Abbasid Al Mu’tasim & Theophilos Byzantines

822 CE - Constantinople Theophilos was crowned as co-emperor of Amorian dynasty. He follows his predecessor’s policy of Iconoclasm, issuing an edict in 832 forbidding the veneration of icons. During his reign Eastern Roman Empire was under threat by Bulgarian Empire, Aghlabid in Sicily, Andalusian in Crete, Rus’ from Ukraine and Abbasid Caliphate in Anatolia 828 CE - Alexandria Venetian merchants stole relic of St. Mark body from Egyptian Church in Abbasid Egypt and took it to Venice. The relic was covered by pork & cabbage to to prevent the Abbasid custom from inspecting it too closely. While relic of St. mark head remains in Alexandria. The relic then kept privately by Venetian Doge (Duke) until the construction of Basilica two centuries later. 833 CE - Baghdad Al-Mu’tasim proclaimed as Abbasid Caliph. He recruited more Turkic people as mercenary battling in Anatolian frontiers. Al-Mu’tasim also formed elite Turkish corps (Shurṭa) under general Īt