Who was Emperor Theophilos and what were his major achievements?

Emperor Theophilos was a ruler of the Byzantine Empire who reigned from 829 to 842 AD. He was the second son of Michael II and Thekla, and he came to the throne after the death of his father. Theophilos was known for his military campaigns against the Arab Caliphate and his patronage of the arts.

During his reign, Theophilos made significant military advances against the Arabs. He launched a series of campaigns in the east, which culminated in the capture of the city of Melitene in 837 AD. He also fought against the Bulgars in the north, and he was able to maintain peace on the western frontier.

However, Theophilos is perhaps best remembered for his patronage of the arts. He was a great lover of art and learning, and he supported a number of scholars and artists at his court. He was particularly interested in the art of calligraphy, and he commissioned a number of illuminated manuscripts and other works of art. The most famous of these is the Codex Theodosianus, a collection of Roman laws that was commissioned by Theodosius II in the 5th century.

Unfortunately, much of Theophilos' legacy was destroyed in the Iconoclastic Controversy, which was a dispute over the use of religious icons in the Byzantine Church. Theophilos was a strong supporter of the use of icons, but his son Michael III was an Iconoclast who ordered the destruction of many of his father's works of art.