Constantine (son of Leo V)
Encyclopedia
Symbatios variously also Sabbatios (Σαββάτιος) or Sambates (Σαμβάτης) in some sources, was the eldest son of the Byzantine emperor Leo V the Armenian
(r. 813–820). Soon after the coronation of his father, he was crowned co-emperor and renamed Constantine (Κωνσταντίνος). He reigned nominally along with his father until the latter's deposition in 820, after which he was exiled to Prote as a monk.
. As he was a child at the time of his father's accession, he was born sometime between 800 and 810. The previous emperor Michael I Rhangabes (r. 811–813), was likely the boy's godfather. After Leo deposed Michael I and ascended the throne, on Christmas 813 he had the young Symbatios crowned co-emperor and renamed Constantine. The latter name was not chosen randomly: aside from it being a traditional Byzantine imperial name, the assembled troops now publicly acclaimed the emperors "Leo and Constantine", evoking openly the iconoclast emperors Leo III the Isaurian
(r. 717–741) and Constantine V
(r. 741–775). This was a clear statement of intent, not only against external foes like the Bulgars
, whom Constantine V had repeatedly defeated, but also in the internal front, presaging Leo's re-adoption of iconoclasm as official state policy.
In 815, Constantine nominally presided, as his father's representative, over the Council of Constantinople
, which reinstated the ban on the veneration of icon
s. After the assassination of his father on 25 December 820, Constantine was banished to the island of Prote along with his mother and three brothers. There the four brothers were castrated and tonsure
d. They spent the rest of their days there as monks, although Emperor Michael II the Amorian (r. 820–829) allowed them to keep part of the proceeds from their confiscated estates for their and their servants' upkeep.
Leo V the Armenian
Leo V the Armenian was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 813 to 820. A senior general, he forced his predecessor, Michael I Rangabe, to abdicate and assumed the throne. He ended the decade-long war with the Bulgars, and initiated the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm...
(r. 813–820). Soon after the coronation of his father, he was crowned co-emperor and renamed Constantine (Κωνσταντίνος). He reigned nominally along with his father until the latter's deposition in 820, after which he was exiled to Prote as a monk.
Life
He was the eldest son of Leo and his wife, TheodosiaTheodosia, wife of Leo V
-Family: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 continuation to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor. The name of her mother is unknown....
. As he was a child at the time of his father's accession, he was born sometime between 800 and 810. The previous emperor Michael I Rhangabes (r. 811–813), was likely the boy's godfather. After Leo deposed Michael I and ascended the throne, on Christmas 813 he had the young Symbatios crowned co-emperor and renamed Constantine. The latter name was not chosen randomly: aside from it being a traditional Byzantine imperial name, the assembled troops now publicly acclaimed the emperors "Leo and Constantine", evoking openly the iconoclast emperors Leo III the Isaurian
Leo III the Isaurian
Leo III the Isaurian or the Syrian , was Byzantine emperor from 717 until his death in 741...
(r. 717–741) and Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
(r. 741–775). This was a clear statement of intent, not only against external foes like the Bulgars
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
, whom Constantine V had repeatedly defeated, but also in the internal front, presaging Leo's re-adoption of iconoclasm as official state policy.
In 815, Constantine nominally presided, as his father's representative, over the Council of Constantinople
Council of Constantinople (815)
The Council of Constantinople of 815 was held in the Byzantine capital, in the Hagia Sophia, and initiated the second period of the Byzantine Iconoclasm....
, which reinstated the ban on the veneration of icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s. After the assassination of his father on 25 December 820, Constantine was banished to the island of Prote along with his mother and three brothers. There the four brothers were castrated and tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d. They spent the rest of their days there as monks, although Emperor Michael II the Amorian (r. 820–829) allowed them to keep part of the proceeds from their confiscated estates for their and their servants' upkeep.