Irlandos at 13:29, January 10, 2008

2008-01-10T13:29:10Z

Irlandos at 13:37, July 16, 2006

2006-07-16T13:37:22Z

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'''Constantine IV''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Κωνσταντίνος Δ', ''Konstantinos IV'' ), (652–685); sometimes incorrectly called ''Pogonatos'', "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was [[Byzantine emperor]] from 668 to 685. He had been named a co-emperor with his father [[Constans II]] in 654, and became senior emperor when Constans was assassinated in 668.

The first task before the new emperor was the suppression of the military revolt in Sicily which had led to his father's death. Within 7 months of his accession, Constantine IV had dealt with the insurgency with the support of Pope Vitalian. But this success was overshadowed by troubles in the east.

As early as 668 the Caliph Muawiyah I sent an army under his son Yazid against the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Yazid reached as far as [[Chalcedon]] and took the important Byzantine center Amorion. Although the city was quickly recovered, the Arabs next attacked Carthage and Sicily in 669. In 670 the Arabs captured [[Cyzicus]] and set up a base from which to launch further attacks into the heart of the Empire. Their fleet captured [[Smyrna]] and other coastal cities in 672. Finally, in 672, the Arabs sent a large fleet to attack [[Constantinople]] by sea. While Constantine was diverted by this, the Slavs unsuccessfully attacked [[Thessaloniki|Thessalonika]].

Constantinople survived the Arab siege until 678, when the Byzantines employed [[Greek fire]] against the Arab fleet at the [[Battle of Syllaeum]] in Pamphylia. This was one of the first times Greek fire was used in combat. The Arabs withdrew, and were almost simultaneously defeated on land in Lycia in [[Anatolia]].

With the temporary passing of the Arab threat, Constantine had to turn his attention to the Church, torn between [[Monothelitism]] and Orthodoxy. In November 680 Constantine convened the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] (also known as the Third Council of Constantinople), reaffirming the Orthodox doctrines of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451. This solved the controversy over [[monothelitism]]; conveniently for the empire, most monothelites were now under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate. The council closed in September 681.

In 680 the Bulgars under Asparukh crossed the [[Danube]] into nominally imperial territory and began to subject the local communities and Slavic tribes. Constantine IV led a combined land and sea operation against the invaders and besieged their fortified camp in Dobruja. Suffering from bad health, the emperor had to leave the army, which allowed itself to panic and be defeated by the Bulgars. In 681, Constantine was forced to acknowledge the Bulgar state in Moesia and to pay protection money to avoid further inroads into Byzantine [[Thrace]].

His brothers Herakleios and Tiberios had been crowned with him as ''Augusti'' at the demand of the populace, but in 681 Constantine had them mutilated so they would be ineligible to rule. At the same time he associated on the throne his own young son [[Justinian II]]. Constantine died of dysentery in September 685.

==Family==
By his wife Anastasia, Constantine IV had at least two sons:
* [[Justinian II]], who succeeded as emperor
* Herakleios

==References==
* ''The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium'', Oxford University Press, 1991.

{{start box}}
{{succession box | before=[[Constans II]] | title=[[Byzantine Emperor]] | years=668–685 | after=[[Justinian II]]}}
{{end box}}

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:652 births]]
[[Category:685 deaths]]
[[Category:Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:Heraclian Dynasty]]

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-'''Constantine IV''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Κωνσταντίνος Δ', ''Konstantinos IV'' ), (652&ndash;685); sometimes incorrectly called ''Pogonatos'', "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was [[Byzantine emperor]] from 668 to 685.  He had been named a co-emperor with his father [[Constans II]] in 654, and became senior emperor when Constans was assassinated in 668.
+'''Constantine IV''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Κωνσταντίνος Δ', ''Konstantinos IV'' ), (652&ndash;685); sometimes incorrectly called ''Pogonatos'', "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was [[Byzantine emperor]] from [[668]] to [[685]].  He had been named a co-emperor with his father [[Constans II]] in [[654]], and became senior emperor when Constans was assassinated in [[668]].
 The first task before the new emperor was the suppression of the military revolt in Sicily which had led to his father's death.  Within 7 months of his accession, Constantine IV had dealt with the insurgency with the support of Pope Vitalian.  But this success was overshadowed by troubles in the east.
-As early as 668 the Caliph Muawiyah I sent an army under his son Yazid against the [[Byzantine Empire]].  Yazid reached as far as [[Chalcedon]] and took the important Byzantine center Amorion.  Although the city was quickly recovered, the Arabs next attacked Carthage and Sicily in 669.  In 670 the Arabs captured [[Cyzicus]] and set up a base from which to launch further attacks into the heart of the Empire.  Their fleet captured [[Smyrna]] and other coastal cities in 672.  Finally, in 672, the Arabs sent a large fleet to attack [[Constantinople]] by sea. While Constantine was diverted by this, the Slavs unsuccessfully attacked [[Thessaloniki|Thessalonika]].
+As early as [[668]], the Caliph Muawiyah I sent an army under his son Yazid against the [[Byzantine Empire]].  Yazid reached as far as [[Chalcedon]] and took the important Byzantine center Amorion.  Although the city was quickly recovered, the Arabs next attacked Carthage and Sicily in [[669]].  In [[670]] the Arabs captured [[Cyzicus]] and set up a base from which to launch further attacks into the heart of the Empire.  Their fleet captured [[Smyrna]] and other coastal cities in [[672]].  Finally, in [[672]], the Arabs sent a large fleet to attack [[Constantinople]] by sea. While Constantine was diverted by this, the Slavs unsuccessfully attacked [[Thessaloniki|Thessalonika]].
-Constantinople survived the Arab siege until 678, when the Byzantines employed [[Greek fire]] against the Arab fleet at the [[Battle of Syllaeum]] in Pamphylia. This was one of the first times Greek fire was used in combat. The Arabs withdrew, and were almost simultaneously defeated on land in Lycia in [[Anatolia]].
+Constantinople survived the Arab siege until [[678]], when the Byzantines employed [[Greek fire]] against the Arab fleet at the [[Battle of Syllaeum]] in Pamphylia. This was one of the first times Greek fire was used in combat. The Arabs withdrew, and were almost simultaneously defeated on land in Lycia in [[Anatolia]].
-With the temporary passing of the Arab threat, Constantine had to turn his attention to the Church, torn between [[Monothelitism]] and Orthodoxy.  In November 680 Constantine convened the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] (also known as the Third Council of Constantinople), reaffirming the Orthodox doctrines of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451. This solved the controversy over [[monothelitism]]; conveniently for the empire, most monothelites were now under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate.  The council closed in September 681.
+With the temporary passing of the Arab threat, Constantine had to turn his attention to the Church, torn between [[Monothelitism]] and Orthodoxy.  In November [[680]], Constantine convened the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] (also known as the Third Council of Constantinople), reaffirming the Orthodox doctrines of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in [[451]]. This solved the controversy over [[monothelitism]]; conveniently for the empire, most monothelites were now under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate.  The council closed in September [[681]].
-In 680 the Bulgars under Asparukh crossed the [[Danube]] into nominally imperial territory and began to subject the local communities and Slavic tribes.  Constantine IV led a combined land and sea operation against the invaders and besieged their fortified camp in Dobruja.  Suffering from bad health, the emperor had to leave the army, which allowed itself to panic and be defeated by the Bulgars.  In 681, Constantine was forced to acknowledge the Bulgar state in Moesia and to pay protection money to avoid further inroads into Byzantine [[Thrace]].
+In [[680]], the Bulgars under Asparukh, crossed the [[Danube]] into nominally imperial territory and began to subject the local communities and Slavic tribes.  Constantine IV led a combined land and sea operation against the invaders and besieged their fortified camp in Dobruja.  Suffering from bad health, the emperor had to leave the army, which allowed itself to panic and be defeated by the Bulgars.  In [[681]], Constantine was forced to acknowledge the Bulgar state in Moesia and to pay protection money to avoid further inroads into Byzantine [[Thrace]].
-His brothers Herakleios and Tiberios had been crowned with him as ''Augusti'' at the demand of the populace, but in 681 Constantine had them mutilated so they would be ineligible to rule. At the same time he associated on the throne his own young son [[Justinian II]].  Constantine died of dysentery in September 685.
+His brothers Herakleios and Tiberios had been crowned with him as ''Augusti'' at the demand of the populace, but in [[681]] Constantine had them mutilated so they would be ineligible to rule. At the same time he associated on the throne his own young son [[Justinian II]].  Constantine died of dysentery in September [[685]].
 ==Family==

Constantine IV - Revision history

Irlandos at 13:29, January 10, 2008

Irlandos at 13:37, July 16, 2006