Editing Michael II (section)

{{short description|Byzantine emperor from 820 to 829}}
{{Other people}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Michael II
| image        = Michael II in the Madrid Skylitzes.jpg
| caption      = Michael II, from the ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]''
| succession   = [[Byzantine emperor]]
| reign        = 25 December 820 –<br/>2 October 829
| coronation   = 25 December 820
| cor-type     = [[Coronation of the Byzantine emperor|Coronation]]
| predecessor  = [[Leo V the Armenian|Leo V]]
| successor    = [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]]
| queen        = [[Thekla (wife of Michael II)|Thekla]]<br/>[[Euphrosyne (9th century)|Euphrosyne]]
| issue        = [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]]
| dynasty      = [[Phrygian Dynasty|Amorian dynasty]]
| birth_date   = 770
| birth_place  = [[Amorium]], [[Phrygia]], [[Anatolic Theme]]<br/>(now [[Hisarköy, Emirdağ|Hisarköy]], [[Afyonkarahisar Province|Afyonkarahisar]], [[Turkey]])
| death_date   = 2 October 829 (aged 59)
| title        = [[Byzantine emperor|Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans]]
| regent       = [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]]
| reg-type     = {{nowrap|Co-emperor}}
}}
{{Amorian dynasty}}
'''Michael II''' ({{langx|el|Μιχαὴλ}}, {{Transliteration|el|Mikhaḗl}}; 770 – 2 October 829), called '''the Amorian''' ({{Lang|el|ὁ ἐξ Ἀμορίου}}, {{Transliteration|el|ho ex Amoríou}}) and '''the Stammerer''' ({{Lang|el|ὁ Τραυλός}}, {{Transliteration|el|ho Travlós}} or {{lang|el|ὁ Ψελλός}}, {{Transliteration|el|ho Psellós}}),{{sfn|PBW|loc=[http://www.pbe.kcl.ac.uk/data/D54/F76.htm Michael II]}} reigned as [[Byzantine emperor]] from 25 December 820 to his death on 2 October 829, the first ruler of the [[Amorian dynasty]].

Born in [[Amorium]], Michael was a soldier, rising to high rank along with his colleague [[Leo V the Armenian]] ({{r.|813|820}}). He helped Leo overthrow and take the place of Emperor [[Michael I Rhangabe]]. However, after they fell out Leo sentenced Michael to death. Michael then masterminded a conspiracy which resulted in Leo's assassination at Christmas in 820. Immediately he faced the long revolt of [[Thomas the Slav]], which almost cost him his throne and was not completely quelled until spring 824. The later years of his reign were marked by two major military disasters that had long-term effects: the beginning of the [[Muslim conquest of Sicily]], and the [[Emirate of Crete#Conquest of Crete|loss of Crete to Andalusian Arab pirates]]. Domestically, he supported and strengthened the resumption of official [[Byzantine Iconoclasm|iconoclasm]], which had begun again under Leo V.