Editing Theodosius III (section)

===Rise to the throne===
{{Twenty Years' Anarchy}}Sulayman's preparations, including his construction of a war fleet, were quickly noticed by the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Anastasius II began making preparations to defend against this new onslaught. This included sending the [[patrikios|patrician]] and [[Eparch of Constantinople|urban prefect]], Daniel of [[Sinop, Turkey|Sinope]], to spy on the Arabs, under the pretense of a diplomatic embassy, as well as shoring up the defences of Constantinople,{{sfn|Mango|Scott|1997|p=534}}{{sfn|Lilie|1976|pp=122–123}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=343–344}} and strengthening the [[Byzantine navy]]. The 9th-century Byzantine historian [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes]] states that in early 715 Anastasius II had commanded the navy to gather at Rhodes to then advance to Phoenix.{{efn|Usually identified with modern [[Finike]] in [[Lycia]], it may also be modern [[Fenaket]] across from [[Rhodes]],{{sfn|Mango|Scott|1997|p=537 (Note #5)}} or perhaps [[Phoenicia]] (modern [[Lebanon]]).{{sfn|Haldon|1990|p=80}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=344}}{{sfn|Mango|Scott|1997|pp=535–536}}{{sfn|Lilie|1976|pp=123–124}}{{sfn|Lilie|1976|p=123 (Note #62)}}}}{{sfn|Haldon|1990|p=80}}{{sfn|Mango|Scott|1997|pp=535–536}}{{sfn|Lilie|1976|pp=123–124}} It was there that the troops of the [[Opsician Theme]] mutinied against their commander, [[John the Deacon (715)|John the Deacon]], killing him before sailing for [[Adramyttium]], in southwestern Asia Minor, and there declared Theodosius, a tax collector, as Emperor Theodosius III.{{sfn|Haldon|1990|p=80}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=344}}{{sfn|Lilie|1976|pp=123–124}} The ''[[Zuqnin Chronicle]]'' states that Theodosius ruled under the [[regnal name]] Constantine, his full name being "Theodosius Constantinus".{{sfn|Harrack|1999|p=149}} The historian [[J. B. Bury]] suggests that he was selected at random for little more than the fact that he already had an imperial-sounding name, was inoffensive, obscure but respectable, and could easily be controlled by the Opsicians.{{sfn|Bury|1889|pp=372–373}} [[Graham Sumner]], a Byzantologist, suggests that Theodosius might be the same person as [[Theodosius (son of Tiberius III)|Theodosius]], the son of Emperor Tiberius III, therefore explaining why he might have been chosen by the troops, as he would have legitimacy from his father, himself made emperor by a naval revolt. Theodosius, the son of Tiberius, was [[bishop of Ephesus]] by {{circa|729}}, and held this position until his death, sometime around 24 July 754, and was a leading figure of the iconoclastic [[Council of Hieria]] in 754.{{Sfn|Sumner|1976|pp=291–294}} Byzantine historians [[Cyril Mango]] and [[Roger Scott (Byzantine historian)|Roger Scott]] do not view this theory as likely, as it would mean that Theodosius lived for thirty more years after his abdication.{{sfn|Neil|2000}} Cyril Mango proposed that it was actually Theodosius III's son who became bishop, rather than the son of Tiberius.{{sfn|Sumner|1976|p=292}}

Theodosius was allegedly unwilling to be emperor and according to Theophanes:{{sfn|Sumner|1976|p=291}}
{{quote|When the malefactors arrived at Adramyttium, being leaderless they found there a local man named Theodosius, a receiver of public revenues, non-political and a private citizen. They urged him to become Emperor. He, however, fled to the hills and hid. But they found him and forced him to accept acclamation as Emperor.{{sfn|Sumner|1976|p=291}}}}

He was acclaimed as Emperor Theodosius III by the troops of the Opsician Theme at [[Adramyttium]] in {{circa}} May 715.{{sfn|Neil|2000}}{{sfn|Sumner|1976|p=291}} Anastasius led his army into [[Bithynia]] in the Opsician Theme to crush the rebellion. Rather than remaining to fight Anastasius, Theodosius led his fleet to [[Üsküdar#Chrysopolis|Chrysopolis]], across the [[Bosporus]] from Constantinople. From Chrysopolis, he launched a six-month-long siege of Constantinople, before supporters within the capital managed to open the gates for him, allowing him to seize the city in November 715. Anastasius remained at [[Nicaea]] for several months, before finally agreeing to abdicate and retire to a monastery.{{sfn|Neil|2000}}{{sfn|Haldon|1990|pp=80, 82}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=344–345}}