Artabasdos or Artavasdos (Greek: Ἀρταύασδος or Ἀρτάβασδος, from Armenian: Արտավազդ, Artavazd, Ardavazt), Latinized as Artabasdus, was a Byzantine general of Armenian[1] descent who seized the throne from June 741 until November 743, in usurpation of the reign of Constantine V. In about 713, Emperor Anastasius II appointed Artabasdos as governor (stratēgos) of the Armeniac Theme (Θέμα Άρμενιάκων, Thema Armeniakōn), the successor of the Army of Armenia, which occupied the old areas of the Pontus, Armenia Minor, and northern Cappadocia, with its capital at Amasea.

After Anastasius' fall, Artabasdos made an agreement with his colleague Leo, the governor of the Anatolic Theme, to overthrow the new Emperor Theodosius III.

While Constantine fled to Amorion, Artabasdus seized Constantinople amid popular support and was crowned emperor in the summer of 742.

[3] Artabasdos, accompanied by his close associate Baktangios fled to the castle of Pouzanes in Opsikion (Asia Minor), where they were apprehended and brought to Constantinople.

[6] By his wife Anna, the daughter of Emperor Leo III, Artabasdos had nine children, including: