OLLI Workshop: History of the Middle East
Leader: Theo Pavlidis (theopav@gmail.com)
Handout No. 6 - November 19, 2012
The Byzantine Empire from 717 to 1057
Isaurian Dynasty - Iconoclasm - Macedonian Dynasty - East/West Schism
Main Sources: Gibbon [EG],
Whittow [MW96], Treadgold [WT97]
Iconoclasm - Questions
- A reaction to the Arab conquest? (80 years after the event)
- Was cleansing Christianity of Pagan influences the only motive?
- Was the elimination of monasticism a major motive?
- How is it related to the Protestant Reformation that took place 700
years later?
Iconoclasm - Notable Facts
- Because the Iconoclasts lost, all accounts are by their opponents,
so we have no real way to answer the questions.
- The emperor took a position and acted on a theological issue.
- Because the Pope was beyond the reach of the emperor he led the opposition
and that contributed to an increase in his prestige (especially, because
three of his main competitors for influence were themselves under Muslim
rulers).
- The iconoclast emperors did not favor learning, they abolished the
royal college and burned its library.
The Macedonian Emperors: The amazing story of Basil
I; from stable groom to emperor. - Scandals in the Palace - The Bulgar-Slayer
Basil II - The rapid decline of the empire after his death - The Schism
between Easter Orthodox and Roman Catholics
ISAURIAN DYNASTY (Iconoclasts in bold) |
Name |
Years of Reign |
Comments |
Leo III |
717-741 |
Capable general of Syrian origin |
Constantine V |
741-775 |
Faced revolt by Artavasdes |
Leo IV |
775-780 (died at the age of 30) |
Wife Irene (from Athens) |
Constantine VI |
780-797 (became emperor at age of 9) |
Irene regent |
Irene |
797-802 |
Restored Iconolatry |
The following are not descendants of Leo
III but they are usually grouped with the Isaurians |
Nikephoros I |
802-811 (killed fighting the Bulgars) |
He was finance minister of Irene but he managed to
depose her and become himself emperor. |
Staurakios |
July-October 811 (seriously wounded) |
Son of Nikephoros. Abdicated because of his wounds
and died in 812. |
Michael I Rangabe |
811-813 |
Brother-in-law of Staurakios. Abdicated and became
a monk. His sons were castrated and forced to become monks. One of
them became later patriarch under the name Ignatios. Persecuted the
Athingans. |
Leo V the Armenian |
813-820 |
Restored Iconoclasm but was assassinated by Michael
the Amorian. |
Michael II the Amorian, ψελλος |
820-829 |
Nicknamed the stammerer. Lost Crete and Sicily to the
Arabs. Succeded by his young son. |
Theophilos |
829-842 (died at age 28) |
Wife Theodora |
Michael III |
842-856 (became emperor at age of 2) |
Theodora regent |
Final restoration of the worship of the Icons (March
11, 843) - Sunday of Orthodoxy |
Michael III |
856-867 |
emperor alone |
MACEDONIAN DYNASTY |
Name |
Years of Reign |
Comments |
Basil I |
867-886 |
Masterful Manipulator |
Leo VI |
886-912 |
Officially son of Basil I but more likely son of Michael
III. |
Alexander |
912-913 |
Undisputed son of Basil I |
Constantine VII, Purple-born,
Πορφυρογεννητος |
913(age 7)-959(age
54) |
His mother Zoe was regent until 919. |
Romanos I, Lekapenos |
920-944 |
Regent 919, then father-in-law of Constan-tine VII,
then co-emperor. |
Romanos II |
959-963 (age 24) |
Son of Constantine VII. Wife Theophano. |
Nikephoros II, Phokas |
963-969 |
Second husband of Theophano |
John I, Tzimiskes |
969-976 |
Lover of Theophano, then her third husband. |
Basil II |
976-1025 |
Son of Romanos II. Never married. |
Constantine VIII |
1025-1028 |
Younger brother of Basil II. He had three daughters,
one of them Zoe. |
Romanos III, Argyros |
1028-1034 |
First husband of Zoe. Probably killed by his successor. |
Michael IV |
1034-1041 |
Lover and then second husband of Zoe. |
Michael V, the Caulker |
1041-1042 (four months only) |
Nephew of Michael IV. He was deposed by popular (?)
revolt, blinded and castrated. |
Constantine IX |
1042-1055 |
Third husband of Zoe. |
Theodora |
1055-1056 |
Sister of Zoe. |
Michael VI, Bringas |
1056-1057 |
Relative of eunuch Joseph Bringas |
|