Leo I (emperor)
Leo I was an Eastern Roman Emperor who reigned from 457 to 474 CE, notable for being the first emperor to be crowned by a patriarch, marking a significant moment in the relationship between the church and the state. His ascent to the throne was largely influenced by the military leader Aspar, who initially sought to manipulate Leo's authority. Throughout his reign, Leo I faced various challenges, including natural disasters, religious conflicts, and pressures from foreign entities. To strengthen his position and diminish Aspar's power, Leo strategically married his daughter to Zeno, an Isaurian, which ultimately led to Aspar's assassination in 471 CE. While Leo's foreign campaigns strained the empire's finances, his efforts to eliminate Germanic control from the court were crucial for maintaining the Eastern Empire's independence. Leo I's reign concluded with his death in 474 CE, after which his grandson, Leo II, succeeded him. Leo's legacy reflects a complex blend of military ambition and political maneuvering during a pivotal era in Byzantine history.
Leo I (emperor)
Related civilizations: Imperial Rome, Byzantine Empire, Germany
Major role/position: Eastern Byzantine emperor
Life
Leo I spent most of his life in the military. When the Eastern emperor Marcian died in 457 c.e., the military leader Aspar, a German, was instrumental in having Leo crowned as emperor because he felt that he could easily control Leo. The patriarch Anatolios crowned Leo as emperor, the first known case of imperial coronation by a patriarch. During his reign, Leo dealt with natural disasters, religious disputes, foreign conflicts, and Aspar’s considerable influence at court. By marrying his daughter to the future emperor Zeno, an Isaurian, Leo was able to counteract Aspar’s influence, and in 471 c.e., Aspar was murdered. In 474 c.e., Leo died and was succeeded by his grandson Leo II.
Influence
Leo’s reign was a mixed success for the Eastern Empire. Although his foreign campaigns were costly to the treasury, his removal of Germanic control from the imperial court was necessary for the East’s independent survival.
Bibliography
Bury, J. B. History of the Later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian. New York: Dover, 1978.
Jones, A. H. M. The Later Roman Empire, 284-602. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964. Reprint. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986.
Treadgold, Warren. A History of Byzantine State and Society. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1997.