Leo II

Leo II (474 CE) was a Roman Emperor of the East. He was a child of 5, and only reigned for 12 months.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Leo II
- Also known as Leo the Younger.
- Leonid Dynasty
LEO II’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- 17 November 473 CE to 10 November 474 CE.
- Co-Emperor with Leo I until 18 January 474 CE.
- Sole Ruler between 18 January and 29 January 474 CE.
- Co-Emperor with Zeno (Emperor) from 29 January.
- Contemporary with the Emperor of the West, Glycerius
- Contemporary with the Emperor of the West, Julius Nepos
LEO II’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born Summer 469 CE. Died 10 November 474 CE. Aged 5.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Died in Constantinople.
LEO II’ PREDECESSOR:
- Leo I
LEO II’ SUCCESSOR:
- Basiliscus (475-476 CE)
- Zeno (Emperor) (474-491 CE)
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- He was the Grandson of Leo I, through his daughter, Ariadne.
WIVES AND CHILDREN:
- None.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Unknown.
WHERE BURIED:
- Church of the Holy Apostles, Istanbul.
LEO II WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- He was a child of five who was sole Ruler for five weeks.
EVENTS:
MONUMENTS:

Leo II’ father was Zeno (Emperor), an Issaurian, who had changed his name from Tarasis.
The Issaurians lived in the Taurus Mountains in Anatolia. They were Orthodox Christians and not Arians.
Leo I had promoted Zeno to Consul, then Magister Militum and then married him to his daughter Ariadne. His grandson son, Leo II, was made the Heir to Leo I in the absence of his own male child who had died.
Despite being invited into the Leonid Dynasty, Zeno (Emperor) was unpopular with the Byzantine Aristocracy, who considered the Issaurians to be Barbarians.

Leo II died at the age of five and the cause of his death is unknown.
Despite being crowned as co-Emperor with his son, very soon Zeno (Emperor) was displaced by Basiliscus in a Plot where he had to flee the capital. It was 20 months before Zeno (Emperor) was able to return.