File:Solidus_of_Leo_II.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Leo II was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 467 to 474, during a period of significant change in the Eastern Roman Empire. He matters historically because his reign occurred during the transition of power in the late 5th century, a time when the Eastern Empire was navigating challenges to its authority and stability.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Lev
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- Byzantine Empire
- Place of birth
- Byzantine Empire
- Place of death
- Constantinople
- Father
- Zeno
- Mother
- Ariadne
- Occupation
- politician
- Family
- House of Leo
- Image
- Leo (474)-coin.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- Commons category
- Leo II (imperator)
- date of birth
- 0467-01-01
- date of death
- 0474-11-17
- time period
- Byzantine Egypt
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Encyclopedic overview
DynastyLeonid FatherZeno MotherAriadne
Leo II (Ancient Greek: Λέων, Leōn; c. 467 – 474), called the Younger, briefly reigned as a child emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire from 473 to 474. He was the son of Zeno, the Isaurian general and future emperor, and Ariadne, a daughter of the emperor Leo I (r. 457–474). Leo II was made co-emperor with his grandfather Leo I on 17 November 473, and became sole emperor on 18 January 474 after Leo I died of dysentery. His father Zeno was made co-emperor by the Byzantine Senate on 29 January, and they co-ruled for a short time before Leo II died in late 474. He is sometimes surnamed with the epithet "the Small" (Latin: Minor; Ancient Greek: ὁ Μικρός), probably to distinguish him from his grandfather and augustus Leo I (Ancient Greek: ὁ Μέγας, romanized: ho Mégas, lit. 'the Great').
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Leo II” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.