Editing Constantine V (section)

=== Rebellion of Artabasdos ===
Immediately after Constantine's accession in 741, his brother-in-law [[Artabasdos]], husband of his older sister, [[Anna, wife of Artabasdos|Anna]], rebelled. Artabasdos was the [[strategos]] (military governor) of the [[Opsikion]] ''theme'' (province) and had effective control of the [[Armeniac Theme|Armeniac theme]]. The event is sometimes dated to 742, but this has been shown to be wrong.<ref>Treadgold (1997), p. 356 (n. 12, p. 939)</ref>

Artabasdos struck against Constantine when their respective troops combined for an intended campaign against the [[Umayyad Caliphate]]; a trusted member of Constantine's retinue, called Beser, was killed in the attack. Constantine escaped and sought refuge in [[Amorium|Amorion]], where he was welcomed by the local soldiers, who had been commanded by Leo III before he became emperor.<ref>Brubaker and Haldon, pp. 157–158</ref><ref>Treadgold (1997), pp. 156–157</ref> Meanwhile, Artabasdos advanced on Constantinople and, with the support of Theophanes Monutes (Constantine's [[regent]]) and [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Patriarch]] [[Anastasius of Constantinople|Anastasius]], was acclaimed and crowned emperor. Constantine received the support of the [[Anatolic Theme|Anatolic]] and [[Thracesian Theme|Thracesian]] themes; Artabasdos secured the support of the theme of [[Thrace (theme)|Thrace]] in addition to his own Opsikion and Armeniac soldiers.<ref>Bury, p. 10</ref><ref>Ostrogorsky, pp. 165–166</ref>

The rival emperors bided their time making military preparations. Artabasdos marched against Constantine at [[Sardis]] in May 743 but was defeated. Three months later Constantine defeated Artabasdos' son [[Niketas (son of Artabasdos)|Niketas]] and his Armeniac troops at [[Mudurnu|Modrina]] and headed for Constantinople. In early November Constantine entered the capital, following a siege and a further battle.<ref>Brubaker and Haldon, p. 159</ref> He immediately targeted his opponents, having many [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|blinded]] or executed. Patriarch Anastasius was paraded on the back of an ass around the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|hippodrome]] to the jeers of the Constantinopolitan mob, though he was subsequently allowed to stay in office.<ref>Bury, p. 10</ref><ref>Ostrogorsky, p. 166</ref> Artabasdos, having fled the capital, was apprehended at the fortress of Pouzanes in Anatolia, probably located to the south of [[Nicomedia]]. Artabasdos and his sons were then publicly blinded and secured in the [[Chora Monastery|monastery of Chora]] on the outskirts of Constantinople.<ref>Garland, p. 9</ref>