Ratchis vs Theophilos

Ratchis became king of the Lombards after the death of his father Liutprand. His reign was marked by attempts to maintain peace with the Papacy and Byzantines, but internal pressures led to military campaigns.

Ratchis besieged Perugia, a Byzantine stronghold in central Italy, as part of his campaign to expand Lombard territory. The siege was lifted after Pope Zachary intervened, leading to a truce and Ratchis's subsequent abdication.

Ratchis abdicated the Lombard throne and entered the monastery of Monte Cassino, becoming a Benedictine monk. This unexpected decision ended his reign and allowed his brother Aistulf to succeed him, shifting Lombard policy toward expansion.

Theophilos succeeded his father Michael II as Byzantine emperor. He was the last emperor to actively support iconoclasm. His reign was marked by military campaigns against the Arabs and cultural patronage.

Theophilos continued the iconoclast policies of his predecessors, persecuting icon venerators. He ordered the execution of the painter Lazarus and the exile of the monk Theodore the Studite. His death in 842 ended the iconoclast period.

Theophilos led several campaigns against the Abbasid Caliphate, including a major expedition in 838 that resulted in the sack of the Byzantine city of Amorium. The loss of Amorium was a significant blow to Byzantine prestige.

Theophilos built the Bryas Palace near Constantinople, modeled after Arab palaces he admired. The palace featured elaborate gardens, fountains, and mosaics. It reflected his interest in Islamic culture and architecture.