781 Revolt of Elpidius in Sicily. 782 The Mohammedans under Harun-ar-Rashid invade Asia Minor. 787 Council of Nicæa sanctions image-worship. 788 The Bulgarians gain a victory at the Strymon. 789 The Arabs invade Rumania. 790 Constantine assumes control of the government. Irene is unwilling to relinquish power and a struggle between the two begins. 791 The emperor conducts a campaign against the Bulgarians. 792 A conspiracy formed against Constantine by his uncles is suppressed and severely punished. Irene’s dignity restored. Second campaign against the Bulgarians. 795 Constantine divorces his wife Maria and marries Theodota. 796 Third Bulgarian campaign of Constantine. 797 Irene, taking advantage of Constantine’s unpopularity on account of his treatment of Maria, imprisons him and has his eyes put out. She now reigns alone. Conspiracy to place one of Constantine V’s sons on the throne. 798 Peace made with the Mohammedans. 800 Revival of the western division of the empire by the coronation of Charlemagne. There are now two distinct empires. 802 Conspiracy against and deposition of Irene. =Nicephorus I=, the treasurer, chosen emperor. He maintains political order but is a hard fiscal oppressor. 803 Death of Irene in exile. Bardanes, the general, proclaims himself emperor, but receiving no support, negotiates for his own pardon. Treaty with Charlemagne, regulating confines of the two empires. 806 Humiliating peace with Harun-ar-Rashid. 808 Unsuccessful attempt of Arsaber to obtain throne. 809 Death of Harun-ar-Rashid reopens the struggle with the Mohammedans. 810 Treaty of peace with Charlemagne, who unsuccessfully tries to make the Venetians and their allies tributary to him. 811 The emperor at war with the Mohammedans and Bulgarians. Death of Nicephorus in an attack by the Bulgarians. His son =Stauracius= succeeds. He is unable to hold out against the unpopularity of his father’s fiscal severity. After two months’ reign, a revolution places =Michael (I) Rhangabe= on the throne. The Mohammedans, owing to civil strife, do not trouble the empire, but the Bulgarians continue their attacks, with such success that 813 Michael is deposed, and the general =Leo (V) the Armenian= is saluted as emperor. Michael retires to a monastery. The Bulgarians approach the walls of Constantinople. 814 Annihilation of the Bulgarian army by Leo, at Mesembria. Thirty years’ truce concluded. Leo pursues a variable policy in regard to image-worship. 820 Leo assassinated in a conspiracy in favour of =Michael (II) the Stammerer=, who takes the throne. THE AMORIAN DYNASTY (820-867 A.D.)