A captured son forced Emperor Theodosius III to surrender his throne in 717
The reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius III ended abruptly in 717 after a clever political maneuver involving the capture of his son forced him to abdicate.
In 717, the short and turbulent reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius III came to an end through a high-stakes hostage crisis. The rebel general Leo the Isaurian captured the Emperor's son at Nicomedia, leaving Theodosius with a heartbreaking choice between his family and his crown.
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