Theodosius III was the Byzantine emperor from around May 715 to 717. Before rising to the throne of the Byzantine Empire, he was a tax collector in Adramyttium. In 715, the Byzantine navy and the troops of the Opsician Theme, one of the Byzantine provinces, revolted against Anastasius II, acclaiming the reluctant Theodosius as emperor. He led his troops to Chrysopolis and then Constantinople, seizing the city in November 715. Anastasius did not surrender until several months later, accepting exile in a monastery in return for safety. Many themes viewed Theodosius to be a puppet of the troops of the Opsician Theme, and his legitimacy was denied by the Anatolics and the Armeniacs under their respective strategoi (generals) Leo the Isaurian and Artabasdos. Leo entered Constantinople and definitively seized power in 717, allowing Theodosius and his son to retire to a monastery. When Theodosius died is uncertain, but it may have been in 754. ( Full article... )
December 12 : Beginning of the Yule Lads ' arrival in Iceland
| | The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a species of mammal in the family Camelidae, the camelids. Closely related to the llama, the guanaco is native to the steppes, scrublands and mountainous regions of South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina. It is a diurnal animal, living in small herds consisting of either one male and several females with their young, or separate bachelor herds. It can run at speeds of up to 64 km/h (40 mph), important for avoiding predation. A herbivore, the guanaco grazes on grasses, shrubs, herbs, lichens, fungi, cacti, and flowers, while its natural predators include the puma and the culpeo (Andean fox). Some guanacos are found domesticated in zoos and private herds around the world, and its fiber is also harvested for use in luxury fabrics, being noted for its soft, warm feel. This guanaco was photographed in Torres del Paine, Chile. Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp Recently featured: |