Iconoclasm under Leo III

Leo III was crowed emperor on March 25, 717 in the great church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. His coronation brought an end to a tumultuous time in the Byzantine empire. Leo's victory was a military one, and his rule began a new dynasty.

Leo defended the city of Constantinople against a Muslim invasion and produced a substantial legal manual, the Eclogal; however, he is most remembered as an iconoclast. Iconoclasm was both a political and a religious crisis within the Byzantine empire, one that lasted over a century.

Iconoclasm first took hold in the eastern part of the Byzantine empire, in Asia Minor. By the early 720's, there was an active iconoclast movement in the eastern part of the empire, led by Constantine od Nacolea. Leo III associated himself withj this movement.

The first official act of iconoclasm by the emperor himself occurred in 726 when he first publicly entered the lists of iconodules (icon-lovers) for the first time. Leo III gave a number of sermons condemning icons, and soon began actively removing icons, including the icon of Christ over the gate of the Imperial Palace.

These early acts of iconoclasm quickly caused strife within the empire. Greece revolted, but the rebellion was easily supressed. Leo sought the support of the Pope, Gregory II and the Patriarch of Constantinople but did not receive it. Leo's devotion to iconoclasm held, even without the support of the church and in 730 he officially condemned the use of icons, ordering their destruction and the persecution of iconodules.

While iconoclasm appears to be, on the surface, a largely religious issue, it was, in reality, a political one as well. While the Byzantine empire had previously maintained a cordial relationship with Rome and the papacy that would be no more. Pope Gregory III condemned the Leo's actions, and Leo had the pope's representatives imprisoned.

Next time: the iconoclast contraversy continues.