaiologos as co-emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos John V Palaiologos John VI Kantakouzenos with John V Palaiologos and Matthew Kantakouzenos as co-emperors John V Palaiologos Andronikos IV Palaiologos John VII Palaiologos Andronikos V Palaiologos Manuel II Palaiologos John VIII Palaiologos Constantine XI Palaiologos Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. 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