page_title: Michael II
hierarchical_section_title: Michael II
caption_attribution_description: English: Michael II the Amorian, with Theophilus. 820-829. AV Nomisma (21mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 821-829. Crowned and draped facing bust of Michael, wearing short beard, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter; star to left / Crowned facing bust of Theophilus, beardless, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter; +Є at end of legend. DOC 5a; Füeg 4.A.1; SB 1640. Good VF.
context_page_description: Michael II the Amorian, nicknamed the Stammerer, reigned as Byzantine Emperor from 25 December 820 to his death on 2 October 829, the first ruler of the Phrygian or Amorian dynasty.
  Born in Amorium, Michael was a soldier, rising to high rank along with his colleague Leo V the Armenian. He helped Leo overthrow and take the place of Emperor Michael I Rangabe. However, after they fell out Leo sentenced Michael to death. Michael then masterminded a conspiracy which resulted in Leo's assassination at Christmas in 820. Immediately he faced the long revolt of Thomas the Slav, which almost cost him his throne and was not completely quelled until spring 824. The later years of his reign were marked by two major military disasters that had long-term effects: the beginning of the Muslim conquest of Sicily, and the loss of Crete to the Saracens. Domestically, he supported and strengthened the resumption of official iconoclasm, which had begun again under Leo V.
context_section_description: Michael II the Amorian (Greek: Μιχαήλ ὁ ἐξ Ἀμορίου, romanized: Michaēl ho ex Amoríou; 770-829), nicknamed the Stammerer (ὁ Τραυλός, ho Travlós or ὁ Ψελλός, ho Psellós), reigned as Byzantine Emperor from 25 December 820 to his death on 2 October 829, the first ruler of the Phrygian or Amorian dynasty.
  Born in Amorium, Michael was a soldier, rising to high rank along with his colleague Leo V the Armenian (r. 813–820). He helped Leo overthrow and take the place of Emperor Michael I Rangabe. However, after they fell out Leo sentenced Michael to death. Michael then masterminded a conspiracy which resulted in Leo's assassination at Christmas in 820. Immediately he faced the long revolt of Thomas the Slav, which almost cost him his throne and was not completely quelled until spring 824. The later years of his reign were marked by two major military disasters that had long-term effects: the beginning of the Muslim conquest of Sicily, and the loss of Crete to the Saracens. Domestically, he supported and strengthened the resumption of official iconoclasm, which had begun again under Leo V.
caption: Michael II and his son Theophilos, founders of the Amorian dynasty.
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