THEOPHILUS the LAST ADVOCATE of the ICONOCLASM. GOLD
| Start Price |
USD 0.99 |
| Current Price |
USD 616.00 |
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| Bid Count |
28 |
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| Start Time |
Sunday, August 17, 2008 |
| End Time |
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 |
| Location |
Vienna |
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Description
Theophilus, Michael II and Constantine (A.D. 829-842). Gold Solidus ( 4.41 gm.; 21 mm). Constantinople mint. Obv.: VQîOFI - LOS bASILîòq, Crowned facing bust of Theophilus, wearing chlamys and holding patriarchal cross and akakia. Rev.: + mIXAHL S COnStAntInò, Crowned facing busts of Michael and Constantine, each wearing chlamys, cross above. Sear 1653; DO 3e. Theophilus: Emperor of the Empire of Byzantium (829-842), the last advocate of the Iconoclasm (the abolition of religious images) in a reign characterized by Arab invasions. The son of the emperor Michael II, of the Phrygian dynasty traditionally favourable to Iconoclasm, Theophilus was liberally educated by the Byzantine scholar and ardent Iconoclast Ioannes Grammatikos. Ioannes Grammatikos tought to his student, that the greatest virtue of a governor is justice. He was also much influenced by the learned court of the early 9th-century caliph of Baghdad Harun ar-Rashid.Theophilus was crowned as co-emperor in 820 and shortly thereafter married Theodora, chosen from a group of candidates. Theofilos with a golden apple in his hands, had decided to give it to Eikasia (Kassani. ) When he said to her that "all the bad things come from the woman" meaning Eva, Kassiani replied "but also all the good things come from woman", meaning the Virgin Mary. Theofilus became angry and gave the apple to Theodora, choosing so her instead of Kassiani. Kassiani very sad, had a monastery built, became nun and wrote many poems and psalms, and the most famous, Troparion tis Kassianis is chanted every Good Tuesday, Megali Triti. Kassiani is considered to be the medieval Sappho.Theofilos was against the worship of icons and was in constant dispute with his wife Theodora, who was for the worship of icons (iconolatry). Theofilos was austere and also fair. He did his best to check corruption and oppression on the part of his officials. It is said that when he was informed that a ship had carried in the port of his palace, goods from Syria, Theofilos asked the captain to whom they belonged. The captain answered that they had been ordered by the empress. Theofilos had the ship burnt and told to his wife that whatever she desired, she should go to the market of Constantinople and buy it, because she deprived the taxes and the duties from the State.During the respite from the war against the Abbasids, Theophilos arranged for the abduction of the Byzantine captives settled north of the Danube by Krum of Bulgaria. The rescue operation was carried out with success in c. 836, and the peace between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire was quickly restored. However, it proved impossible to maintain peace in the East. Theophilos had given asylum to a number of refugees from the east in 834, including Nasr (who was Kurdish), baptized Theophobos, who married the emperor's aunt Irene, and became one of his generals. With relations with the Abbasids deteriorating, Theophilos prepared for a new war. In 837 Theophilos led a vast army of 70,000 men towards Mesopotamia, and captured Melitene and Samosata. The emperor also took Zapetra (Zibatra, Sozopetra), the birthplace of the Caliph al- Mu`tasim, destroying it. Theophilos returned to Constantinople in triumph. Eager for revenge, al-Mu'tasim assembled a vast army and launched a two prong invasion of Anatolia in 838. Theophilos decided to strike one division of the caliph's army before they could combine. On July 21, 838 at Dazimon Theophilos personally led a Byzantine army of 40,000 men against the troops commanded by al- Afshin. Al-Afshin withstood the Byzantine attack after which he then counter attacked and won the battle. The Byzantine survivors fell back in disorder and did not interfere in the caliph's continuing campaign.Theophilos never recovered from the blow; his health gradually failed, and he died on january 20, 842. His character has been the subject of considerable discussion, some regarding him as one of the ablest of the Byzantine emperors, others as an ordinary oriental despot, an overrated and insignificant ruler. There is no doubt that he did his best to check corruption and oppression on the part of his officials, and administered justice with strict impartiality, although his punishments did not always fit the crime. In spite of the drain of the war in Asia and the large sums spent by Theophilos on building, commerce, industry, the finances of the empire were in a most flourishing condition, the credit of which was in great measure due to the highly efficient administration of the department. Theophilos, who had received an excellent education from John Hylila, the grammarian, was a great admirer of music and a lover of art, although his taste was not of the highest. He strengthened the Walls of Contantinople, and built a hospital, which continued in existence till the twilight of the Byzantine Empire. Every item offered by VIVITE LAETI is unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine & authentic.
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