| Leo II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-coin.jpg) A coin issued during the joint rule of Leo II and Zeno. | |||||
| Emperor of the Byzantine Empire | |||||
| Reign | 19 January 474 – 10 November 474 | ||||
| Predecessor | Leo I | ||||
| Successor | Zeno | ||||
| Consul of the Roman Empire | |||||
| Reign | 474 | ||||
| Born | 467 AD | ||||
| Died | 10 November 474 (aged 7) Constantinople | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Leonid | ||||
| Father | Zeno | ||||
| Mother | Ariadne | ||||
Leo II (Latin: Flavius Leo Iunior Augustus, Ancient Greek: Λέων Β', Leōn II; 467 – 10 November 474) was Byzantine Emperor from 19 January 474 AD–10 November 474 AD. He was the son of Zeno, the future emperor, and Ariadne, the daughter of then emperor Leo I. Leo II was made co-emperor with his grandfather Leo I on 18 November 473, and became sole emperor on 19 January 474 after Leo I died of dysentery. His father Zeno was made co-emperor on 9 February of the same year, and they co-ruled for a short time, before Leo II died on 10 November 474.
History edit
Leo II was born in 468, the son of Zeno, who would later become emperor, and Ariadne, the daughter of then emperor Leo I.[1] He was the maternal grandson of Leo I and Verina.[2] Leo II was made augustus on 18 November 473, making him co-emperor alongside his grandfather Leo I. He was also appointed sole consul for 474 at this time.[3] When Leo I died of dysentery on 19 January 474, Leo II ascended the throne.[1][2][4][5] On 9 February 474, his father Zeno became co-emperor with him.[3] However, Leo II died soon after on 10 November 474, at the age of 7, leaving Zeno as the sole emperor. His death having occurred so soon after he became emperor has led to speculation among some modern scholars that he was poisoned by his mother Ariadne so that Zeno could ascend to the throne; However no contemporary sources raised this suggestion, even though Zeno was unpopular, thus it is considered likely that Leo II's death was natural, especially when the high child mortality rate of the time is considered.[1][2][4] Zeno's rule was opposed by the House of Leo, with Verina, the widow of Leo I, proclaiming her brother Basiliscus as emperor in January 475. Zeno fled, and for 20 months Basiliscus ruled, before Zeno returned and retook the throne, ruling until his death on 9 April 491.[2][6]
References edit
Primary sources edit
Citations edit
- ^ a b c Carr 2015, p. 55.
- ^ a b c d Lee 2013, p. 100.
- ^ a b James 2013, p. 110.
- ^ a b Adkins & Adkins 2004, p. 38.
- ^ Meijer 2004, p. 159.
- ^ Freely 2010, p. 108.
Bibliography edit
- Adkins, Lesley; Adkins, Roy A. (2004). Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 9780816074822.
- Carr, John (2015). Fighting Emperors of Byzantium. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781473856400.
- Freely, John (2010). Children of Achilles: the Greeks in Asia Minor Since the Days of Troy. London: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 9781845119416.
- James, Liz (2013). Wonderful things: Byzantium Through Its Art: Papers From the 42nd Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, London, 20-22 March 2009. Farnham: Ashgate Variorum. ISBN 9781409455141.
- Lee, A. D. (2013). From Rome to Byzantium AD 363 to 565: the Transformation of Ancient Rome. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748668359.
- Meijer, Fik (2004). Emperors Don't Die in Bed. Routledge. ISBN 9781134384051.
Further reading edit
- Herrin, Judith (2013). Unrivalled Influence: Women and Empire in Byzantium. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. p. 307. ISBN 9780691153216.