Rise of the Amorian Dynasty; Emperor Theophilus and the Empress Theodora, Restorer of Orthodoxy; Michael III & The Beginning of the Photian Schism

Michael 2 and Amorians: Legitimacy

• Wanted someone isaurian to connect to that dynasty

• Marrying Euphrosyne from isuarians

• Euphrosyne became close with Michael 2’s son Theophilus

Michael 2 and Amorians: Icons

• Unenthusiastic iconoclasm

• Euphrosyne as an iconophile

Michael 2 and Amorians: Rebellion

• Thomas the slav

• Claimed he was actually Constantine 6 (really just a slav)

• Wanted to end iconoclasm

• Thomas was crowned emperor by patriarch of Antioch → civil war

• Sieging Constantinople, Michael 2 got but through deal with Bulgarians

• Torture and execution of Thomas

• Rebellion was put down but did a lot of damage to countryside → peasant farms and food supplies

Michael 2 and Amorians: Dynatoy

• 1%ers, richest landowners

• Were able to take advantage and get peasant lands (soldier farmers)

  • Ex: Food and living on land for ownership

  • Or just taking

• Chaotic, imperial infrastructure couldn’t always defend peasants

• Michael 2 didn’t do much

• Dynatoy not paying taxes / producing like peasants had → weakening empire

• USA now!?!? 👀

Theophilus: Iconoclasm

• Going out with a bang

• Hardcore

• Actions like Constantine 5

• John Grammaticus as well (patriarch of Constantinople)

Theophilus: Stepmother Euphrosyne

• Secretly iconophile

• Theophilus trusted

Theophilus: Culturally

• Arts and literature

• Iconoclast with monks

Theophilus: Successes

• Economically better

• No major Italy issues

• Improving peace with Arab muslims? → no, took Amoria

• New throne room

• Palace of Magnaura

  • Pizazz

  • Gold trees, jewel birds (mechanical chirping)

  • Showing wealth, gold everywhere

  • Mechanical roaring lions

  • Music

  • Supposed to kneel for emperor, levitating on throne

Theophilus: Marriage

• Bride show

• Lots of requirements, someone inelectual

• Picky, no good women

• Cassia → detailed answers and too smart

• Theodora was the perfect balance

• Handpicked for him

• Iconophile

Theodora and Michael 3: Religion

• Had Euphrosyne “stacked” the bride show to get an iconophile?

• Theophilus was still iconoclast and died early → renounced iconoclasm then (according to Theodora)

Theodora and Michael 3: Regent for Michael 3

• Dismantling iconoclasm

• Advisor Theoctistus became iconophile

• Brothers as advisors…didn’t trust

• John the Grammarian stepped down as patriarch

Theodora and Michael 3: Council of 843

• Reaffirming 7th Ecumenical Council

• Iconoclasm fully gone

• Denounced Iconoclast emperors except for Theophilus

• Deposing John (couldn’t win)

• 1st Sunday of Lent: Feast of orthodoxy

• Replacing John with Methodius

• “Last battle” with Monophysites, Chalcedons won

• Led to monastery support for Theodora

Theodora and Michael 3: Foreign Policy

• Reversing “This far no further” against Muslims

• Taking land back, offense after 200 years

• Crete taken back

• Permanently offensive

• Brother Petronas: trusted commander

• Brother Bartus: less trusted administrator

Michael 3

• Wild child, drinker, lots of lovers

  • Eudokia Ingerina, Theodora didn’t like her

  • No to marriage, Eudokia Decapolis instead…not political

• Tensions for mother and son

• Bartus telling Michael 3 that Theodora will always be in control

• Asassination of Theoctitus

• Took full control with Bartus

• Theodora launched a coup, sent to nunnery with daughters

Character of Michael 3

• Show-off

• “The Drunkard”

• Ridiculed church, practical joker

• Affairs and attraction with men and women

• Bartus was the opposite → pro-education

• Military expeditions, modestly effective, soldiers respected

Theodora and Michael 3: Foreign Work

• Rhos…Kiev

• Success in Asia Minor

• Boris wanted Bulgarians converted to Christianity

Photian Schism: With Pope and Emperor’s Role

• Where do emperors fit in Church? Deciding, defending, or correcting?

• Moderates: emperor had authority

• Zelots/Extremists: could only defend, not define

• Monk Theodore: Pro-churchmen defining faith, Pope as Christian leader

• Patriarch Ignatius (eunic), extremist but humble and very moral

• Vs Bartus…Ignatius did not want Theodora and daughters to be nuns → meddling politically?

• Bartus’ personal life…son had married Eudokia Ingerina and then died → was Bartus then with Eudokia?

• Ignatius openly criticized Bartus for this (a no in Byzantium)

• Excommunicating Bartus

• Ignatius banished and treated horribly (for treason)

• New patriarch…theologian scholar Photius

• Photius took 1 week to go through levels