How did Leo III reorganize the Byzantine military themes?

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Leo III reorganized the Byzantine military themes primarily by subdividing the largest military-district armies, or themes.1

Before this reorganization, these districts were so vast and powerful that their commanders frequently posed a threat to the throne by attempting to seize power—a danger Leo III understood well from his own career as a commander. By breaking these large themes into smaller units, he reduced the individual power of their commanders and successfully mitigated the vulnerability of the throne to military coups.1

While it is debated whether this administrative change was the sole cause of subsequent stability, these efforts, combined with his personal leadership in battle, significantly improved army morale and left the military a more effective instrument than it had been at the start of his reign.1