Leo V the Armenian
Leo V. (Latin, Greek Leon Λέων, to 775 *, † December 25 820), called the Armenians, was Byzantine emperor from 813 to 820
Leo ( n ) was a general under the Emperors Nicephorus I and Michael I. After Leo had in the service of Michael I. awarded to the campaign against the Arabs 812, he was called to the 813 campaign against the Bulgarians. He let Michael in the battle of Adrian Opel down, took advantage of the discontent of the troops and led together with the allied generals Michael Psellos and Thomas in a successful revolt against him. Leo legitimized his rule by repeated victories over the Bulgarians ( 814-817 ) tried already the siege of Constantinople Opel. With their Omourtag Khan (reigned 814-831 ), he completed 816 a thirty-year peace treaty and made so for the time being for peace on this frontier.
Leo took the iconoclastic ( iconoclastic ) policy of the Syrian emperor again who had been militarily extremely successful. Leo went for since the end of 814 against images worshipers before that had won under Michael I. increasingly influence at court and in the clergy (see Byzantine Iconoclasm ). Apparently came Leo benefit here is that there was quite in larger parts of the population of Constantinople an iconoclastic mood. Patriarch Nicephorus was deposed even 815. However, the new religious policy of the Emperor also met with disapproval; several clergymen went into exile or were imprisoned, including Theodore the Studite. Soon were hardened the fronts, so that the Reich Church was the emperor's policy, on the other hand, however, also formed a larger image friendly opposition.
Although a conspiracy of his friend Michael Psellos by the imprisonment of the leaders had been zunichtegemacht, Michaels allies use the opportunity and were active against the Emperor. Leo was murdered on Christmas Eve 820 in the palace chapel, in his place Michael ascended the throne. The lives of his four sons spared you. In order to exclude it as a possible heir to the throne, she had to be spayed though. Leo's youngest son died from the effects of castration.
About Leo's reign reported, notably Theophanes Continuatus, Joseph and John Genesios Skylitzes, but also several clerical sources. Due to the iconoclastic religious policies of the emperor, his reputation in later tradition was fairly bleak. In more recent research, however, pointed to the successes of the Emperor, about the foreign policy concerning his or legislative measures in domestic politics.
The events surrounding the assassination of Leo V had processed in its tragedy Leo Armenius Andreas Gryphius.