Consolidation of the Byzantine Theme System

Timeline

1. 701–750Anatolian theme · AnatoliaThe empire reorganized former field army stations into several themes; the Anatolian, Opsikion, and Thracian themes were successively established, with generals commanding both civil and military affairs.
2. 720–800Anatolia · AnatoliaTheme soldiers lived off military-settlement lands, forming hereditary military service obligations, enabling the empire to maintain standing forces at lower cost and rapidly mobilize against foreign invasion.
3. 740–800Eastern Anatolian frontier · AnatoliaTheme troops repeatedly repelled Umayyad and Abbasid caliphate attacks along the Taurus Mountains line, while cooperating with the Thracian theme against the northern Bulgar threat, preserving the empire's core territories.