Maria, wife of Leo III
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Maria was the Empress consort of Leo III the Isaurian of the Byzantine Empire.
[edit] Empress
The throne of the Byzantine Empire was unstable in the early 710s. Justinian II had been deposed and executed in 711. His deposition was followed by the brief reigns of Philippikos (711-713), Anastasios II (713-715) and Theodosios III (715 - 717). All three were elevated to the throne after coup d'états by factions of the Byzantine army.
A revolt by Leo, strategos of the Anatolikon Theme and Artabasdos, strategos of the Armeniac Theme, succeeded in deposing Theodosios. On 25 March 717, Leo was proclaimed emperor in Hagia Sophia. Maria enters historical record at this point as his Empess consort.
In July, 718, Maria gave birth during an ongoing Siege of Constantinople by Maslama, a general of the Umayyad Caliphate. Her son was Constantine V.
The siege was broken by August, 718 and the Umayyad forces retreated. On 25 August 718, Maria was granted the title of Augusta. On the same day her son was baptised by Patriarch Germanus I of Constantinople. Constantine was proclaimed co-emperor in August, 720.
Leo remained Emperor to his death on 18 June 741. Whether Maria survived him is unknown.
[edit] Children
Maria and Leo III had four known children:
- Anna (c. 705 after 772), who married Artabasdos.
- Constantine V (July, 718 - 14 September 775).
- Irene.
- Kosmo.
The names and place of burial of two other daughters were recorded in De Ceremoniis by Constantine VII. However nothing else is known of them.
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Theodora of Khazaria |
Byzantine Empress consort between 717 and 741 |
Succeeded by Tzitzak and Anna |
