Changes

Constantine was the only child of Emperor [[Leo IV the Khazar|Leo IV]] and his wife [[Irene of Athens]]. He was born in 771 and was crowned co-emperor by his father in 776. Upon the death of his father on [[September 8]], 780, nine-year-old Constantine succeeded as the sole emperor at the age of nine under the regency of his mother, Irene.

With the ascendency ascendancy of his mother Irene as regent, the [[iconoclast]]ic policies of the Leo IV and his Leo's father, [[Constantine V]], were overturned , even though Constantine VI appeared to sympathize with the iconoclastic ideas of his father and grandfather.

Under arrangements by his mother, Constantine was engaged, in 782, to Rotrude who was , a daughter of Charlemagne by his third wife , Hildegard. However, in 788, Irene broke off the engagement. Irene then arranged a marriage for Constantine to Maria of Amnia in November 788. Constantine and Maria had two daughters, Euphrosyne and Irene. The [[marriage ]] between Constantine and Maria was not a smooth one , and since Maria had not produced a male heir Constantine forced Maria her to become a [[nun ]] in 793. This allowed Constantine to marry his mistress, Theodote, who was a lady-in-waiting for Irene. The marriage produce produced a son, Leo, who died in 797. This marriage , whose legality was seriously questioned, was very unpopular with the church, the legality of which was seriously questionedChurch, although the [[patriarch]], Tarasios, ignored it. Through this marriage and ongoing palace intrigues , Constantine lost support of both the ruling Orthodox parties and the iconoclastic opposition.

Under the regency of Irene, Constantine signed, in 787, the decrees that convened the Church council that as the [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] affirmed the [[veneration ]] of images and , thus overturning the iconoclastic policies of his father and grandfather.

When Constantine reached the age sixteen, the age at which he could rule in his own right, his mother, Irene, did not relinquish the executive authority she held. This stirred up conspiracies against her. Following the suppression of one such conspiracy, Irene attempted to get official recognition as empress. In this she was not successful initially, and with military support Constantine came to power in 790. ThenHowever, in 792Constantine, Constantine having reconciled with his mother , confirmed the title of empress for Irenein 792.

Constantine’s actions after he came into power began to contribute to dissatisfaction among his supporters. Defeats in military campaigns in 791 and 792 against Kardam in Bulgaria encouraged movements favoring his uncle, Caesar Nikephoros, to replace Constantine. To forestall such an action , Constantine had Nikephoros blinded and the tongues of four other uncles cut off. This was followed by a revolt among his Armenian supporters when Constantine had their general, Alexios Mosele, blinded. This revolt Constantine cruelly suppressed in 793,.

Conspiracies continued , and Constantine found it necessary to flee Constantinople. In 797, supporters of Irene captured Constantine and blinded him. While he may have immediately died from the attack at this time , various claims rose that he outlived his mother, dying as late as 805.

==External linklinks==