Leo I (emperor)
Eastern Roman emperor from 457 to 474 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Leo I (Greek: Λέων, translit. Leōn; c. 401 – 18 January 474), also known as "the Thracian" (Latin: Thrax; Greek: ο Θραξ),[lower-alpha 3] was Roman emperor of the East from 457 to 474. He was a native of Dacia Aureliana near historic Thrace. He is sometimes surnamed with the epithet "the Great" (Latin: Magnus; Greek: ὁ Μέγας), probably to distinguish him from his young grandson and co-augustus Leo II (Greek: ὁ Μικρός, translit. ho Mikrós, lit. "the Small").[lower-alpha 4]
Leo I | |||||
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Roman emperor in the East | |||||
Reign | 7 February 457 – 18 January 474 | ||||
Coronation | 7 February 457 | ||||
Predecessor | Marcian | ||||
Successor | Leo II | ||||
Western emperors |
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Born | c. 401 Dacia Aureliana, Roman Empire | ||||
Died | 18 January 474 (aged 73)[2] Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire | ||||
Spouse | Verina | ||||
Issue | Ariadne, Leontia, unnamed son | ||||
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Dynasty | Leonid | ||||
Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Leo the Great | |
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Holy and Right-Believing Emperor of the Romans | |
Venerated in | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Feast | 20 January |
Attributes | Imperial attire |
Ruling the East for more than 15 years, Leo proved to be a capable ruler. He oversaw many ambitious political and military plans, aimed mostly at aiding the faltering Western Roman Empire and recovering its former territories. He is notable for being the first Eastern Emperor to legislate in Koine Greek rather than Late Latin.[9] He is commemorated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, with his feast day on 20 January.[10][11]