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Michael III
Sign in to saveAlso known as Michael the Drunkard, Michael III the Drunkard
Byzantine emperor from 842 to 867
Michael III was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 842 to 867, during a significant period in the Eastern Roman Empire's history. He is noteworthy for his reign during the later stages of Iconoclasm and for various military and religious developments that shaped the Byzantine Empire during the 9th century.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- Byzantine Empire
- Place of birth
- Constantinople
- Place of death
- Constantinople
- Spouse
- Eudokia Dekapolitissa
- Child
- Leo VI the Wise
- Father
- Theophilos
- Mother
- Theodora
- Occupation
- emperor
- Position held
- Byzantine emperor
- Religion
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Family
- Amorian dynasty
- Image
- Solidus-Michael III-sb1686.jpg
Show 6 more facts
- Commons category
- Michael III
- date of birth
- 0840-01-09
- date of death
- 0867-09-25
- Commons gallery
- Μιχαήλ Γ΄ ο Μέθυσος
- name in native language
- Μιχαήλ Γ΄ ο Μέθυσος
- place of burial
- Church of the Holy Apostles
Sources (3)
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Encyclopedic overview
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Michael III (Ancient Greek: Μιχαήλ, romanized: Michaḗl; 9/10 January 840 – 24 September 867), also known as Michael the Drunkard, was Byzantine emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian (or Phrygian) dynasty. He was given the disparaging epithet the Drunkard (ὁ Μέθυσος) by the hostile historians of the succeeding Macedonian dynasty, but modern historical research has rehabilitated his reputation to some extent, demonstrating the vital role his reign played in the resurgence of Byzantine power in the 9th century. He was also the youngest person to bear the imperial title (aged 4-8 months), as well as the youngest to succeed as senior emperor (aged 2) in the Roman Empire. In 867, Michael was assassinated by his successor, Basil I.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Michael III” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.