Constantine IV and Justinian
Constantine IV succeeded his father Constans
II in 668 AD, with the Abbasids
gradually taking over most of the eastern Roman Empire, and attempts
to retake the western part ending in failure. Constantine IV was a strong
and sensible emperor, who in 679 successfully defended Constantinople
from its first Abbasid attack under the Caliph
Mu'awiya. Constantine also tried to push back the Bulgars.
He didn't succeed, and they established Bulgaria, which is still there
today, but at least their settlement meant a lasting peace.
But Constantine IV died at 33, leaving his 16 year old son, Justinian, to succeed him. Justinian was smart and ambitious, but unfortunately, like his great-grandfather Heraclius, Justinian apparently suffered from mental illness. His outrageous behavior led to a revolt in 695, and Justinian's nose was cut off and his tongue was slit before he was banished.
But Constantine IV died at 33, leaving his 16 year old son, Justinian, to succeed him. Justinian was smart and ambitious, but unfortunately, like his great-grandfather Heraclius, Justinian apparently suffered from mental illness. His outrageous behavior led to a revolt in 695, and Justinian's nose was cut off and his tongue was slit before he was banished.
The new emperor, a mercenary soldier
named Leontius, did nothing very well, and is remembered mainly for
having lost Carthage to the Abbasids in 698. When that happened, his troops mutinied
and replaced him with another soldier named Tiberius. Tiberius did pretty
well, but then Justinian escaped and returned from exile, killing both
Leontius and Tiberius. But Justinian was just as badly behaved now as
before, murdering and torturing people all the time, and in 711 AD he
was killed, along with his 6-year-old son Tiberius. That ended the dynasty
of Heraclius.
Back to Constantine III
The Abbasids
More Byzantine (Late Roman)
history
Tell a friend about this page
Did Kidipede answer your question?
Yes, thanks! / No, can you help me?
