The 7th and 8th centuries were a period of turmoil for Byzantium. This period saw the loss of the Eastern provinces to conquest under the banner of Islam. These events persuaded Emperor Leo III that God was punishing the Empire for its idolatrous worship of icons. Based on this what did Leo III initiate?

Leo III initiated ICONOCLASM

Explanation:

To eliminate the veneration of icons, a practice which had earlier played a major and central part in creating the morale essential to survival in the Byzantine history, can be found from the attempts made by the emperors with supports, for more than a century after the accession of Leo III.

In the 7th century, the sentiments and calls for it grew in high intensity and the Quinisext Council (Council in Trullo) of 692 decreed that Jesus Christ should be represented in human form rather than, symbolically, as the lamb.

Justinian II, a reigning emperor at that time, took some unprecedented steps of placing the image of Jesus Christ on his coinage while he was proclaiming himself the “slave of God.”

There is evidence of a reaction refuting such iconodule (or image venerating) teachings and observances which may be found early in the 8th century.

Full blown Iconoclasm (or destruction of the images) began as an imperial policy only when Leo III issued his decrees of 730.

The iconoclastic movement intensified under his son, Constantine V (ruled 741–775), which took the form of violently persecuting monastic clergy, which were the foremost defenders of the iconodule position.

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