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Leo (Name of various rulers)

the name of various rulers of the Eastern Empire, as follows:

LEO I., called the Elder, emperor of Constantinople, ascended the throne in birth, but attained the highest military rank, and was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers in succession to Marcianus. He confirmed the decrees of the Council of renewed the war against the Vandals; ery of his general Aspar, whom he put to death with his family in 471. The Goths, the empire, which they ravaged to the the empire, which they ravaged ed to the walls of Constantinople. He died in 474. LEO II., called the Younger, was the son of Zeno and of Ariadne, daughter of Leo I. He succeeded his grandfather in 474. Leo II. is said to have been put to death by his own father after reigning only 10 months.

LEO III., called the Isaurian, from the country of his birth, where his parents were poor mechanics. Leo entered the army, and became general-in-chief of the army of Asia, under Justinian II. In 716 he marched against Theodosius III., who had been proclaimed emperor on the deposition of Justinian II.; and Theodosius resigned his crown to him in the following year. The Saracens, having ravaged Thrace, laid siege to Constantinople, which was bravely defended by Leo, who compelled them to retire. His reign, however, was tyrannical, and he drove the patriarch Germanus from his seat, in which he placed Anastasius. He was also guilty of burning the library at Constantinople. The popes Gregory cated him, he prepared an armament to invade Italy, but the ships were destroyed by a storm. He died in 741. LEO IV., grandson of Leo III.; born in 751, and succeeded his father in 775. He repulsed the Saracens in Asia. He died in 780. as- LEO V., called the Armenian, from the country of which he was a native. He rose to the rank of general but, being accused of treason, the emperor Nicephorus disgraced him, and imprisoned him in a convent. Michael Rhangabus, on cending the throne in 811, restored him to his rank; but Leo V., profiting by the misfortunes of his master, headed a military revolt and was elected emperor by the troops in 813. He was one of the most violent of the Iconoclastic princes.

He was assassinated in 820. the troops in 813. He was one of the most violent of the Iconoclastic princes. in 865, was the son and successor of Bas- He was assassinated in 820. LEO VI., styled the Philosopher; born throne in 886. The Hungarians, Sar-