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Constantine V (718-775), also known as Constantine the Dung-named, was the son of Emperor Leo III. He succeeded his father in 741, but was almost immediately betrayed by his own brother-in-law Artabasdos, who attacked him while Constantine was crossing Asia Minor to campaign against the Umayyad Caliphate. Constantine was defeated and had to retreat to Amorion, while Artabasdos entered Constantinople and became emperor.<br/><br/> Constantine eventually retook the throne in 743, having his rivals blinded and executed. He became an even more fervent iconoclast than his father, which was what led to the derogatory surname of 'Dung-named', given to him by religious enemies opposed to his rejection of the veneration of holy images.<br/><br/> Constantine was also an able administrator and general, and waged wars against the Umayyad Caliphate and the Bulgarians. It was while campaigning in the Balkans against the latter that he eventually died in 775, and was promptly succeeded by his eldest son and co-emperor Leo IV.
Turkey / Byzantium: Leo III (685-741) and Constantine V (718-775), Byzantine emperors, from the book <i>Icones imperatorvm romanorvm</i> (Icons of Roman Emperors), Antwerp, c. 1645. Leo III served under Emperor Justinian II when the emperor was attempting to reclaim his throne. After Justinian's victory, Leo was sent to fight against the Umayyad Caliphate, and was appointed as overall commander by Emperor Anastasius II. Leo became ambitious, and he conspired to overthrow the new Emperor Theodosius III. Entering Constantinople in 717 he forced Theodosius to abdicate. He was succeeded by his son and heir, Constantine V, also known as Constantine the Dung-named.
Constantine V (718-775), also known as Constantine the Dung-named, was the son of Emperor Leo III. He succeeded his father in 741, but was almost immediately betrayed by his own brother-in-law Artabasdos, who attacked him while Constantine was crossing Asia Minor to campaign against the Umayyad Caliphate. Constantine was defeated and had to retreat to Amorion, while Artabasdos entered Constantinople and became emperor.<br/><br/> Constantine eventually retook the throne in 743, having his rivals blinded and executed. He became an even more fervent iconoclast than his father, which was what led to the derogatory surname of 'Dung-named', given to him by religious enemies opposed to his rejection of the veneration of holy images.<br/><br/> Constantine was also an able administrator and general, and waged wars against the Umayyad Caliphate and the Bulgarians. It was while campaigning in the Balkans against the latter that he died in 775, and was promptly succeeded by his eldest son and co-emperor Leo IV.