Leontius ( el, Λεόντιος, Leóntios; – 15 February 706), was
Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698. Little is known of his early life, other than that he was born in
Isauria
Isauria ( or ; grc, Ἰσαυρία), in ancient geography, is a rugged, isolated, district in the interior of Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surrou ...
in
Asia Minor. He was given the title of ''
patrikios'', and made ''
strategos
''Strategos'', plural ''strategoi'', Linguistic Latinisation, Latinized ''strategus'', ( el, στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, ''stratagos''; meaning "army leader") is used in Greek language, Greek to ...
'' of the
Anatolic Theme under Emperor
Constantine IV. He led forces against the
Umayyads during the early years of
Justinian II's reign, securing victory and forcing the Umayyad caliph,
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam ( ar, عبد الملك ابن مروان ابن الحكم, ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam; July/August 644 or June/July 647 – 9 October 705) was the fifth Umayyad caliph, ruling from April 685 ...
, to sue for peace.
In 692, Justinian declared war upon the Umayyads again, and sent Leontius to campaign against them. However, he was defeated decisively at the
Battle of Sebastopolis, and imprisoned by Justinian for his failure. He was released in 695, and given the title of ''strategos'' of the Theme of
Hellas
Hellas may refer to:
Places in Greece
*Ἑλλάς (''Ellás''), genitive Ἑλλάδος (''Elládos''), an ancient Greek toponym used to refer to:
** Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country i ...
in
Southern Greece
Southern Greece ( el, Νότια Ελλάδα) is a loosely defined geographical term, usually encompassing the Peloponnese peninsula and varying parts of Continental Greece (Attica is usually included), as well as the islands of the Cyclades, t ...
. After being released, he led a rebellion against Justinian, and seized power, becoming emperor in the same year.
He ruled until 697, when he was overthrown by
Apsimar
Tiberius III ( gr, Τιβέριος, Tibérios), born Apsimar ( la, Apsimarus; gr, Αψίμαρος, Apsímaros),), Apsimerus and Absimerus. Many of these are likely typos or transliteration errors. was Byzantine emperor from 698 to 705AD. Lit ...
, a ''
droungarios'' who had taken part in a failed expedition that had been launched by Leontius to recover
Carthage. After seizing
Constantinople, Apsimar took the name
Tiberius (III), and had Leontius'
nose and tongue cut off. He was sent to the
Monastery of Dalmatou
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
, where he remained until some time between August 705 and February 706. By this time Justinian had retaken the throne. Both Leontius and Tiberius were executed.
Origin and early life
Little of Leontius' early life is known, other than that he was from
Isauria
Isauria ( or ; grc, Ἰσαυρία), in ancient geography, is a rugged, isolated, district in the interior of Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surrou ...
, and possibly of
Armenian descent. He was appointed as ''
strategos
''Strategos'', plural ''strategoi'', Linguistic Latinisation, Latinized ''strategus'', ( el, στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, ''stratagos''; meaning "army leader") is used in Greek language, Greek to ...
'' of the
Anatolic Theme, at the time the most senior military command of the Byzantine Empire, and ''
patrikios'' by Emperor
Constantine IV, possibly AD.
Starting in 680, the Islamic
Umayyad Caliphate erupted into a civil war, known as the
Second Fitna
The Second Fitna was a period of general political and military disorder and civil war in the Islamic community during the early Umayyad Caliphate., meaning trial or temptation) occurs in the Qur'an in the sense of test of faith of the believer ...
. Umayyad authority was challenged even in their metropolitan province of
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
, while most of the Caliphate recognized
Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr instead. Under
Marwan I and his son
Abd al-Malik
Abdul Malik ( ar, عبد الملك) is an Arabic (Muslim or Christian) male given name and, in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' Abd'', ''al-'' and '' Malik''. The name means "servant of the King", in the Christian insta ...
, however, the Umayyads gained the upper hand, although the Zubayrids were not finally defeated until 692.
The civil war in the Umayyad Caliphate provided an opportunity for the Byzantine Empire to attack its weakened rival, and, in 686, Emperor
Justinian II sent Leontius to invade Umayyad territory in
Armenia and
Iberia, where he campaigned successfully, before leading troops into
Media and
Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania is a modern exonym for a former state located in ancient times in the Caucasus: mostly in what is now Azerbaijan (where both of its capitals were located). The modern endonyms for the area are ''Aghwank'' and ''Aluank'', among ...
; during these campaigns he gathered loot. Leontius' successful campaigns compelled the Umayyad Caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, to sue for peace in 688, agreeing to tender part of the taxes from Umayyad territory in Armenia,
Iberia, and
Cyprus, and to renew a treaty signed originally under Constantine IV, providing for a weekly tribute of 1,000 pieces of gold, one horse, and one slave.
Justinian invaded the Caliphate again in 692, feeling that the Umayyads were in a weak position, but was repulsed at the
Battle of Sebastopolis, where a large number of
Slavs
Slavs are the largest European ethnolinguistic group. They speak the various Slavic languages, belonging to the larger Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout northern Eurasia, main ...
defected to the Umayyads, ensuring the Byzantine defeat. After this, the Umayyads renewed their invasion of
North Africa, aimed at taking the city of
Carthage in the
Exarchate of Africa, and also invaded
Anatolia. Around this time, Justinian imprisoned Leontius. Some Byzantine sources, such as
Nikephoros and
Theophanes, suggest that Justinian did so because he believed that Leontius was seeking to take the throne, but it is possible that the crushing defeat at Sebastopolis played a part in his imprisonment; as ''strategos'' of the Anatolic Theme, he likely served in the battle, and may have even been the main Byzantine commander in it.
After further setbacks in the war, Justinian released Leontius in 695 because he feared losing control of Carthage, and appointed him ''strategos'' of the Theme of
Hellas
Hellas may refer to:
Places in Greece
*Ἑλλάς (''Ellás''), genitive Ἑλλάδος (''Elládos''), an ancient Greek toponym used to refer to:
** Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country i ...
in
Southern Greece
Southern Greece ( el, Νότια Ελλάδα) is a loosely defined geographical term, usually encompassing the Peloponnese peninsula and varying parts of Continental Greece (Attica is usually included), as well as the islands of the Cyclades, t ...
. During his captivity, Leontius was cared for by two monks, Gregorios and Paulos, who prophesied his rise to the throne, and encouraged him to rise against Justinian after his release. Leontius, once free, quickly raised a rebellion against Justinian. Leontius had wide support from the aristocracy, who opposed Justinian's land policies, which restricted the aristocracy's ability to acquire land from peasant freeholders, and the peasantry, who opposed Justinian's tax policies, as well as the
Blue faction
Chariot racing ( grc-gre, ἁρματοδρομία, harmatodromia, la, ludi circenses) was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine sports. In Greece, chariot racing played an essential role in aristocratic funeral games fro ...
(one of the
Hippodrome factions), and the
Patriarch of Constantinople
The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), New Rome and '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of th ...
Callinicus Callinicus or Kallinikos ( el, Καλλίνικος) is a surname or male given name; the feminine form is Kalliniki, Callinice or Callinica ( el, Καλλινίκη). It is of Greek origin, meaning "beautiful victor".
People named Callinicus Seleu ...
. Leontius and his supporters seized Justinian and brought him to the Hippodrome, where Justinian's
nose was cut off, a common
practice in Byzantine culture, done in order to remove threats to the throne, as mutilated people were traditionally barred from becoming emperor; however, Leontius did not kill Justinian, out of reverence for Constantine IV. After Justinian's nose was cut off, Leontius exiled him to
Cherson, a Byzantine
exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
in the
Crimea.
Reign and downfall
Upon his coronation, Leontius, now known as Leo, adopted a moderate political stance. He restricted the activity of the
Byzantine army, allowing small raids against the border of the Byzantine empire to proceed without reprisal, and instead focused upon consolidation. Very little is known of his domestic policy, except that he had the port of
Neorion in
Constantinople cleared, which allegedly led to a four-month outbreak of plague.
The Umayyads, emboldened by Leontius perceived weakness, invaded the Exarchate of Africa in 696, capturing Carthage in 697. Leontius sent the ''patrikios''
John to retake the city. John was able to seize Carthage after a surprise attack on its harbor. However, Umayyad reinforcements soon retook the city, forcing John to retreat to
Crete and regroup. A group of officers, fearing the Emperor's punishment for their failure, revolted and proclaimed Apsimar, a ''
droungarios'' (mid-level commander) of the
Cibyrrhaeots
The Cibyrrhaeot Theme, more properly the Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots ( gr, θέμα Κιβυρραιωτῶν, thema Kibyrrhaiōtōn), was a Byzantine theme encompassing the southern coast of Asia Minor from the early 8th to the late 12th centuries. ...
, emperor.
Apsimar took the regnal name
Tiberius, gathered a fleet and allied himself with the Green faction, before sailing for Constantinople, which was enduring the
bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the plague bacterium (''Yersinia pestis''). One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and vomiting, as well a ...
. After several months of siege, the city surrendered to Tiberius, in 698. Tiberius captured Leontius, and had
his nose slit before imprisoning him in the
Monastery of Dalmatou
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
. Leontius stayed in the monastery under guard until Justinian retook the throne with the assistance of the
Bulgar king
Tervel in 705. Justinian then had both Leontius and Tiberius dragged to the Hippodrome and publicly humiliated, before being taken away and beheaded. The execution took place on 15 February 706 according to the ''
Chronicon Altinate
The ''Chronicon Altinate'', ''Altino Chronicle'' or ''Origo civitatum Italie seu Venetiarum'' is one of the oldest sources for the history of Venice. The oldest known manuscripts date to the 13th century, though its components are older. It has con ...
''. The body of Leontius was thrown into the sea alongside Tiberius, but was later recovered and buried in a church on the island of
Prote.
See also
*
List of Byzantine emperors
This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as le ...
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
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Web sources
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External links
{{Authority control
7th-century Byzantine emperors
660s births
706 deaths
Executed Byzantine people
8th-century executions by the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine prisoners and detainees
Twenty Years' Anarchy
8th-century Byzantine people
690s in the Byzantine Empire
700s in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine governors of Hellas
Governors of the Anatolic Theme
Patricii
Executed monarchs
People executed by decapitation