ANASTASIUS II. whose original name was Ar temius, succeeded Philippicus in the throne of Constan tinople in 713. Ile had been chief secretary to the Ibr mer emperor, and was chosen as his successor by the voice of the people. He was a man or great learning, and by long experience was Well calculated for the man agement of public affairs. Ile was a zealous Catholic ; and, without neglecting the business of the state, he made it his great study to heal the divisions in the church. In order to protect his dominions against the Saracens, he sent a powerful army into Syria, under Leo the Isauri can, an experienced commander. He also put the city of Constantinople in a proper state of defence, and provi ded it abundantly with provisions, when it was threat ened with a siege. Ile fitted out a fleet, put on board a considerable number of troops, and sent them to be siege Alexandria, in Egypt. But, after causing a short alarm to the inhabit,,nts of that city, tilcy returned or some trifling pretence to Phoenicia. The emperor, who was highly displeased v, i 11 their inactivity, sent order!. to the officers to resnm, evithout delay, the object of their expedition. lint tLt, soldiery, ‘NIM, the sub of the empire in ny Leval, had been gradually in crea.-ing in a contempt o: ail authority, broke GUI intn
mutim ; declared Athann,ins nnWorthy of the empire • compelled 'Theodosius, a person or birth, to ac cept the crown ; rind mare' ed by land towards Consear tinople. Anastasius, despisin; the inc. xperiemeed ebar act( r cf conlpetitor, levie(1 en army. iliLt TheodGsius at Nine, gi ve him bogie, a5 beaten, take n prisoner, deprived of his crown, alter a reign tunic mol•e than month:, His life was spared. upon cohdilion of his lenouncing ail clnirns to the ; and he wes banidi•d to 1.e...,nalonica, where he assumed the habit of a monk. But of a private life, he collet ted in army of Buigarians, in the reign of Leo, is had succeeded Theodosius under the pretence of :storing 'enastasius,) and marched to Constantinople. Nis disorderly troops, meeting with g•et.ten opposition, than they had expel red, delivered him up to the pnrur, 01.0 put him to dc:t1.11, wide SC ye ral persons el tiistinc:io ho favoneed his cause. See Up.
xvii. 40, //Re. (q)