Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium.

Episode 78.

A new Hellen.

Thank you so much to all of you who have bought the sale episode, so all the feed.

I'm really, really grateful for your support and if you've had any trouble getting your

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So last time on the free feed we said goodbye to Constantine V, son of Leo III.

Leo had saved the Empire with his defence of Constantinople during the siege of 717.

His son took advantage of the civil war in the caliphate to lead several successful

campaigns to strengthen the Empire's position in the Balkans, both by inflicting defeats

on the Bulgars and dragging Syrian Christians to Thrace to settle the land.

Constantine also took on his father's concerns about the misplaced worship of icons and

had an ecumenical council dismiss them from the practice of Orthodox Christians.

It was a decision which was resented by some amongst the clergy and monasteries, but

was largely supported by the rest of the establishment and generally seems to have had little

impact on those living outside of Constantinople.

What you missed in the fundraising episode was the short reign of Constantine's son Leo IV.

The Abbasid Caliphs resumed their annual raids on Anatolia and Leo dealt with a couple

of them with some skill.

But he died suddenly after five years in power, leaving his wife Irene to assume the role

of Regent for their nine-year-old son Constantine VI.

As far as anyone knew, Irene of Athens was chosen to be Empress because she was beautiful,

...