Emperor Leo III the Isaurian

Name: Emperor Leo III the Isaurian
Price: 80 AUD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781399072830

Imperial Saviour, Christian Icon Breaker?

Peter Crawford

$80

Hardback

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English

Pen and Sword
01 December 2024

History; Ancient history: to c 500 CE

The Roman Empire (long since ruled from Constantinople) was in a perilous and tumultuous position in the early eighth century. Surrounded by expansionist enemies, most notably the Muslim Arab Umayyad Caliphate but also the Khazars, Slavs, Avars, Bulgars and Lombards, it was also riven by religious controversy and internal political instability. When a plot brought Leo III to the throne in 717, he was the fourth Emperor since Justinian II's assassination six years earlier. Within weeks of his accession he was faced with the year-long siege of his capital by the Arabs. The siege was eventually broken (with the help of the secret weapon, Greek fire) but was only the first of many crises Leo faced in his twenty-four-year reign.

His tenure saw a number of rebellions, and Peter Crawford considers how Leo dealt with these (and the extent to which his own policies caused them). Space is given to the great religious development of his reign, the initiation of Iconoclasm, its impact on the empire and its tainting of the reputation of Leo and much of his dynasty. He also considers various aspects of Leo's administration: coinage, provincial infrastructure, civil law and foreign policy. This is a thorough and fascinating reassessment of a ruler who brought the Empire from the brink of extinction and maintained it through a time of real crisis.

AUTHOR: Dr Peter Crawford gained a PhD in Ancient History at Queen's University, Belfast under the tutelage of respected classicist Professor Brian Campbell. His previous books, The War of the Three Gods (2013), Constantius II (2015), The Roman Emperor Zeno (2018) and Justinian II (2021) were also published by Pen & Sword. He lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

24 b/w illustrations

By: Peter Crawford
Imprint: Pen and Sword
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781399072830
ISBN 10: 1399072838
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 01 December 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Peter Crawford gained a PhD in Ancient History at Queen’s University, Belfast under the tutelage of respected classicist Professor Brian Campbell. His previous books, The War of the Three Gods (2013), Constantius II (2015), The Roman Emperor Zeno (2018) and Justinian II (2021) were also published by Pen & Sword. He lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.