Theodosia, Wife Of Leo V
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Theodosia (; – after 826) was the empress consort of Leo V the Armenian. Theodosia was the daughter of Arsaber, a Byzantine patrician. The name and rank of her father were recorded by both Genesius and Theophanes Continuatus, the continuer to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor. The name of her mother is unknown.


Family

Arsaber led a failed revolt against Nikephoros I in 808. According to George Finlay: "In the year 808, however, a conspiracy was really formed to place Arsaber a patrician, who held the office of questor, or minister of legislation, on the throne. Though Arsaber was of an Armenian family, many persons of rank were leagued with him; yet Nicephorus only confiscated his estates, and compelled him to embrace the monastic life." The name of her father indicates
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
origins. However the names of his ancestors are not known. Genealogical theories suggest Kamsarakan ancestry.


Marriage

Theodosia married Leo V the Armenian, a ''
strategos ''Strategos'' (), also known by its Linguistic Latinisation, Latinized form ''strategus'', is a Greek language, Greek term to mean 'military General officer, general'. In the Hellenistic world and in the Byzantine Empire, the term was also use ...
'' who had played a decisive role in Emperor Nikephoros I's defeat of the rebel Bardanes Tourkos. Leo managed to rise to the throne upon the abdication of Michael I Rangabe in 813. Theodosia is the only wife of Leo mentioned by primary sources. However an interpretation of the text of Theophanes Continuatus has Leo marrying a daughter of Bardanes Tourkos. An interpretation which would make Leo a brother-in-law of Thekla, first wife of Michael II. Warren Treadgold for example uses this theory in ''The Byzantine Revival 780–842'' (1988). Genesius records that Prokopia, wife of Michael I, referred to her successor Empress as "Barca". Treatgold has suggested this was the actual name of a first wife of Leo, which would mean Theodosia married Leo once he was already emperor. However the word is also the Greek word for "
boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size or capacity, its shape, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically used on inland waterways s ...
", suggesting it was only a derisive nickname for Theodosia.Chris Bennett, "The Relationship of Basil I to Leo V" (1995)
/ref> Whatever her status as wife was, Theodosia was the Empress when Leo V was assassinated on
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
, 820. Michael II rose to the throne and exiled Theodosia and the sons of Leo V to the island of Proti. Joannes Zonaras records that they were not forced to take monastic vows. Instead they were allowed to inherit part of the personal property of Leo V and the associated revenue. They were also able to have their own attendants. Theodore the Studite sent a letter to the deposed Empress sometime between 821 and his own death in 826.


Children

All known children of Leo V are traditionally attributed to Theodosia as well. Genesius records four sons: * Symbatios (Συμβάτιος), renamed Constantine, co-emperor from 814 to 820. Castrated and exiled following the assassination of his father. * Basil. Castrated and exiled following the assassination of his father. Still alive in 847, recorded to have supported the election of Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople. * Gregory. Castrated and exiled following the assassination of his father. Still alive in 847 alongside Basil. * Theodosios (died in 820). Castrated and exiled following the assassination of his father. Died soon after his castration. The existence of a daughter has been debated by historians and genealogists. The tentative name "Anna" has been suggested (see above). She married Hmayeak, a Mamikonian prince (died c. 797), by whom she had Konstantinos, an officer at the court of Emperor Michael III.Koushagian, Torkom. ''Saints & Feasts of the Armenian Church''. Translated by Haigazoun Melkonian. (2005), p. 5, New York: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).


Possible descendants

Nicholas Adontz in his book ''The age and origins of the emperor Basil I'' (1933) expressed a theory that Leo V and Theodosia were ancestors of
Basil I Basil I, nicknamed "the Macedonian" (; 811 – 29 August 886), was List of Byzantine emperors, Byzantine emperor from 867 to 886. Born to a peasant family in Macedonia (theme), Macedonia, he rose to prominence in the imperial court after gainin ...
. The theory was partly based on the account of his ancestry given by Constantine VII, a grandson of Basil I. Also the accounts given by Theophanes Continuatus. Basil I, according to this accounts, was a son of peasants. His mother is named by Constantine VII as "Pankalo". The name of his father was not recorded. The names Symbatios and Constantine have been suggested. Both were names used by the eldest sons of Basil. With eldest sons of Byzantines typically named after their grandfathers. The paternal grandfather of Basil is named as Maiactes. The paternal grandmother was not named but was identified as a daughter of "Leo", a citizen of
Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
. Adontz identified this Leo as Leo V. Which would make Leo V and Theodosia great-grandparents of Basil I. Adontz also suggested Constantine VII had made a mistake in the generations separating Maiactes and Basil. Suggesting Basil was a great-grandson of Maiactes and not old enough to have seen the wars with Krum of Bulgaria. Making Leo V and Theodosia actually fourth-generation ancestors of Basil. The theory has been accepted by several genealogists, including
Christian Settipani Christian Settipani (born 31 January 1961) is a French genealogist, historian and IT professional, currently working as the Technical Director of a company in Paris. Biography Settipani holds a Master of Advanced Studies from the Paris-Sorb ...
in his search for descent from antiquity. The name "Anna" has been suggested for the daughter of Leo V and Theodosia, because it was given to daughters of
Basil I Basil I, nicknamed "the Macedonian" (; 811 – 29 August 886), was List of Byzantine emperors, Byzantine emperor from 867 to 886. Born to a peasant family in Macedonia (theme), Macedonia, he rose to prominence in the imperial court after gainin ...
, Leo VI the Wise, Constantine VII and Romanos II. Almost every emperor that would claim descent from this woman.


References


Sources

* Nicholas Adontz, ''The age and origins of the emperor Basil I'' (1933) . *Warren Treadgold, ''The Byzantine Revival 780–842'' (1988).


External links


"The Relationship of Basil I to Leo V", an article by Chris Bennet, summarizing the main arguments for and against this theory
* ttp://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per00545.htm#0 A genealogical profile of Theodosiabr>A family tree for Theodosia
{{Roman empresses, state=collapsed 770s births 9th-century deaths 9th-century Byzantine empresses Byzantine people of Armenian descent Kamsarakan family 9th-century Armenian women 8th-century Armenian women 8th-century Armenian people Mothers of Byzantine emperors