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Who was Artavasdos, Leo III’s ally before he became emperor?
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Leo III
Leo III, gold solidus from Constantinople, 717–741.
Artavasdos was the commander of the Armeniakon theme, which was the second-largest military district in Asia Minor during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Leo III.1
Before Leo III became emperor in 717, he and Artavasdos formed a military alliance to oppose the emperor Theodosius III and champion the cause of the deposed emperor Anastasius II. Following his accession to the throne, Leo III further solidified this partnership by marrying his daughter, Anna, to Artavasdos, who remained a powerful figure in the empire throughout Leo's reign due to his control over significant military posts.1