Theodosios III or
Theodosius III (
Greek: Θεοδόσιος Γ΄), was
Byzantine Emperor from
715 to
March 25, 717.
Theodosius was a financial officer and tax collector in the southern portion of the
theme of Opsikion. According to one theory he was the son of the former Emperor
Tiberius III. When the thematic troops rebelled against Emperor
Anastasius II, he was chosen as emperor. Theodosius did not readily accept this choice and according to the chronicler
Theophanes the Confessor even attempted to hide in the forests near
Adramyttium. Eventually he was found and was acclaimed emperor in May 715.
Theodosius and his troops immediately laid siege to
Constantinople. Six months later, in November, they gained entry the city. Theodosius showed himself remarkably moderate in his treatment of his predecessor and his supporters. Through the intercession of Patriarch
Germanus I of Constantinople Anastasius II was convinced to abdicate and become a monk in
Thessalonica.
Little is known of Theodosius' short reign. He immediately faced an
Arab invasion deep into
Anatolia and the advance of the
Arab fleet. In 716 he concluded a treaty with
Kormesiy of Bulgaria favorable to the
Bulgarians in effort to secure support against the Arab invasion. This policy paid off in 719, when they helped relieve the
Second Arab siege of Constantinople.
In 717, the
strategos of the Anatolic theme, Leo the Isaurian (the future
Leo III), rebelled against Theodosius' rule in collusion with
Artabasdus, the strategos of the Armeniac theme. Theodosius' son was captured by Leo in Nicomedia, and Theodosius chose to resign the throne on
March 25, 717. He and his son subsequently entered the clergy.
By 729 Theodosius is believed to have become bishop of
Ephesus. Modern historians however suspect the bishop was actually his son. Either way, this bishop was last recorded alive on
July 24, 754, taking part in the
iconoclastic Council of Hieria.
By his unnamed wife, Theodosius III was the father of at least one son, Theodosius (monastic name), perhaps the bishop of Ephesus in 729–after 754.
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