Abstract
<jats:p>Relevance. The first third of the eighth century in the Byzantine-controlled territories of the Apennine Peninsula was characterized by a series of uprisings by local dukes aimed at the usurpation of imperial authority in the region. These movements unfolded against the backdrop of mounting external threats from the Umayyad Caliphate, the implementation of iconoclastic policy under Leo III, and the basileus’ lack of resources for stabilizing peripheral regions, a factor that complicated relations with the more distant territories of the empire. Among these uprisings, the revolt of Tiberius Petasius in 729–730 stands out. Owing to the scarcity of source material, it remains insufficiently studied to this day. The issue therefore retains its relevance, since an examination of the preconditions and course of the revolt makes it possible to partially reconstruct and supplement the picture of social attitudes in the Byzantine part of the peninsula at the moment when Leo III the Isaurian and by his successors was gradually losing control over it a process that is only very sparsely reflected in the narrative sources of the period. The aim of this study is to identify and systematize the preconditions, immediate causes, and social base of the revolt of Tiberius Petasius, as well as to clarify its place within the broader context of political instability on the Apennine Peninsula in the 720s – 730s. Methods. This article is based on a comprehensive analysis of chronographic sources from the period under consideration, employing a cross-application of internal and external source criticism. The study draws in particular on selected passages from the «Liber Pontificalis», «The Chronographia» of Theophanes, «The Short History» of Nicephorus, and Paul the Deacon’s «History of the Lombards». Through comparative analysis and historical reconstruction, and in order to expand the empirical basis of the study, the article also incorporates conclusions from selected works in numismatics, archaeology, and regional monument studies. Results. The study establishes that the territories in which Tiberius Petasius secured the greatest support for his revolt were affected by a combination of destructive factors. Atypical climatic conditions resulted in crop failures, the intensification of piracy disrupted maritime logistics, and the local nobility was constrained in its capacity to act as a consequence of the emperor’s new fiscal policy, which significantly increased exactions from the Apennines. The aggravation of humanitarian problems in the region contributed to the radicalization of elite groups in Tuscany, Spoleto, and certain areas of Lazio and Calabria. By the 720s–730s, these regions had already become involved in the conflict between Gregory II and Leo III over the emperor’s iconoclastic policy. Limited resources compelled the basileus to concentrate his efforts on countering the Arab threat. This, in turn, contributed to a persistent perception among loyalist groups in the Apennines of a lack of support from the autokrator and led to the uprisings of 717, 727, 728 and 729. This situation was exploited by the Lombard ruler Liutprand, who sought to position himself as the antipode of the «evil, godless emperor» in order to facilitate his expansion. Conclusions. The revolt of Tiberius Petasius should be regarded as a manifestation of a deeper systemic crisis in Byzantine administration on the Apennine Peninsula, brought about by the interaction of religious, economic, and political factors. Its defeat did not eliminate the underlying causes of discontent but merely brought about a temporary stabilization, which subsequently contributed to the further weakening of imperial influence in the region.</jats:p>