The Caucasian Odyssey of Leo III (717-741) and its significance for the political biography of the emperor

The article studies the history of the journey of the imperial spatharius Leo Isaurus, the future Em-peror Leo III, to the Caucasus. The story survived as part of the “Chronography” of Theophanes. D. E. Afinogenov’s hypothesis is used as the basis for the story of the Leo Isaurus’ odyssey that is to be treated as a fragment of the military memoirs of the future emperor or some officer of his staff. The military-political context of the trip is analyzed and the conclusion is made that the trip was of mili-tary-diplomatic significance for the organization of the Empire’s struggle against the Arab Caliphate. Important conclusions are made regarding the development of the Byzantine navy in the 8th-10th centuries.