Artabasdos has abandoned his predecessor's religious policy of Iconoclasm and restored Orthodoxy with some support, including that of Pope Zacharias.
Soon after his accession, Artabasdos had crowned his wife Anna as Augusta and his son Nikephoros as co-emperor, while putting his other son Niketas in charge of the Armeniac theme.
But while Artabasdus can rely also on the support of the themes of Thrace and Opsikion, Constantine secures for himself the support of the Anatolic and Thracesian themes.
The inevitable clash comes in May 743, when Artabasdos leads the offensive against Constantine but is defeated.
Later the same year Constantine defeats Nicetas, and on November 2, 743 Artabasdus' reign comes to an end as Constantine V enters Constantinople and apprehends his rival.
Artabasdos and his sons are publicly blinded and relegated to the monastery of Chora on the outskirts of Constantinople.
The date of his death is unknown.
