Editing Anastasius II (emperor) (section)

=== Rule ===
{{Years of Anarchy}}
During Anastasius' reign, his primary focus was on stabilizing the Byzantine Empire. One of his key objectives was to reverse the religious reforms implemented by his predecessor. In line with this goal, Anastasius supported the decisions of the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] and removed the [[Monothelitism|Monothelete]] [[Patriarch John VI of Constantinople]] from his position. He replaced him with the orthodox Patriarch Germanus in 715.<ref name=":3" /> This strategic move had several purposes. Firstly, it helped to pacify the unrest among the Orthodox population in Constantinople. Furthermore, it enhanced Anastasius' legitimacy as the emperor, which was particularly important considering his rise to power through a rebellion. To maintain imperial authority and stability, he sought various forms of proof of legitimacy. Elevating Orthodoxy effectively resolved the short-lived schism between the monarchy and the [[Catholic (term)|catholic]] [[Chalcedonian Christianity|Church]], which was consistent with the Byzantine emperors' attempts to reconcile with Rome. Gaining the approval of Pope Constantine would have provided Anastasius with a symbol of legitimacy that his predecessor lacked, thereby reinforcing his own legitimacy by comparison.

In addition to his religion reforms, Anastasius recognized the need to address the precarious state of the Byzantine Empire's defenses and the issue of territorial loss. The [[Umayyad Caliphate]] posed a significant threat, surrounding the Empire both by land and sea. Their incursions had reached as far as [[Galatia]] in 714. In response, Anastasius pursued diplomatic avenues to restore peace but found his emissaries unsuccessful in [[Damascus]]. Consequently, he initiated a comprehensive defensive strategy. This involved the restoration of [[Constantinople]]'s [[Walls of Constantinople|walls]], the construction of siege equipment, the stockpiling of food, and the rebuilding of the Byzantine fleet.<ref name=":3" /> The death of [[Caliph]] [[al-Walid I]] in 715 presented an opportunity for Anastasius to reverse the situation in his favor. He dispatched an army under [[Leo the Isaurian]], who would later become emperor, to invade [[Bilad al-Sham|Syria]]. Simultaneously, he ordered his fleet to concentrate on [[Rhodes]], with instructions not only to resist the enemy's approach but also to destroy their naval resources.<ref name="EB1911" /><ref name=":1" /> Retaking the territories lost to the Caliphate served both practical advantages, such as expanding the empire's borders, and symbolic purposes, showcasing the strength of the new regime.