Michael II
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Michael II, called the Amorian and the Stammerer, reigned as Byzantine emperor from 25 December 820 to his death on 2 October 829, the first ruler of the Amorian dynasty.
Michael II, from the Madrid Skylitzes
Michael the Amorian having an argument with Leo V
Thomas the Slav forming an alliance with the Abbasids
Thomas the Slav is defeated by the army of Omurtag of Bulgaria.
Thomas the Slav
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Thomas the Slav was a 9th-century Byzantine military commander, most notable for leading a wide-scale revolt in 821–823 against Emperor Michael II the Amorian.
Michael II
…to death. Michael then masterminded a conspiracy which resulted in Leo's assassination at Christmas in 820. Immediately he faced the long revolt of Thomas the Slav, which almost cost him his throne and was not completely quelled until spring 824. The later years of his reign were marked by two major military…
Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes version of the chronicle of John Skylitzes depicting Thomas, on horseback and dressed as a Byzantine emperor, negotiating with the Arabs. The rebellion of Thomas is one of the most richly illustrated episodes in the chronicle.
Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes depicting Thomas's supposed flight to the Arabs
Gold solidus of Michael II with his son, Theophilos
Thomas's troops defeat the forces loyal to Michael II. Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes.