During his reign Leon actively battled invading Arabs and had close diplomatic contacts with the prince of Iberia and Kakheti, Archil.
He also had significant relations to the Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian, to whom he sent a letter asking for help against the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate.
In answer, the Emperor confirmed his hereditary rule over the Kingdom of Abkhazia and suggested that he should accept Archil as his overlord and suzerain and by doing so, battle the Muslims with united forces.
This meant that the Byzantines accepted Leon I's rule over the lands of Egrisi, Jiketi and Sanigia.
Despite heavy losses, the Georgians managed to dissipate the invading Arab forces, which undoubtedly determined the survival of Christianity and statehood in Western Georgia, with long lasting future consequences.