Editing Leo V the Armenian (section)

===Assassination===
The conspiracy which was to overthrow Leo was led by the [[Domestic of the Excubitors]], [[Michael II|Michael the Amorian]], who disapproved of Leo's divorce and remarriage (he was married to the sister of the divorcée). In late 820, agents of the [[Logothetes tou dromou|Postal Logothete]] uncovered the plot. Leo imprisoned him and sentenced him to [[death by burning]], but Empress consort Theodosia arranged a postponement of the execution until after Christmas.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=433|pages=}} This allowed Michael to organise plotters to carry out the [[assassination]] of the Emperor in the palace chapel of St. Stephen on [[Christmas Eve]]. Leo was attending the ''matins'' service when a group of assassins disguised as members of the choir due to sing in the service suddenly threw off their robes and drew their weapons.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Herrin |first=Judith |title=Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire |publisher=Penguin |year=2007 |isbn=978-0713999976 |pages=51–52}}</ref>

In the dim light they mistook the officiating priest for the Emperor and the confusion allowed Leo to snatch a heavy cross from the altar and defend himself. He called for his guards, but the conspirators had barred the doors and within a few moments a sword stroke had severed his arm, and he fell before the communion-table, where his body was hewed in pieces. His remains were dumped unceremoniously in the snow and the assassins hurried to the dungeons to free Michael. 

Unfortunately for them Leo had hidden the key on his person, and since it was too early in the morning to find a blacksmith, Michael was hastily [[Coronation of the Byzantine emperor|crowned as emperor]] with the iron clasps still around his legs. Leo's family (including his mother and his wife, Theodosia) was exiled to monasteries on the [[Princes' Islands]]. His four sons (including ex co-emperor Symbatios) were castrated, a procedure so brutally carried out that one of them died during the "operation".<ref>[[Theophanes Continuatus]], 40–41. 7</ref>