Isaurian Dynasty

717-741 Leo III the Isaurian

741-775 Constantine V Copronymus

775-780 Leo IV

780-797 Constantine VI

797-802 Irene

802-811 Nicephorus I

811 Strauracius (Stavrakios)

811-813 Michael I Rangabe (Rangavas)

813-820 Leo V

Amorian Dynasty

820-829 Michael II the Amorian

829-842 Theophilus

842-867 Michael III
__________________________________

Christian disunity, in particular between the Chalcedoeans and the Monophysites was a scandal in the eyes of God.

Negotiations with the Monophysite patriarch of Antioch (Athanasios), also Monophysites of Egypt: outcome was the formulation of one energy in Christ, Monoenergism. Document of union issued in 633.

That was not a success, patriarch Sergios, a reformulation of the terms of union on the basis of a single will in Christ, Monotheletism.

In 638 Heraklios issued an imperial edict, the Ekthesis, that was meant to be orthodox belief.

Constants II's Monothelete regime suffered a series of set-backs, so Monotheletism did not bring victory, by 668 it came to an end.

Constantine IV (668-85), his son Justinian II (685-95, 705-11) return to Chalcedonean doctrine, re-established as official orthodoxy at the 6th Oecumenical Council. Also Quinisext Council where it was confirmed; called "in Trullo" after the domed hall in the imperial palace in which it was held in 692.

Icons and their role in Byzantine life

Like Islam, Christianity is a monotheist religion of a single virtually unreachable God. Gulf in between, Christ, Virgin Mary are bridges also saints and holy men.

Icons: doors into the spiritual world. The icon iteself was regarded as having an intimate relationship with the holy reality it represented. Icons of all sorts were a characteristic and extremely widespread feature of early Byz culture.

By the 720s there was a growing current of opinion among the clergy of the frontline Anatolian cities, and probably in the army also, that the Byzantine attitude to icons amounted to idolatry.

Why did that happen, that icons were identified as the source of God's displeasure?

The Byzantines desperately were searching for a means to regain God's favour, iconoclasm was a radical and simple idea that met the needs of the hour.

It it brings success then this is a sign of God's approval.

Leo III (717-41) and his son Constantine V (741-75) had long and successful reigns. Several Byzantine victories especially in Constantine V's reign against the Arabs and the Bulgars. Reassertion of imperial power.

Leo IV succeedeed Constantine. Military victories continued.

Then his nine year old son, Constantine, became emperor and his mother Irene acted as regent.
Oecumenical Council at Nicaea in 787 condemned iconoclasm and restored icons.

Sources are anti-iconoclast and for the most part written after 787.

Period after the restoration of icons full of coups and instability. Every emperor since the restoration of icons had been defeated by the Bulgars and Arabs and had ended their life in misery.

In 815 another Council, iconoclasm was again declared the orthodox creed of the Christian world. Iconoclasm finally condemned in 843. Parallels with the situation in 780. Empress-regent Theodora.

Iconoclasm no longer closely linked to victorious and long-lived emperors, conjured images of defeat and political instability.

The nature of Byzantine iconoclasm and its role in Byz culture will always remain obscure because of the very slight and partial material on which all discussion has to be based.

Why did it appear? The Byzantine world began to question its relationship with God because of the Arab conquests, a creed initially developed by Christians inside the new Islamic world.

Iconoclasm pre-occupied the Byzantine ruling elite for a century and a half because they were struggling to come to terms with a massive decline in power and influence.