Byzantine Emperor. He was born in AD 718, the son of Emperor Leo III, who made him his associate ruler when he was just two years old. He succeeded his father as sole ruler in AD 741, but soon afterwards, while crossing Asia Minor to fight the Umayyad Caliphate, was attacked by the army of his brother-in-law, Artabasdos, who then marched on Constantinople where he was declared Emperor. Constantine enlisted the support of the Anatolic and Thracian themes and defeated Artabasdos in AD 743. He then returned to Constantinople and had his remaining opponents blinded or executed. On regaining his throne he initiated a policy of outlawing Iconaclism, forbidding image worship, and eventually declaring the veneration of relics and prayers to saints to be heretical. His policies were approved by the Synod he called at Hieria in AD 754, images were taken down from churches and Iconophiles were expelled from the imperial court. He also targeted the monks, known for their support of icon worship, and forced them to marry nuns and surrender monastic property to the state. Opponents of these policies gave him the nick name "Kopronymos", meaning "Dung-named" and spread a rumour that he had defecated in the font when baptized as a child. In AD 746, he invaded Syria and a year later destroyed the Arab fleet at Cyprus. He attacked the Caliophate again in AD 752 and captured Theodosioupolis and Melitene. He then ordered that the Christian populations of these territories be resettled in Thrace to strengthen the Empire's northern border with Bulgaria. Kormiosh of Bulgaria mounted an invasion in AD 755, but Constantine retaliated with a series of successful campaigns resulting in six Bulgarian rulers losing their thrones because of their defeat. He died in AD 755 while preparing for a new campaign against the Bulgarians. His death was regarded as divine retribution for his religious persecutions and in retaliation his tomb was desecrated during the ninth century.