Quick Facts
Emperor blinded, deposed: Constantine VI's reign sparked chaos and ended brutally.
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Life Journey
Constantine VI was born to Emperor Constantine V and Empress Irene in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Constantine VI spent his early years in the imperial palace, surrounded by the opulence and politics of the Byzantine court.
At the age of 17, Constantine VI was crowned co-emperor alongside his father, Constantine V, solidifying his position in the imperial line.
Constantine VI married Maria of Amnia, a noblewoman, in an alliance designed to strengthen his political position and secure his dynasty.
Upon the death of his father, Constantine V, Constantine VI ascended to the throne as the sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, facing immediate challenges.
Constantine VI, under the influence of his mother Empress Irene, began to reverse the policies of iconoclasm, a significant shift in religious and political affairs.
Constantine VI led his first military campaign against the Bulgars, although it ended in a truce, marking his early efforts to defend the empire's borders.
Tensions arose between Constantine VI and the military, leading to a failed coup attempt by the iconoclasts, which he successfully suppressed.
Constantine VI convened the Second Council of Nicaea, which officially restored the veneration of icons, a significant religious and political victory.
Constantine VI faced a rebellion led by his mother, Empress Irene, who was exiled to Prinkipo, while he attempted to assert his authority.
Constantine VI married Theodote, his mistress, in a controversial union that further strained his relationships within the imperial court.
Constantine VI suffered several military defeats, including a significant loss to the Bulgars, weakening his position and credibility.
Empress Irene was exiled again, this time to Lesbos, as Constantine VI struggled to maintain control over the empire and his mother's influence.
In a dramatic and brutal act, Empress Irene had Constantine VI blinded and deposed, effectively ending his reign and leading to his eventual death.
Constantine VI died in prison, a tragic end to a controversial and tumultuous reign as the Byzantine Emperor.