Michael II the Amorian
Michael II, founder of the Amorian dynasty, was a rough-edged soldier from Amorion in Phrygia who seized the imperial throne while literally in chains awaiting execution. He had been a close companion of Leo V the Armenian but fell out with him and was condemned to death for conspiracy. The assassination of Leo on Christmas Day 820 saved him; he was reportedly still in shackles when proclaimed emperor by the conspirators. Michael's background was modest and he was reportedly semi-literate, but he proved a competent if unspectacular ruler. He took a deliberately moderate theological line, releasing iconophile exiles while declining to restore icon veneration officially, attempting to end the iconoclast controversy through studied ambiguity. The major crisis of his reign was a serious revolt led by Thomas the Slav, who besieged Constantinople for over a year from 821 to 823 but ultimately failed. The loss of Crete to Arab corsairs around 827 and the beginning of the Arab conquest of Sicily would trouble Byzantine strategy for generations. Michael died in 829 and left the throne to his son Theophilos.
- Lived: 770 CE – 829 CE
- Nationality: byzantine
- Roles: emperor, head_of_state, military_leader
