Artabasdus was a chamberlain of the emperor
Leo III the Isaurian and briefly seized power in Constantinople soon after the accession of the former's son,
Constantine V Copronymus, being supported by strong iconodule (i.e. supporters of holy images) fractions among the clergy and common people. Constantine however took refuge in the Isaurian mountains whence his dynasty originated, and with support of the Asian part of the Byzantine army, who were iconoclasts to a man, soon had Artabasdus defeated and executed.