Anastasius II

Anastasius II (died 721), Byzantine emperor (713-15). During his reign, he organized a formidable navy, which he dispatched to Rhodes, and he also tried to reorganize the army. His troops mutinied, however, and proclaimed as emperor Theodosius III, a tax official of humble birth. Theodosius captured Constantinople (present-day İstanbul) about six months later, but Anastasius escaped to Thessalonica (now Thessaloníki, Greece) and became a monk. In 720 Anastasius led a revolt against Leo III, who had overthrown Theodosius. Anastasius was subsequently captured and killed.