Editing Philippicus (section)

===Reign===
Among the first acts of Philippicus were the deposition of [[Patriarch Kyros of Constantinople|Cyrus]] (the orthodox [[patriarch of Constantinople]]) in favour of [[Patriarch John VI of Constantinople|John VI]] (a member of his own sect), and the summoning of a [[conciliabulum]] of Eastern bishops, which abolished the canons of the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]]. In response, the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Church]] refused to recognize the new emperor and his patriarch. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian ruler [[Tervel]] plundered up to the walls of Constantinople in 712. When Philippicus transferred an army from the [[Opsikion]] [[Theme (Byzantine district)|theme]] to police the [[Balkans]], the [[Umayyad]] [[Caliphate]] under [[Al-Walid I]] made inroads across the weakened defenses of [[Asia Minor]].

In late May 713 the Opsikion troops rebelled in [[Thrace]]. Several of their officers penetrated the city and [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|blinded]] Philippicus on June 3, 713 while he was in the hippodrome.<ref name="Theophanes p. 79">[[#refTheophanes1982|Theophanes 1982]], p. 79.</ref> He was succeeded for a short while by his principal secretary, Artemius, who was raised to the purple as Emperor [[Anastasios II|Anastasius II]]. He died in the same year.