CONSTANTINE V

This article appears in Volume V06, Page 991 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: COM-COR

CONSTANTINE V . Copronymus (Gr. Koapos), son of Leo III. the iconoclast, was emperor 740775. Immediately after his accession, while he was engaged in a campaign against the Arabs, his brother-in-law, an Armenian named Artavasdus, a supporter of the image-worshippers, had been proclaimed emperor, andit was not till the end of 743 that Constantine re-entered

Constantinople

CONSTANTINOPLE
CONSTANTINOPLE, COUNCILS OF

. When he felt his position secure, he determined to settle the religious controversy once for all. In 754 he assembled at the palace of Hiereion 338 bishops, by whom the

worship

WORSHIP (i.e. " worth-ship," O. Eng. weor8scipe)

of images was forbidden as opposed to all Christian

doctrine

DOCTRINE

and a curse pronounced upon all those who upheld it. But in spite of the severity with which the resolution was en-forced, the resistance to iconoclasm continued, chiefly owing to the attitude of the monks, who exercised

great

GREAT

influence over the common people. A vigorous campaign against

monasticism

MONASTICISM (Gr. p.ovacrnabs, living alone, µ6vos)

took place; the monasteries were closed, and many of them pulled down or converted into barracks; monks and nuns were compelled to marry, and exiled in large numbers to Cyprus; the literary and artistic treasures were sold for the benefit of the imperial treasury. One of the most important results of the struggle was the defection of the

pope

, who sought and obtained protection from Pippin, king of the Franks. All attempts to induce Pippin to throw over his new protege failed, and from this time onward the nominal dependence of Rome and the papacy on emperors at

Constantinople

CONSTANTINOPLE
CONSTANTINOPLE, COUNCILS OF

ceased. Constantine has been described by the orthodox historians of his time as a

monster

of iniquity; but, in spite of the harshness and occasional cruelty with which he treated his religious opponents, for which an excuse may be found in the obstinate fanaticism of the monks, 'it is now generally admitted that he was one of the most capable rulers who ever occupied the Byzantine throne. He restored the aqueduct built by Valens and destroyed by the barbarians in the reign of Heraclius, re-peopled Constantinople (after it had been devastated by a

great

GREAT

plague) and some of the cities of Thrace, revived commercial prosperity, and carried on a number of wars, in which, on the whole, he was successful, against the Arabs, Slays and Bulgarians. In the year of his death he set out on an expedition against the last-named, but a violent attack of fever obliged him to discontinue his journey. He died on board his

fleet

FLEET

on his way

home

.

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