Tiberios III, Byzantine emperor

Tiberius III: The Usurper Emperor Amidst Byzantine Turmoil (698-705 AD)

Tiberius III, known in Greek as Τιβέριος (romanized: Tiberios), reigned as Byzantine emperor from February 15, 698, until his deposition on either July 10 or August 21, 705 AD. His brief but significant rule falls within a tumultuous period of Byzantine history often dubbed the "Twenty-Year Anarchy," marked by rapid successions and military usurpations, which severely weakened the empire against external threats.

From Naval Commander to Emperor: The Rise of Apsimar

Little detailed information has survived about Tiberius III's early life, a common situation for many figures of this turbulent era who rose from military ranks. We know his birth name was Apsimar, a name that suggests possible non-Greek or even Germanic origins, reflecting the diverse composition of the Byzantine military. Prior to his ascension, Apsimar held the position of droungarios of the Cibyrrhaeots. A droungarios was a crucial mid-level naval commander, responsible for a droungos – a naval squadron or a land-based military district. The Cibyrrhaeots were one of the Byzantine Empire's most vital naval themes (military-administrative districts), established in southwestern Anatolia. This powerful naval command highlights Apsimar's significant military experience and influence within the Byzantine fleet, which was indispensable for imperial defense and power projection in the Mediterranean.

The Battle for Carthage and the Seeds of Rebellion

In 696, the Byzantine Empire faced a dire threat in North Africa. The strategically important city of Carthage, the capital of the Exarchate of Africa—a semi-autonomous province combining military and civil authority—had fallen to the expanding Arab Umayyad Caliphate. Emperor Leontios, himself a usurper who had overthrown Justinian II just three years prior, dispatched a formidable Byzantine army under the command of John the Patrician to reclaim this vital port. Apsimar, the future Tiberius III, was a key officer in this expeditionary force.

The Byzantine army initially succeeded in retaking Carthage, a testament to their military prowess. However, the Umayyads, determined to secure their North African gains, swiftly sent substantial reinforcements. Overwhelmed by the renewed Arab offensive, the Byzantine forces were compelled to retreat, seeking refuge on the island of Crete, a critical naval base in the Aegean Sea. Faced with a devastating defeat and the prospect of Emperor Leontios's severe wrath—which often manifested in brutal punishments, including mutilation or execution for failed commanders—a group of officers on Crete staged a mutiny. They assassinated their commander, John the Patrician, and, fearing for their own lives and seeking a new leader, proclaimed Apsimar as the new emperor. This dramatic act underscores the volatile nature of Byzantine politics, where military commanders held immense power and could swiftly alter the course of imperial succession.

Seizing the Throne and Shifting Imperial Focus

Upon his proclamation, Apsimar, now adopting the more traditionally Roman regnal name of Tiberius, wasted no time. Leveraging his command of the Cibyrrhaeot fleet and the support of the rebel army, he rapidly organized his forces and sailed directly for Constantinople, the imperial capital. The city's defenses were breached, and Leontios was overthrown. Leontios, following the brutal custom of the time, was mutilated (specifically, his nose was slit) and exiled to a monastery, marking another swift, violent transition of power.

Once on the throne, Tiberius III made a pragmatic, albeit momentous, strategic decision: he did not attempt to retake Byzantine Africa from the Umayyads. This effectively marked the end of sustained Roman/Byzantine presence in North Africa, allowing the Umayyads to solidify their control over the region. Instead, Tiberius III redirected the empire's military efforts towards the eastern frontier, campaigning against the Umayyads along the borderlands of Anatolia. His campaigns in the East, particularly in regions like Cilicia and Armenia, achieved some success, stabilizing the critical eastern front and preventing further Arab incursions into the Byzantine heartland, even if they did not lead to significant territorial gains. This shift in focus reflected a recognition of the empire's diminished resources and the strategic necessity of defending its Anatolian heartland.

The Return of the Slit-Nosed Emperor and Tiberius's Downfall

Tiberius III's reign, like that of his predecessor, was ultimately cut short by another dramatic return to power. In 705, the former Emperor Justinian II, notoriously known as "Rhinotmetos" (the Slit-nosed) due to his earlier mutilation by Leontios, had spent ten years in exile. Justinian II, driven by a relentless ambition to reclaim his throne, assembled a formidable army comprised of loyal Slavs and Bulgars, notably securing the crucial military support of the Bulgar Khan Tervel. This powerful coalition marched on Constantinople.

In a daring move, Justinian II's forces managed to infiltrate Constantinople secretly, reportedly through a disused aqueduct, bypassing the city's formidable defenses. With his surprise entry, Tiberius III's rule collapsed. He attempted to flee to Bithynia, a region in northwestern Anatolia often serving as a refuge or a base for rebels. However, his escape was short-lived. Several months later, Tiberius was captured. In a brutal display of revenge and political consolidation, he was paraded through the Hippodrome of Constantinople alongside Leontios (who had been dragged from his monastic exile) before being publicly executed by beheading sometime between August 705 and February 706. His body was initially thrown into the sea, a common practice to deny a deposed ruler a proper burial and erase their memory. However, it was later recovered and given a more dignified burial in a church on the island of Prote (modern Kınalıada), one of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, which served as a place of exile and monastic retreat for many Byzantine figures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tiberius III

Who was Tiberius III and what was his original name?

Tiberius III was a Byzantine emperor who reigned from 698 to 705 AD. His birth name was Apsimar, and he rose through the military ranks before usurping the throne.

What was Tiberius III's role before becoming emperor?

Before becoming emperor, Tiberius III (Apsimar) was a droungarios, a mid-level naval commander, of the Cibyrrhaeots, a significant naval theme located in southwestern Anatolia.

How did Tiberius III become emperor?

Tiberius III seized power through a military coup. While participating in a Byzantine expedition to retake Carthage from the Umayyads, his army was defeated. Fearing the wrath of Emperor Leontios, officers on Crete mutinied, killed their commander John the Patrician, and proclaimed Apsimar (Tiberius III) as emperor. He then sailed to Constantinople and deposed Leontios.

What was Tiberius III's most significant policy decision?

One of his most significant decisions was to abandon efforts to retake Byzantine Africa from the Umayyads, effectively ending the Byzantine presence there. Instead, he focused the empire's military efforts on the eastern frontier, campaigning with some success against the Umayyads in Anatolia.

How did Tiberius III lose his throne?

Tiberius III was overthrown by the former Emperor Justinian II, who had been deposed by Leontios years earlier. Justinian II, with the support of a Slavic and Bulgar army led by Khan Tervel, secretly entered Constantinople in 705 and deposed Tiberius III.

What was the fate of Tiberius III?

After his deposition, Tiberius III fled but was captured several months later. He was publicly executed by beheading, along with Leontios, between August 705 and February 706. His body, initially thrown into the sea, was later recovered and buried on the island of Prote.