Michael (Μιχαὴλ) II was a Byzantine and Eastern Roman emperor of the 9th century. He was the founder of the Amorian Dynasty and was named such for he was born in Amorion. Michael was in the military alongside the emperor of Michael I and Leo V and staged the usurpation of both. He faced a revolt against Thomas the Slav and defeated him in Arkadioupolis. His military history beyond that was bad in losing Sicily and Krete to the Muslims. He claimed to be an iconoclast but had subtle Icondule tendencies. Interestingly enough, Michael II was allegedly of Jewish origin and belonged to a heretical Christian sect that still observed Jewish laws and rituals.