CONSTANTINE V., Copronymus, son of Leo III. the iconoclast, was emperor Immediately after his accession, while he was fighting against the Arabs, his brother-in-law, an Armenian named Artavasdus, a supporter of the image-worshippers, had been proclaimed emperor, and it was not till the end of 743 that Con stantine re-entered Constantinople. When he felt his position se cure, he determined to settle the religious controversy. In 754 he assembled at the palace of Hiereion 338 bishops, by whom the wor ship of images was forbidden as opposed to all Christian doctrine. But the resistance to iconoclasm continued, chiefly owing to the influence of the monks. A vigorous campaign against monasticism took place ; the monasteries were closed, and monks and nuns were compelled to marry. One of the most important results of the struggle was the defection of the pope, who sought and obtained protection from Pippin, king of the Franks. From this time on ward the nominal dependence of Rome and the papacy on em perors at Constantinople ceased. Constantine has been described by the orthodox historians of his time as a monster of iniquity; but it is now generally admitted that he was one of the most ca pable rulers who ever occupied the Byzantine throne. He restored the aqueduct built by Valens and destroyed by the barbarians in the reign of Heraclius, re-peopled Constantinople (after it had been devastated by a great plague) and some of the cities of Thrace, revived commercial prosperity, and fought with consider able success against the Arabs, Slays and Bulgarians.