Editing Michael I Rangabe (section)

== Biography ==
[[File:Coronation of a Byzantine co-emperor on a shield, Madrid Skylitzes.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Michael I and his son Theophylact (left) upon a shield, from the 12th-century ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'', probably drawn from an earlier unrelated source.{{sfn|Tsamakda|2002|pp=43–47}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=430}}]]
[[File:Skylitzes KrumsArmy.png|thumb|Byzantines and Bulgars clash at [[Battle of Versinikia|Versinikia]] in 813.]]
[[File:Solidus of Michael I Rhangabe-2.jpg|thumb|''[[Solidus (coin)|Solidus]]'' of Michael I Rangabe and his son Theophylact]]

Michael was the son of the patrician [[Theophylact Rhangabe]], the admiral of the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean fleet]].{{sfn|Venning|2006|p=218}} The Rangabe family was of [[Greeks|Greek]] origin.{{sfn|Vasiliev|1958|p=271}} He married [[Prokopia]], the daughter of the former Emperor [[Nikephoros I]],{{sfn|Bradbury|2004|p=64}} and received the high [[Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy|court dignity]] of ''[[Kouropalates]]'' after his father-in-law's accession in 802.

Michael survived Nikephoros I's disastrous campaign against Khan [[Krum of Bulgaria]], and was considered a more appropriate candidate for the throne than his severely injured brother-in-law [[Staurakios]], who was proclaimed emperor by the military in the hope that he would recover. When Michael's wife Prokopia failed to persuade her brother Staurakios, who wanted to have him [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|blinded]], to name Michael as his successor, a group of senior officials (the  ''[[Magister officiorum|magistros]]'' [[Theoktistos (magistros)|Theoktistos]], [[Domestic of the Schools]] Stephen, and Patriarch [[Nicephorus I of Constantinople]]) forced Staurakios to abdicate in his favour on 2 October 811. Michael was proclaimed emperor before the senate and the ''[[Tagma (military)|tagmata]]''.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=362}}{{sfn|Bradbury|2004|p=64}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=429}}

Michael I attempted to carry out a policy of reconciliation, abandoning the exacting taxation instituted by Nikephoros I. While reducing imperial income, Michael generously distributed money to the army, the bureaucracy, and the church.{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1986|p=197}} Ruling with the support of the [[iconodule]] party in the Church, Michael I diligently persecuted the [[Byzantine Iconoclasm|iconoclasts]] and forced Patriarch Nicephorus I to back down in his dispute with [[Theodore the Stoudite]], the influential abbot of the [[monastery of Stoudios]]. He revoked the exile of Theodore the Stoudites effected by Emperor Nikephoros I, and Theodore became his close confidant.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=362}} Michael I's piety won him a very positive estimation in the work of the chronicler [[Theophanes the Confessor]]. Theophanes also mentions the existence of a group of [[heretics]] known as ''[[Athinganoi]]'' in [[Phrygia]], who were most likely the successors of the [[Montanism|Montanists]], who Emperor [[Leo III the Isaurian]] ({{reign|717|741}}) attempted to convert by force, as well as of the [[Paulicianism|Paulicians]]. Patriarch Nicephorus I pressed Michael I to organise the persecution and execution of the ''Athinganoi'', Paulicians and [[iconoclast]] abbots.{{sfn|Auzépy|2008|pp=288–289}} But when Nicephorus I insisted the heretics be given time to repent, Michael I halted the killings.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=430}}

In 812, Michael reopened negotiations with the [[Franks]], and recognized [[Charlemagne]] as ''[[imperator]]'' and ''[[basileus]]'' ("emperor"), but not "Emperor of the Romans".{{efn|''eum imperatorem et basileum appellantes'', cf. ''[[Royal Frankish Annals]]'', a, 812.}} In exchange for that recognition, [[Venice]] and [[Istria]] were returned to the Empire. Michael I sent ambassadors to negotiate a marriage alliance between Michael's son Theophylact and a Frankish princess. They also brought a letter from Patriarch Nicephorus I requesting [[papacy|papal]] arbitration on the issue of the [[Irene of Athens|Moechian controversy]]. [[Pope Leo III]] resolved the issue in favour of Theodore the Stoudites, who claimed that, as emperors were bound by [[canon law]], [[Constantine VI]]'s second marriage was illicit, which was the view of Empress [[Irene of Athens|Irene]] against Emperor Nikephoros.  The Pope's judgment was treated as the formal closing of the affair.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|pp=360, 362–363}}{{sfn|Eichmann|1942|p=33}}{{sfn|Canning|1996|p=70}}

There were also minor successes against the [[Arabs]] in the [[Anatolic Theme]] under its ''[[stratēgos]]'' [[Leo the Armenian]], another figure exiled by Nikephoros and recalled by Michael. However, Michael dealt with the Bulgars poorly during his reign. In 812, Khan Krum besieged the frontier town of [[Develtos]] in [[Thrace]], and Michael was too late to prevent its surrender. His soldiers mutinied, and people in western Thrace began to flee their homes. Some soldiers of the ''[[Tagma (military)|tagmata]]'' tried to proclaim the blinded sons of [[Constantine V]] as emperors, but Michael dismissed them in disgrace. The Bulgars nevertheless managed to capture almost all of the fortified towns on the Byzantine-Bulgarian border that were built and consolidated by Empress [[Irene of Athens|Irene]] and Emperors [[Constantine VI]] and Nikephoros in the previous decades. Michael was convinced by Nikephoros and Theodore to reject the peace terms offered by Krum, which involved the return of Christians who fled from Bulgarian territory, provoking the capture of Mesembria ([[Nesebar]]) by the Bulgars, the last border stronghold, executing all captives who refused to renounce [[Christianity]]. Michael I's army prepared for a major engagement at [[Battle of Versinikia|Versinikia]] near [[Adrianople]], but delayed his attack, leading to further discontent in the military. In June, he began the attack but appeared hesitant; [[Leo V the Armenian|Leo the Armenian]] fled halfway through the battle, causing a rout. This prompted suspicion of treachery, however, Leo was acclaimed emperor with the support of his soldiers. Once he arrived in [[Constantinople]], Michael I was pressured to retire to a [[monastery]]. He was crowned by Patriarch Nicephorus I on 12 July 813.{{sfn|Bradbury|2004|p=64}}{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|pp=362–365}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=430–431}}

With conspiracy in the air, Michael I preempted events by abdicating on 11 July 813 in favour of Leo the Armenian and becoming a monk (under the name Athanasios).{{sfn|Luttwak|2009|p=182}}{{sfn|Bradbury|2004|p=64}} His sons were castrated to end the dynasty and were relegated to monasteries,{{sfn|Luttwak|2009|p=182}} with one of them, Niketas (renamed [[Ignatios of Constantinople|Ignatios]]), eventually becoming [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]].{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=14}} Michael I died on 11 January 844.{{sfn|Joseph Genesius|1998|p=8}}

=== Numismatics ===
The numismatic record of Michael's reign begins after his son's coronation as co-emperor in 811, with new ''[[nomisma|nomismata]]'' struck, bearing Michael I on the obverse and Theophylact (son of Michael I) on the reverse. The ''[[miliaresion|miliarēsion]]'', which had not been struck since the reign of [[Constantine VI]] ({{reign|780|797}}), was revived by Michael I with a notable alteration. The imperial title ''basileis'' was expanded to ''basileis romaion'' ("emperors of the Romans"), seemingly in response to [[Pope Leo III]]'s coronation of [[Charlemagne]] as emperor in 800.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=355}}