Editing Leo III the Isaurian (section)

== Early life ==
Leo III was born in [[Germanikeia]], [[Commagene]], which is in modern [[Kahramanmaraş]] in [[Turkey]]. His original name was '''Konon''' ({{langx|el|Κόνων}}).<ref>{{cite book |author1 = Mati Meyer |author2 = Stavroula Constantinou
|date = 2018 |title = Emotions and Gender in Byzantine Culture |isbn = 9783319960388 |pages = 128–129 |publisher = Springer}}</ref> Leo’s native tongue was [[Syriac language|Syriac]] or [[Arabic]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Emmerson |first=Richard K. |url=https://books.google.se/books?id=BhyOAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA401&dq=emperor+Leo+III+was+a+Jacobite+Syrian&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1x-y_2_OMAxWqK1kFHV-fHm0Q6wF6BAgHEAU#v=onepage&q=emperor%20Leo%20III%20was%20a%20Jacobite%20Syrian&f=false |title=Key Figures in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia |date=2013-10-18 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-77519-2 |pages=401 |language=en}}</ref> and he was described by [[Theophanes the Confessor]] as "the [[Saracen]]-minded," although there is very little evidence that he was directly influenced by [[Islam]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=A. A. Vasiliev|title=History of the Byzantine Empire, 324-1453, Volume 1|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press| year=1964| pages=255–256}}</ref>

After the victory of [[Justinian II]], Konon was dispatched on a diplomatic mission to [[Alania]] and [[Lazica]] to organize an alliance against the [[Umayyad]] [[caliphate]] under [[al-Walid I]]. According to the chronicle written by [[Theophanes the Confessor]], Justinian wanted to get rid of Konon and took back the money that had been given to him to help advance Byzantine interests, thus leaving Konon stranded in Alania. The chronicle describes the mission as successful and Konon returning eventually to Justinian after crossing the Caucasus mountains in May with [[snowshoes]] and taking the fortress of Sideron, associated with the [[Tsebelda fortress]], on the way.<ref>{{cite book | last = Theophanes the Confessor | title = The Chronicle of Theophanes: Anni Mundi 6095–6305 (A.D. 602–813) | publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press| year = 1982| page =85| isbn =0812211286}}</ref>

Konon was appointed commander ([[strategos|''stratēgos'']]) of the [[Anatolic Theme]] by Emperor [[Anastasius II (emperor)|Anastasius II]].  On his deposition, Konon joined with his colleague [[Artabasdos]], the ''stratēgos'' of the [[Armeniac Theme]], in conspiring to overthrow the new Emperor [[Theodosius III]], ostensibly in support of Anastasius. Artabasdos was betrothed to Konon's daughter [[Anna (wife of Artabasdos)|Anna]].<ref>{{cite book| author1 = Warren Treadgold  | title =A History of the Byzantine State and Society| publisher = University of Stanford Press | year = 1997| page =346| isbn =0804726302}}</ref> In 717, Konon marched on Constantinople, capturing Theodosius' son at [[Nicomedia]]. He forced Theodosius to abdicate, promising safety for him and his family. Theodosius then became a [[monk]] at [[Ephesus]]. On 25 March, abandoning his allegiance to Anastasius, Konon was crowned by Patriarch [[Germanus I of Constantinople]] as Emperor Leo III at the [[Hagia Sophia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Brubaker |first1=Leslie |title=Byzantium in the iconoclast era, c. 680–850 |last2=Haldon |first2=John |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2011 |page=73}}</ref>