History: Byzantium – the Great Age

We will address the ways in which The Amarian dynasty now began to consolidate its authority Within the Roman state, and would then go on to leave its mark in the period. In particular, we will examine how the emperor Theophilos forced to war on two fronts as Sicily had been taken and Arab armies continued to march from the East as well. We will see how the defence after the invasion of Anatolia in 830 was led by the Emperor himself, but within only limited success by 833 AD, forcing Theophilos to sue for peace. At the same time, we will also look in detail at the motives behind the construction of the Boukoleion Palace. We will then see how Michael III would play a vital role in the Byzantine resurgence of the 9th century – even though part of that was the appointment of an iconodoule patriarch in 843 which ended the second spell of iconoclasm. We will then go on to examine how Michael overthrew his regency to became sole emperor, yet being still overshadowed by members of his family and finally being deposed by Basil I.