Constantine VI of Byzantium (14 January 771-15 August 797) was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 780 to 797, succeeding Leo IV of Byzantium and preceding Irene of Byzantium.
Biography[]
Constantine was born on 14 January 771 to the House of Isauros, and he was the son of Emperor Leo IV of Byzantium and Irene of Byzantium. His father died in 780, and Constantine became emperor of the Byzantine Empire at the age of nine. His mother served as his regent, and she wanted to form an alliance by the Holy Roman Empire by having him be betrothed to Rotrude, the daughter of King Charlemagne. However, in 788 the engagement was broken off against the wishes of Constantine. In 797, when Constantine made plans to marry his mistress, the Church went against him, as did his mother, who sided with the church. Constantine was dethroned and blinded, and he died later in 797.