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{{Short description|Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698}}
{{Other people|Leontius}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Leontius
| image        = Solidus of Leontius.png
| caption      = Leontius in imperial regalia, as depicted on a ''[[Solidus (coin)|solidus]]'' coin. Legend: {{Smallcaps|{{Abbreviation|dn|DOMINUS NOSTER}} leon {{Abbreviation|pe|PERPETUUS}} {{Abbreviation|av|AUGUSTUS}}}}.
| succession   = [[Byzantine emperor]]
| reign        = 695–698
| predecessor  = [[Justinian II]]
| successor    = [[Tiberius III]]
| birth_name   = Leontius
| full name    = 
| regnal name  = Leo{{Sfn|Grierson|1993|p=610}}
| house        = [[Twenty Years' Anarchy]]
| house-type   = Period
| birth_date   = 
| birth_place  = [[Isauria]]
| death_date   = {{circa}} 15 February 706
| death_place  = [[Constantinople]]
| title        = [[List of Byzantine emperors|Emperor of the Romans]]
| issue        = Tarasius (?)
| father       = Lazarus (?)
}}
'''Leontius'''{{efn|Leontius is sometimes enumerated as '''Leontius II''', after the [[Leontius (usurper)|5th-century usurper of the same name]].{{Sfn|Grierson|1993|p=610}}{{Sfn|British Museum}} Though the 5th-century Leontius was crowned by [[Verina]], the empress of a preceding emperor, and minted coins of his own, he never successfully took the capital and is thus not normally counted or enumerated.{{Sfn|Grierson|1993|p=610}}}} ({{langx|el|Λεόντιος|Leóntios}}; died {{Circa}} 15 February 706) was [[Byzantine emperor]] under the regnal name '''Leo''' from 695 to 698. Little is known of his early life, other than that he was born in [[Isauria]] in [[Asia Minor]]. He was given the title of ''[[patrikios]]'', and made ''[[strategos]]'' of the [[Anatolic Theme]] under Emperor [[Constantine IV]]. He led forces against the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyads]] during the early years of [[Justinian II]]'s reign, securing victory and forcing the Umayyad caliph, [[Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan]], to sue for peace.

In 692, Justinian declared war upon the Umayyads again, and sent Leontius to campaign against them. However, he was defeated decisively at the [[Battle of Sebastopolis]], and imprisoned by Justinian for his failure. He was released in 695, and given the title of ''strategos'' of the Theme of [[Hellas (theme)|Hellas]] in [[Southern Greece]]. After being released, he led a rebellion against Justinian, and seized power, becoming emperor in the same year.

He ruled until 698, when he was overthrown by [[Tiberius III|Apsimarus]], a ''[[droungarios]]'' who had taken part in a failed expedition that had been launched by Leontius to recover [[Roman Carthage|Carthage]]. After seizing [[Constantinople]], Apsimar took the name Tiberius (III),{{efn|While many Byzantine emperors did adopt [[regnal name]]s, none of them used [[regnal numbers]], which are a purely historiographical intervention.{{sfn|Foss|2005}}}} and had Leontius' [[Rhinotomy|nose and tongue cut off]]. He was sent to the Monastery of Dalmatou, where he remained until some time between August 705 and February 706. By this time Justinian had retaken the throne. Both Leontius and Tiberius were executed.

==Origin and early life==
Little of Leontius' early life is known, other than that he was from [[Isauria]],{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=586}}{{sfn|Moore|1999}} and possibly of [[Armenians|Armenian]] descent.{{efn|It is unclear whether the statement in [[Chronicle of 1234]] that he was proclaimed emperor in [[Armenia]] indicates his Armenian origin or his campaigns there.{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}}} [[Christian Settipani]] speculates that Leontius was the son of a certain Lazarus, who was the direct descendant of emperor [[Phocas]] and general [[Priscus (magister militum)|Priscus]]. Furthermore, Settipani identifies [[patrikios]] Tarasius as Leontius' son.{{sfn|Settipani|2006|pp=202–206}} Leontius was appointed as ''[[strategos]]'' of the [[Anatolic Theme]], at the time the most senior military command of the Byzantine Empire,{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=586}}{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=89–90}} and ''[[patrikios]]'' by Emperor [[Constantine IV]], possibly {{circa|682}} AD.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=586}}{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}

Starting in 680, the Islamic [[Umayyad Caliphate]] erupted into a civil war, known as the [[Second Fitna]]. Umayyad authority was challenged even in their metropolitan province of [[Syria]], while most of the Caliphate recognized [[Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr]] instead. Under [[Marwan I]] and his son [[Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan|Abd al-Malik]], however, the Umayyads gained the upper hand, although the Zubayrids were not finally defeated until 692.{{sfn|Donner|2010|pp=181–182}}{{sfn|Wellhausen|1927|pp=168–169, 182}}{{sfn|Kennedy|2016|p=80}}{{sfn|Gibb|1960|p=77}}

The civil war in the Umayyad Caliphate provided an opportunity for the Byzantine Empire to attack its weakened rival, and, in 686, Emperor [[Justinian II]] sent Leontius to invade Umayyad territory in [[Armenia (region)|Armenia]] and [[Georgia (country)|Iberia]], where he campaigned successfully, before leading troops into [[Media (region)|Media]] and [[Caucasian Albania]]; during these campaigns he gathered loot.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=586}}{{sfn|Moore|1999}} Leontius' successful campaigns compelled the Umayyad Caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, to sue for peace in 688, agreeing to tender part of the taxes from Umayyad territory in Armenia, [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]], and [[Cyprus]], and to renew a treaty signed originally under Constantine IV, providing for a weekly tribute of 1,000 pieces of gold, one horse, and one slave.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Bacharach|2010|p=15}}{{sfn|Rosser|2001|p=2}}

Justinian invaded the Caliphate again in 692, feeling that the Umayyads were in a weak position, but was repulsed at the [[Battle of Sebastopolis]], where a large number of [[Slavs]] defected to the Umayyads, ensuring the Byzantine defeat. After this, the Umayyads renewed their invasion of [[North Africa]], aimed at taking the city of [[Roman Carthage|Carthage]] in the [[Exarchate of Africa]], and also invaded [[Anatolia]]. Around this time, Justinian imprisoned Leontius. Some Byzantine sources, such as [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople|Nikephoros]] and [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes]], suggest that Justinian did so because he believed that Leontius was seeking to take the throne,{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}} but it is possible that the crushing defeat at Sebastopolis played a part in his imprisonment; as ''strategos'' of the Anatolic Theme, he likely served in the battle, and may have even been the main Byzantine commander in it.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Bacharach|2010|p=15}}{{sfn|Rosser|2001|p=2}}{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}

After further setbacks in the war, Justinian released Leontius in 695 because he feared losing control of Carthage, and appointed him ''strategos'' of the Theme of [[Hellas (theme)|Hellas]] in [[Southern Greece]].{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Bacharach|2010|p=15}}{{sfn|Saxby|Angelov|2016|p=27}}{{sfn|Asimov|1970|p=120}} During his captivity, Leontius was cared for by two monks, Gregorios and Paulos, who prophesied his rise to the throne, and encouraged him to rise against Justinian after his release.{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}} Leontius, once free, quickly raised a rebellion against Justinian.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Bacharach|2010|p=15}} Leontius had wide support from the aristocracy, who opposed Justinian's land policies, which restricted the aristocracy's ability to acquire land from peasant freeholders,{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1956|pp=116–122}} and the peasantry, who opposed Justinian's tax policies,{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1956|pp=116–122}} as well as the [[Blues (Byzantine Empire)|Blue faction]], and the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] [[Callinicus I of Constantinople|Callinicus]].{{sfn|Moore|1999}} Leontius and his supporters seized Justinian and brought him to the Hippodrome, where Justinian's [[Rhinotomy|nose was cut off]], a common [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|practice in Byzantine culture]], done in order to remove threats to the throne, as mutilated people were traditionally barred from becoming emperor; however, Leontius did not kill Justinian, out of reverence for Constantine IV.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1956|pp=116–122}}{{sfn|Saxby|Angelov|2016|p=45}}{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}} After Justinian's nose was cut off, Leontius exiled him to [[Cherson (theme)|Cherson]], a Byzantine [[exclave]] in the [[Crimea]].{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Saxby|Angelov|2016|p=27}}{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1956|pp=116–122}}

==Reign and downfall==
{{Twenty Years' Anarchy}}
Upon his coronation, Leontius, now known as "Leo", adopted a moderate political stance. He restricted the activity of the [[Byzantine army]], allowing small raids against the border of the Byzantine empire to proceed without reprisal, and instead focused upon consolidation.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Garland|2017|p=2}} Very little is known of his domestic policy, except that he had the port of [[Neorion Harbour|Neorion]] in [[Constantinople]] cleared, which allegedly led  to a four-month outbreak of plague.{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}

The Umayyads, emboldened by Leontius{{'}} perceived weakness, invaded the Exarchate of Africa in 696, capturing Carthage in 697. Leontius sent the ''patrikios'' [[John the Patrician (general of Leontius)|John]] to retake the city. John was able to seize Carthage after a surprise attack on its harbor. However, Umayyad reinforcements soon retook the city, forcing John to retreat to [[Crete]] and regroup. A group of officers, fearing the Emperor's punishment for their failure, revolted and proclaimed Apsimar, a ''[[droungarios]]'' (mid-level commander) of the [[Cibyrrhaeot Theme|Cibyrrhaeots]], emperor.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Garland|2017|p=2}}

Apsimar took the regnal name [[Tiberius III|Tiberius]], gathered a fleet and allied himself with the [[Greens (Byzantine Empire)|Green faction]], before sailing for Constantinople, which was enduring the [[bubonic plague]].{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Garland|2017|p=2}}{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=730}} After several months of siege, the city surrendered to Tiberius, in 698. Tiberius captured Leontius, and had [[Rhinotomy|his nose slit]] before imprisoning him in the [[Monastery of Dalmatou]].{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Garland|2017|p=2}} Leontius stayed in the monastery under guard until Justinian retook the throne with the assistance of the [[Bulgars|Bulgar]] king [[Tervel]] in 705. Justinian then had both Leontius and Tiberius dragged to the Hippodrome and publicly humiliated, before being taken away and beheaded.{{sfn|Moore|1999}}{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=2084}} The execution took place on 15 February 706 according to the 13th-century ''[[Chronicon Altinate]]''.{{efn|The ''[[Prosopography of the Byzantine World]]'' gives 15 February as the end of Leontius' reign,{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ19751 Tiberios II. (III.) Apsimar (#8483/corr.)]}} but the chronicle clearly indicates that it was the date of both Tiberius and Leontius' execution.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Grierson|first=Philip|date=1962|title=The Tombs and Obits of the Byzantine Emperors|url=https://archive.org/details/SevcenkoStudies19611992/page/n72|journal=Dumbarton Oaks Papers|volume=16|page=50|doi=10.2307/1291157|jstor=1291157|issn=0070-7546}}</ref>}} The body of Leontius was thrown into the sea alongside Tiberius, but was later recovered and buried in a church on the island of [[Prote]].{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ15713 Leontius (#4547/corr.)]}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Byzantine Empire}}
*[[List of Byzantine emperors]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|20em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{Cite book|last=Asimov|first=Isaac|author-link=Isaac Asimov|title=Constantinople: The Forgotten Empire|publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]]|year=1970}}
*{{cite book|last1=Bacharach|first1=Jere L.|author-link=Jere L. Bacharach|title=Signs of Sovereignty: The Shahāda, Quranic verses, and the Coinage of Abd Al-Malik|date=2010|publisher=Brill|location=Leiden|isbn=978-9-004-18511-1}}
*{{cite book|last1=Brubaker|first1=Leslie|author-link=Leslie Brubaker|last2=Haldon|first2=John|author-link2=John Haldon|title=Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era, c. 680–850: A History|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-43093-7}}
* {{cite book|last1=Donner|first1=Fred M.|author-link=Fred Donner|title=Muhammad and the Believers, at the Origins of Islam|date=2010|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|isbn=978-0-674-05097-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YM8RBAAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite journal|last=Foss|first=Clive|date=2005|title=Emperors named Constantine|journal=Revue Numismatique|language=fr|volume=6|issue=161|pages=93–102|doi=10.3406/numi.2005.2594}}
*{{cite book|last1=Garland|first1=Lynda|author-link=Lynda Garland|title=Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience 800–1200|date=2017|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-351-95371-9}}
* {{EI2|author=Gibb|first= H. A. R.|author-link=H. A. R. Gibb|title=ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān|volume=1|pages=76–77}}
*{{cite book |last1=Grierson |first1=Philip |title=Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, 2: Phocas to Theodosius III, 602–717 |publisher=Dumbarton Oaks |isbn=0-88402-024-X |year=1993 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIbav7CP4P4C&pg=PA610}}
* {{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium}}
* {{The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates|edition=Third}}
* {{Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit|volume=online}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.roman-emperors.org/leonti2.htm |last=Moore |first=R. Scott |title=Leontius (695–98 A.D.) |work=[[De Imperatoribus Romanis]] |date=26 May 1999 |access-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707214335/https://www.roman-emperors.org/leonti2.htm |archive-date=7 July 2019}}
*{{cite book|last1=Ostrogorsky|first1=George|author-link=George Ostrogorsky|title=History of the Byzantine State|date=1956|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-813-51198-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbyzanti00ostr}}
*{{cite book|last1=Rosser|first1=John H.|title=Historical Dictionary of Byzantium|date=2001|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham|isbn=978-0-810-86621-8}}
*{{cite book|last1=Saxby|first1=Michael|last2=Angelov|first2=Dimiter|title=Power and Subversion in Byzantium: Papers from the 43rd Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, Birmingham, March 2010 |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-07693-3}}
*{{A History of the Byzantine State and Society}}
*{{The Arab Kingdom and its Fall}}
* {{cite book|first=Christian|last=Settipani|title=Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs. Les princes caucasiens et l'Empire du VIe au IXe siècle Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs|date=2006|language=fr}}

=== Web sources ===

* {{Cite web|title=Leontius II|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG140755|access-date=12 April 2021|website=The British Museum|ref=CITEREFBritish Museum}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
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{{s-hou|||Unknown||February 706}}
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{{succession box | before=[[Justinian II]] | title=[[Byzantine Emperor]] | years=695–698 | after=[[Tiberius III]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Roman Emperors}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:7th-century Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:7th-century rebels]]
[[Category:660s births]]
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[[Category:Executed Byzantine people]]
[[Category:8th-century executions by the Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:Byzantine prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Twenty Years' Anarchy]]
[[Category:8th-century Byzantine people]]
[[Category:690s in the Byzantine Empire]]
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[[Category:Byzantine governors of Hellas]]
[[Category:Governors of the Anatolic Theme]]
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