Artabasdus
Artabasdus was a chamberlain of the
Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian and briefly seized power in
Constantinople soon after the accession of Leo's son,
Constantine V Copronymus, in
741. He was supported by strong iconodule (i.e. supporters of holy images) factions among the clergy and common people. Constantine however took refuge in the Isaurian mountains whence his dynasty originated, and with support of the Asian part of the Byzantine army, who were
iconoclasts to a man, had Artabasdus defeated and executed in
743.