Theodosios III was a Byzantine emperor who reigned from approximately 715 to 717. Originally a tax collector in Adramyttium, he was reluctantly elevated to the throne by the troops of the Opsician Theme following a revolt against Emperor Anastasius II. His brief rule occurred during a period of intense political instability known as the Twenty Years' Anarchy. After being challenged by Leo the Isaurian, Theodosios negotiated an abdication to protect his son and eventually retired to a monastery.
Life and reign
Theodosios rose to power after the navy and Opsician troops mutinied, forcing him to accept the imperial title. His legitimacy was frequently contested by other military factions, such as the Anatolics and Armeniacs. During his reign, he sought an alliance with the Bulgarians to counter the threat posed by Leo the Isaurian. Following a military defeat and the capture of his son, he agreed to step down in 717, allowing Leo to take control of the empire.
Veneration
Theodosios is recognized as a saint within the Orthodox and Anglican traditions. After his abdication, he lived as a monk, having retired to a monastery in Ephesus. He is commemorated as a figure of the pre-schism era.