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Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. However, even when Constantine was of age at sixteen, his mother still refused to hand over executive authority to him.
Leo IV (750-780), also known as Leo the Khazar, was the son of Emperor Constantine V by his first wife, Irene of Khazaria. He became co-emperor in 751, and married a noble Athenian woman also named Irene in 769. Leo became sole emperor in 775 with the death of his father.<br/><br/> Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. However, even when Constantine was of age at sixteen, his mother still refused to hand over executive authority to him.
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.
Leo III (685-741), also known as Leo the Isaurian and Leo the Syrian and whose original name was Konon, was born in the Syrian province of Commagene. He 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.<br/><br/> Leo became ambitious, and conspired with his fellow commanders, to overthrow the new emperor, Theodosius III. He entered Constantinople in 717 and forced Theodosius to abdicate, and was crowned Leo III.
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.
Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. However, even when Constantine was of age at sixteen, his mother still refused to hand over executive authority to him.<br/><br/> Constantine was to marry Rotrude, the daughter of the future Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, in 788, but his mother broke off the engagement and instead supported Charlemagne's enemies. When Irene attempted to get official recognition as empress in 790, the plan backfired and Constantine was finally given the throne through military support, though his mother was still allowed to keep the title of empress.<br/><br/> Constantine soon proved he was not a capable leader however, suffering humiliating defeats at the hands of the Arabs and Bulgarians. When his uncle was favoured to replace him, he had his eyes put out and the tongues of his other uncles torn off. He became vastly unpopular, and in 797 was himself blinded and imprisoned by his mother's supporters. Irene was then crowned as Constantinople's first Empress Regnant. Constantine's date of death is unknown, though it was definitely before 805. Irene herself ruled until she was overthrown in 802, where she was then exiled to Lesbos and died the following year.
Zeno the Isaurian (425-491), originally known as Tarasis Kodisa Rousombladadiotes, was an Isaurian officer serving in the Eastern Roman army. He became an ally to Emperor Leo, marrying his daughter Ariadne and helping him assassinate the Alan general Aspar, who held much influence in Constantinople. He took the name Zeno, apparently from another famous Isaurian officer who had fought against Attila, to make himself more acceptable to Roman hierarchy.<br/><br/> When Leo died in 474, Zeno's son Leo II became emperor, but as he was only seven at the time, he was convinced to name his father co-emperor. Zeno soon became sole emperor when his son died from an illness. Due to his barbarian origins, Zeno was not popular with the people and the Senate, despite his successes in foreign issues and stabilising the empire. Domestic revolts and religious dissension marked his reign, as well as the fall of the Western Roman Empire.<br/><br/> Zeno died in 491 from either dysentery or epilepsy, with no sons to succeed him. A popular legend states that Zeno had been buried alive after becoming insensible, either from drinking or from illness. He called out for help, but his wife Ariadne did not allow anyone to open the sarcophagus.
Zeno the Isaurian (425-491), originally known as Tarasis Kodisa Rousombladadiotes, was an Isaurian officer serving in the Eastern Roman army. He became an ally to Emperor Leo, marrying his daughter Ariadne and helping him assassinate the Alan general Aspar, who held much influence in Constantinople. He took the name Zeno, apparently from another famous Isaurian officer who had fought against Attila, to make himself more acceptable to Roman hierarchy.<br/><br/> When Leo died in 474, Zeno's son Leo II became emperor, but as he was only seven at the time, he was convinced to name his father co-emperor. Zeno soon became sole emperor when his son died from an illness. Due to his barbarian origins, Zeno was not popular with the people and the Senate, despite his successes in foreign issues and stabilising the empire. Domestic revolts and religious dissension marked his reign, as well as the fall of the Western Roman Empire.<br/><br/> Zeno died in 491 from either dysentery or epilepsy, with no sons to succeed him. A popular legend states that Zeno had been buried alive after becoming insensible, either from drinking or from illness. He called out for help, but his wife Ariadne did not allow anyone to open the sarcophagus.