Theodosius III

## Theodosius III (Constanine)

Emperor of the Romans
 King of Kings

A gold solidus of Theodosius. It reads "DN THEODOSIUS MUL A" (Dominus Noster Theodosius Multos Annos, "for many years")

* Life
* Names
* Reign

### Greek

Θεοδόσιος
 *Theodósios*

### Epithets

The Reluctant
 The Orthodox
 The Armenian
 The Gold-Scriber

### Caesars

Tiberius

**Flavius Theodosius** (Greek: Φλάβιος Θεοδόσιος, *translit.* *Phlábios Theodósios*), enumerated as **Theodosius III**, was Eastern Roman emperor from 715 to 717 under the regnal name **Constantine** (Latin: *Theodosius Constantinus*; Greek: Θεοδόσιος Κωνσταντῖνος, *translit.* *Theodósios Kōnstantînos*). Originally a tax collector, Theodosius was propelled to the forefront of attention when the Roman navy, and the armies of the Opsician Theme revolted against Anastasius II. They proclaimed Theodosius as emperor against his will; unwilling to comply, Theodosius fled to a forest, where he had to be chased and hunted by the Opsician troops until, through unknown means, they managed to persuade him to change his mind. A now somewhat motivated Theodosius sieged down Constantinople, settling an agreement with Anastasius to take the throne in return for the latter's safety.

As with the reigns of Leontius and Filepicus, little is known of the emperor's rule. He reinstated the Sixth Ecumenical Synod in the Great Palace of Constantinople, which Filepicus had removed; for this reason, the *Liber Pontificalis* awards him the epithet **"the Orthodox"** (Latin: *Orthodoxus*). Recognizing the impending Arab threat, Theodosius crafted an alliance with the Bulgars under Khan Tervel, fixing the border between both states in the process; the two empires also agreed to exchange political refugees accused of plotting against the power in place, and Theodosius granted Bulgarian merchants official access to the first market of Europe in Constantinople. He also issued an edict that required imported and exported goods to possess a state steal; undocumented products would be confiscated for the imperial treasury, increasing state revenue.

Viewed as an incapable puppet of the Opsician troops, the strategus of the Anatolic Theme Conon strove to depose Theodosius and allied with the Umayyad Caliphate. Theodosius made his son, Tiberius, co-emperor, and sent him, with a crown and purple robes, to fight Cononus. The latter not only won, but also captured Tiberius, compelling Theodosius to abdicate. Cononus reportedly attempted to buoy Theodosius into a fair fight, telling him "Fear not and strengthen thyself!", but Theodosius nonetheless surrendered the empire to Cononus (who would rule as Leo III) and retreated to a monastery with his son.

Leo III's ensuing reign broke with the final remaining Ancient Roman traditions, transitioned Classical Byzantium into Middle Byzantium, and saw Latin definitively discontinued as a language of administration. Theodosius may thus be consisidered as the last Ancient Roman emperor, and as the final ruler of (late) Antiquity.

## Name and epithets

The full personal name of Theodosius III was *Flavius Theodosius*. According to the *Zuqnin Chronicle*, Theodosius assumed the regnal name "Constantine" upon his accession to the throne, and styled himself with the dual name **Theodosius Constantine**.

The following epithets have been ascribed to Theodosius:

 The Armenian
 The Gold-Scriber
 The Reluctant

## Family

Theodosius was possibly the son of fellow Twenty Years' Anarchy emperor, Tiberius III, who confirmedly had a son called Theodosius. This Theodosius became bishop of Ephesus by 729, presided over the Council of Hieria in 754 and was a confidant of emperors Leo III (r. 717–741) and Constantine V (r. 741–775). Byzantine historian Graham Sumner has suggested that this Theodosius may be the same person as our emperor; he presents the evidence that both figures held the Bishopric of Ephesus at similar times. Emperor Theodosius became bishop after 716, according to the *Chronicon Altinate*, and Theodosius the son of Tiberius became bishop by 729, suggesting they may be the same person.

The emperor also had a son named Tiberius, further corroborating this theory. The name of Theodosius's son is not currently documented, but can be indirectly deduced. In the 730's, a pretender appeared in Asia Minor under the name of Tiberius, who, according to Syrian sources, claimed to be the son of the emperor "Constantine". Theodosius III is the only emperor of the epoch in question for whom this name has been handed down, and it can logically only be him, since the previous emperor Constantine died in 685, fifty years before this Tiberius appeared. It is likely that this son was Theodosius's co-emperor.

## Bibliopgrahy

Panvinio, Onfrio (1597) (in Latin). *Onuphrii Panvinii... Reipublicae romanae commentariorum libri tres*. p. 443. https://books.google.com/books?id=28AWAAAAQAAJ.
Du Temps, Jean (1600) (in Latin). *Chronologicarum demonstrationum libri tres. Ioannis Temporarii jurisconsulti*. ex officina Hieronymi Haultini. p. 359. https://books.google.com/books?id=hgSJzJWOnIoC.
Harrack, Amir (1999). *The Chronicle of Zuqnin, Parts III and IV A.D. 488–775*. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. ISBN 978-0-88844-286-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=\_ApnAAAAMAAJ.

## Notes

1. ↑ Anastasius was ousted only in November of that year.