Theophilos was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 829 to 842 CE. He was the second ruler of the Amorion dynasty founded by his father Michael II. Popular during his reign and responsible for a lavish rebuilding of Constantinople's palaces and fortifications, Theophilos is chiefly remembered today for a major defeat by the Arab Caliphate in 838 CE and as the last emperor who supported the policy of iconoclasm, that is the destruction of icons and their veneration being treated as heresy.
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Timeline
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829 - 842Reign of Byzantine emperor Theophilos.
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830 - 831Byzantine emperor Theophilos wins victories in Cilica and awards himself a triumph.
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c. 833Byzantine emperor Theophilos builds the Sarkel fortress on the Don river.
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838The Arab Caliphate defeats a Byzantine army and captures the cities of Ankara and Amorion.
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839The Byzantine empire loses Taranto in southern Italy to the western Arabs.
