European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Amorian / Phrygian Dynasty (AD 820-867)

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From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

As the western empire had declined and faded in the face of increasing barbarian incursions and settlement, the eastern empire had survived and actually thrived under the 'Dynasty of Justinian', and would do so again under the 'Macedonian Dynasty'. The latter would succeed the short-lived Phrygian / Amorian dynasty which itself was enacting a rebuilding phase after a period of 'Non-Dynastic' rule.

Then the Bulgars became an even more significant threat, mounting incursions into northern areas of the empire as they fought off various areas of Slavic opposition and established their own state. A resurgence in Eastern Roman fortunes there would only come under the Macedonian dynasty.

It was in the year 820 that the former general, Emperor Leo V, was murdered in church by assassins of one of his most able former supporters, fellow general Michael the Amorian (and 'the Stammerer'). Michael's wife had a sister who had been divorced by Leo. That act had generated the initial dispute between the pair, but Michael's plotting had already landed him in jail with a death sentence about to be carried out. Now he was able to succeed as Michael II.

Regional governors of the seventh century themes had became provincial military commanders - strategoi, directly responsible to the emperor himself. After the eighth century imperial administration was simplified much further than it ever had been. Primarily this was due to the increased military threat being posed by neighbours, notably the Bulgars and then the Franks, along with internal civil wars.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from the John De Cleene Archive, from The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, Byzantine and Near Eastern History, AD 284-813, Cyril Mango & Roger Scott (1997), from the World Heritage Encyclopaedia, from An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples, Peter B Golden (1992), from The Bulgarians: from pagan times to the Ottoman conquest, David Marshall Lang (Westview Press, 1976), and from External Links: History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive), and Byzantine Empire, CWC Oman (Fisher Unwin, 1892, and available via Heritage History).)

820 - 829

Amorian general. Succeeded a 'Non-Dynastic' ruler. Died.

821 - 823

General. Led revolt against Michael. Executed.

821

Having been raised to senior office in central Anatolia by Leo V during his 'Non-Dynastic' reign, General Thomas 'the Slav' leads a wide-ranging revolt against Michael.

Leo the Armenian standing on a shield with Michael the Amorian, Eastern Roman emperors Leo V and Michael II respectively at a time of consolidation for the reduced empire

After winning widespread support in Anatolia, Thomas lays siege to Constantinople. Bulgarian support for Michael is repelled but inflicts heavy casualties which result in a later rout of Thomas' forces. A blockade of Arcadiopolis sees Thomas being handed over by his troops in return for pardons.

826 - 828

Tourmarches Euphemius, commander of the Eastern Roman fleet of Sicily, forces a nun to marry him. Michael II orders Sicily's strategos, Constantine, to seize Euphemius and remove his nose in punishment. Given no choice, Euphemius revolts, killing Constantine and occupying Syracuse in the process.

Subsequently he is driven off the island and takes refuge with Emir Ziyadat Allah I in Tunis. He and the emir launch an invasion of Sicily in the following year. The Aghlabids win the first battle, and a large Roman force from Palermo which is assisted by a fleet from Venice under the personal command of the doge, Giustiniano Partecipazio, is subsequently defeated.

Once again the Eastern Roman empire was betrayed by one of its own commanders, Euphemius, mirroring its loss of Carthage in 695, and Sicily was similarly lost

Sicily is in the hands of the Islamic empire. This loss virtually ends Roman domination of the western Mediterranean and one of its remaining possessions, Sardinia, is left isolated.

829 - 842

Son, Acceded aged 16/17. m Theodora.

829 - 830?

Step-mother and regent. Largely remained in a convent.

832 - 833

Abbasid Caliph Ma'mun follows up on a recent minor success against the Eastern Roman empire by capturing the strategically important fortress of Loulon. A large army is collected together with the intent of conquering Anatolia piecemeal.

The caliph's general, al-Abbas ibn al-Ma'mun, wali of Syria, marches into Roman territory on 25 May 833, creating a military base at Tyana. The caliph's main force follows in July, just as the caliph himself becomes ill and dies unexpectedly. The invasion is abandoned.

This medieval mansucript depicts Emperor Michael II defeating Thomas the Slav in his final stronghold of Arcadiopolis, following a revolt in response to Michael's assassination of Leo V

839 - 842

Various Slavic tribes have recently been united into a single confederation under Vlastimir, the knez of Serbia. Emperor Theophilus I has granted them independence (a tacit recognition of a fact which he is unable to change), in return for which he receives an acknowledgement of nominal overlordship for his lifetime.

Worried about the creation of a new Slav state on his south-western border, Bulgarian Khan Presian invades. The Serbs, though, know their terrain. Vlastimir expels Presian with the latter making no territorial gains and suffering heavy losses. The death of Emperor Theophilus signals the end of the war.

842 - 867

Acceded aged 2. Murdered by Basil I.

842 - 855

Regent. Perhaps to 857? Sent to a convent.

855

The regency is overthrown when one of Theodora's co-regents, the powerful eunuch Postal Logothete Theoktistos, is murdered in the great palace in Constantinople. Theodora in 857 is barred from taking part in governmental duties and is sent along with her daughters to a convent.

This artist's reconstruction shows the Roman city of Singidunum, the name originating in the preceding Celtic town, while the Serbs would settle it from the 520s, making it their on-off capital of Belgrade

856 or 860

In the fourteenth year of Michael's reign (although this produces at least two different dates), Constantinople is attacked by a new enemy - the Rus. The attack comes as a complete surprise to the Eastern Romans, but it is a clear sign that a new power in Eastern Europe is flexing its muscles.

The Russian Primary Chronicle states that the Romans are only saved because the weather turns against the Rus fleet and scatters it. The attack has been ascribed to Askold and Dir of Kyiv but without any firm foundation.

863

In this year, or perhaps a little earlier (and perhaps being more politically able that his later epithet might suggest), Michael III deposes Ignatius, patriarch of Constantinople, to replace him with Photius, the most distinguished layman in the Eastern Roman empire.

The action provokes a schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox church. Pope St Nicholas I offers to recognise Photius only if he transfers Illyricum to the pope’s jurisdiction, a vast territory which includes the Bulgarians who may be on the verge of converting to Christianity.

The Lateran Palace was originally owned by the Roman patrician Laterani family, who were accused by Nero of plotting against him. The building was confiscated, and between the fourth and fifteenth centuries it was the pope's official residence

Pope Nicholas holds a Lateran synod when Photius rejects the proposal so that, in 863, Photius is excommunicated and Ignatius is declared to be restored.

866 - 867

Co-emperor. Former chamberlain. First 'Macedonian'.

867

Existed? Seemingly a confusion with Theophilus I.

867

Basil I as co-emperor has become worried that Michael is showing too much favour to a potential rival named Basiliskianos. He ensures that Michael is murdered in his bed having been incapacitated by alcohol. As sole remaining emperor, Basil I begins the commencement of the successful Macedonian dynasty.