Leo III the Isaurian

Leo III the Isaurian (c. 685–741) was born Konon in Germanikeia, Syria, and rose to command the Anatolic Theme. He allied with Artabasdos before forcing Theodosius III to abdicate in 717, ending the Twenty Years' Anarchy and founding the Isaurian dynasty.

In 717–718 he withstood the Umayyad siege of Constantinople. His edicts of 726–729 against icon veneration opened the iconoclast controversy and estranged the papacy; he also issued the law code Ecloga in 726 and destroyed an Arab army at Akroinon in 740. He died in 741 and was succeeded by his son Constantine V.