Thomas Slav or false Konstantin (c. 760 - October 823 ) - the leader of one of the largest civil wars in the Byzantine Empire , which took place in 821-823. He pretended to be Emperor Constantine VI, who avoided being blinded and escaped unscathed from the machinations of mother Irina.
| Thomas Slav | |
|---|---|
| Greek Θωμᾶς ὁ Σλάβος | |
 Image of Thomas Slav from a thumbnail from the Madrid Skilica , “Review of History” by John Skilica | |
| Date of Birth | about 760 |
| Place of Birth | Gaziura, Pont |
| Date of death | 823 |
| Place of death | Arkadiopol , Thrace |
| Affiliation | Byzantine Empire |
| Rank | Turmarch |
| Commanded | Byzantine forces in Anatolica |
| Battles / wars | Rise of Thomas the Slav |
Details of his biography are few. It is known that he came from the Slavs resettled in Asia Minor , and had the title of tourmarch (commander) of one of the fems on this peninsula.
The uprising led by Thomas , who proclaimed himself Emperor Constantine VI [1] , covered a significant part of the territory of Asia Minor, as well as the Balkan provinces of the empire, where the percentage of Slavic population was high (Macedonia, Thrace). The reason for the uprising was formally the requirement to restore the veneration of icons, which six years before the uprising was again banned by the iconoclast emperor Leo V Armenian . The actual cause of the uprising was the defenseless position of the peasants in front of a new class of Byzantine feudal lords — the Dynate military leaders who subjugated the free peasants, demanding high taxes from them.
The palace coup in Constantinople was beneficial to Thomas Slav. The confusion among the supporters of Leo V, who were afraid of reprisals by the new emperor Michael II, helped Thomas to win over the local government in the occupied territories; he received large funds by appropriating tax revenues and created a solid material basis for the further development of the movement. The uprising swept almost all of Asia Minor, part of Thrace and Macedonia. In addition, the impostor captured the royal fleet, took possession of the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. By 821, almost the entire east of Byzantium was under the control of the rebels.
In the caliphate, Thomas declared himself Constantine VI. After which the Arabs organized the ceremonial coronation of the impostor in Antioch and immediately began to assemble a mercenary army from various ethnic groups of the East.
In December 821, the army of rebels led by Thomas reached Constantinople and besieged him; the siege lasted more than a year. In 823, the Byzantine Emperor Michael II called for help from the Bulgarian Khan Omurtag , whose troops defeated the rebels under the walls of the Byzantine capital. Thomas with the remaining troops retreated to Arkadiopol, which, however, was soon taken by the Byzantines, and the leader of the rebels was handed over to the emperor and executed: Thomas was cut off his hands and feet, and he was put on a stake [2] .
Gallery of thumbnails from the Madrid Skylitsa
Thomas the Slav agrees on support with the Arabs.
Thomas the Slav runs to the Arabs.
The troops of Thomas defeat the forces loyal to Michael II.
The capture of the city in Asia Minor by the troops of Thomas.
Thomas and his fleet are being transported from Abydos to Thrace .
Thomas the Slav with his army attacks Constantinople in the spring of 822 .
Reflection of the attack of the fleet of Thomas on the walls of the sea coast of Constantinople.
Michael's fleet destroys the ships of Thomas with Greek fire .
Emperor Michael II defeats Thomas Slav.
Thomas the Slav is also captured on his knees in front of Emperor Michael II (two separate images).
Notes
- ↑ Katarzyna Kobylecka rozmawia z prof. Władysławem Duczko, Tomasz Słowianin i inni, czyli jak podbijaliśmy Europę , audycja Polskiego Radia, zapis audio.
- ↑ Udaltsova Z. V. Byzantine culture. - M .: Nauka, 1988 .-- P.87.
Literature
- Thomas the Slav // Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 30 vol.] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- Lipschitz E. E. The revolt of Thomas the Slav and the Byzantine peasantry on the verge of the 8th – 9th centuries // Bulletin of ancient history. 1939. No. 1 (6).
- Lemerle P. Thomas le Slave // Travaux et mémoires du Center de recherche d'histoire et civilization byz. V. 1. 1965. P. 255-297.