Leo III, 717-741
- a great general and organizer - he rewrote military regulations and brought the army back under control - he reorganized the government and imposed heavy taxes, but tried to protect the poor - he had the law code simplified and easier for all to understand
- 726, Leo began the Iconoclastic controversy - icons were “holy pictures” very loved in the east, but Leo outlawed them as idolatry - reasons for this include (1) Muslim accusations of idolatry, (2) the rise of superstition in general and (3) the alarming spread of monasticism (thousands of men were leaving the economy and the army to become monks, and the monasteries were becoming very wealthy)
No comments:
Post a Comment