Irene died on 9 August 803, after which her body was transferred to her monastery at Principo. Charlemagne. The emperor had lost the support of the one group he could always depend on; the iconophiles. Some have even argued that she was part of the first of the many bride shows which took place during that period for the imperial heir to select a wife. Her family background is not known. Little is known of the young Irene except that she was an extraordinarily beautiful orphan girl from Athens, born c. 752 CE. The former was logothetes tou dromou or chief minister with a wide range of powers. Despite her actions as empress, she was canonised for her part in restoring icon-veneration and her saint's life endows her with all appropriate -- and inappropriate -- piety and virtues. [9] When Emperor Leo IV came to the throne, he and his wife’s views of religion began to clash. She summoned Elpidios to Constantinople, but the Sicilians refused to surrender him to her. [20] Nikephoros and his brothers were forced to be ordained into the priesthood and to administer communion on Christmas Day. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. [19] He was defeated. To prevent this, Irene had to negotiate an immense annual tribute of 70,000 or 90,000 dinars to the Abbasids for a three-year truce. 8, Gale, 2004, pp. D. Japan. The Empire was frantic. 8. Byzantine Empire, Irene of Athens The Orthodox Church commemorates today Saint Irene the Empress, later Nun Xeni. Her reign was beset by rebellions and wars. Leo’s short reign came to an end when he died of fever, aged 30, while campaigning against the Bulgars, but Irene’s appetite for power needed further feeding. [56] When Constantine VI discovered the plot to overthrow him, he fled. Empress Wu Zetian ruled as China’s only female emperor. Despite this, Irene enjoyed her time near the throne. [24] In February 781, Elpidios, the Strategos (Governor) of Sicily, planned to depose her and make Nikephoros regent for Constantine VI. Leo began to promote iconoclast monasteries. Empress Irene is a historical leader of which country? Certainly not. However, the new approach to join the two families met fierce opposition, especially from the powerful eunuch Aetios in Constantinople. When Constantine VI had a son with Theodote, the people proclaimed him illegitimate. C. Latvia. [5] She was betrothed in the palace chapel, Our Lady of the Pharos, on November 3rd. Nikephoros would reign until his death in battle in 811 CE, unable to halt the decline of the Byzantine empire as Charlemagne’s own empire rose in the west and the Muslim Abbasids threatened from the east. The wedding took place in 769 CE, and she immediately influenced state policy by tempering her husband’s attacks on the Church’s veneration of icons. Byzantine Ivory Panel Depicting the Adoration of the Magi, by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA), In 797 CE Irene took back the throne for herself & blinded her son, doing so in the same purple chamber of the, by Metropolitan Museum of Art (Copyright). "Empress Irene." [4] On November 1, 769, Irene arrived in Constantinople. 135-138. [33]In May, she and Constantine VI visited the Greek province of Thrace. Byzantine Ivory Panel Depicting the Adoration of the Magiby Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA). Ancient History Encyclopedia. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and join our 5,168 subscribers to stay up to date on History of Royal Women's articles! [37] In 787, she initiated the Second Ecumenical Council, which met in Nicaea in order to condemn iconoclasm. Ancient History Encyclopedia. [25] When Irene learned about the plot, she was furious. The city of Beroia was renamed Irenoupolis. [1] After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church[2]. IRENE, BYZANTINE EMPRESS Coregnant 780–797, sole ruler from 797 to Oct. 31, 802; b. Athens, c. 752; d. Lesbos, Aug. 9, 803. Instead, they were permitted to repent of their sins and welcomed back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons. In effect, they ruled jointly for the next five years, but Irene soon began to plot against her son. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Constantine then ordered the tongues of all four of his uncles to be torn out. Saint Irene lived in the 12th century AD and had various virtues. After a decade in the shadows, Constantine took his rightful place at the apex of Byzantine government. B. Russia. Irene was removed, exiled to a monastery on Lesbos and succeeded by Nikephoros I, one of the Empress’ former finance ministers. Lauralee Her men were victorious. Much like Empress Theodora, Empress Irene was not born into royalty – it was the beauty of the young orphan that caught the eye of Emperor Constantine V. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. At one point, it was proposed she marry Charlemagne, which would have united the Eastern and Western empires for the first time in hundreds of years. The army was all too unimpressed with the young emperor, and his popularity plummeted even further when he began to blame his soldiers for their defeats, taking the ill-advised action (cunningly suggested by Irene, of course) of tattooing the word “traitor” on the faces of 1,000 of them. She was just filling in until her son was old enough. When Irene made it be known that she intended to rule above her son Constantine no matter how old he was, many of those who opposed the restoration of icons, saw the dangers to the empire’s army strength Irene’s purges had threatened, and who believed Constantine had the rightful claim to the throne alone, rallied around the young emperor. In 797, a conspiracy led by Irene to regain power for herself succeeded. On December 23, Leo swore an oath of innocence. The Ecumenical Council of Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the. [31] Irene demoted Tatzates and formed a policy to remove Constantine V’s generals from high command. Related Content An East Roman (Byzantine) empress, Irene of Athens (752-803) convened the Seventh Ecumenical Council and restored the veneration of icons in the Byzantine Empire. List their dangerous adversaries. Who was the Frankish leader? On August 15, 797, Empress Irene ordered her son to be blinded, causing her son to die of this mutilation. A. Tonga. She was educated like any other Greek Byzantine noble girl of her class. [70] Her financial policy was successful. Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Press "agree" if you are okay with this. Irene was the sole ruler of Constantinople, and empire was thicker than blood. Born in Athens of a Greek noble family, between the years of 750 and 755, little is known regarding Irene Sarantapechaina's life before ascending to the Byzantine throne. 16 Jan 2021. Who invaded central Italy? [50] He waged a luckless war on the Bulgars in April 791 and the Arabs in October. Last modified November 15, 2017. Your email address will not be published. [65], However, her overthrow prevented her marriage to Charlemagne. Where was Empress Anna Ivanovna in power from 1730 - 1740? With the army opposition dealt with, Staurakios accompanied Irene to the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in September 787 CE. The choice of Irene to become the bride of Constantine V’s son Leo IV hasn’t been clearly understood. An assessment of Constantine VI and Irene's take-over Irene Doukaina or Ducaena (Greek: Εἰρήνη Δούκαινα, Eirēnē Doukaina; c. 1066 – 19 February 1138) was a Byzantine Empress by marriage to the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos, and the mother of the emperor John II Komnenos and of the historian Anna Komnene. There was not going to be another rebellion against her rule. [53] On October 7, 796, he entered into an unholy marriage with Theodote, his mistress. However, he was captured and brought back to the palace[57]. Books Copyright © 2021 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Irene’s unprecedented position as an empress ruling in her own right was emphasized by the coincidental rise of the Carolingian Empire in western Europe, which rivaled Irene’s Byzantium in size and power. [45] Forcing Irene and Constantine VI to leave the palace to seek shelter, Staurakios formed a counter-attack in which Irene’s men succeeded. Irene celebrated his victory by hosting a triumph in 784. [14] In 780, he made Paul of Cyprus, who was suspected of being an iconophile, to swear an oath to uphold iconoclasm. Who helped the pope? From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. One of the most powerful champions of Buddhism in China was the Empress Wu Zetian. [55] This allowed his mother to forge a coup against her son. 135-138. Constantine died shortly afterwards, almost certainly as a result of his injuries, which were intended to kill not maim. [32], The next year, Irene sent Staurakios, her favourite courtier, against the Slavs in Northern Greece, where he made the Slavs pay tribute to the empire. By a fortuitous occurrence, the plot was thwarted by an earthquake. She made sure that coins had both herself as well as her son on them, with her image on the obverse (the “heads” side of the coin). Irene was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on 1 November 768 and was married to his son Leo IVon 17 December. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. 1 Early Life (752 AD-768 AD) 2 Empress Consort (786 AD-780 AD) 3 Empress Regent (780 AD-797 AD) 4 Empress (797 AD-802 AD) 5 Referring literature to Eirene Irene Sarantapechos was born into a wealthy patrician family in Athens in the year 752 AD. Leo, however, was a steadfast iconoclastwho, according to tradition, found that Irene possessed icons and thereafter would no longer … A After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. [69] By the end of her reign, the Byzantines were no longer paying tribute to the Bulgars. B. Poland. Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204, Taylor. This fact, combined with the limited information available about her family, has led some scholars to speculate that Irene may have been sel… Source for information on Irene, Byzantine Empress: New Catholic Encyclopedia dictionary. Constantine VI and Irene, 780 - 790 AD. She was very, very intelligent. A. Pakistan. She summoned a council, the second council of Nicaea, to reinstate the use and veneration of icons. [46] She confined her son and demanded an oath of fealty from Constantine VI’s army to acknowledge her as ruler. That he died shortly after is assumed by some; in other accounts, he and Theodote retired to private life. 6. [8] In August 775, Constantine V died leaving Leo IV sole rule of the Byzantine Empire. 7. [34] She continued to the Bulgarian frontier and the resettlement of the territory that was reclaimed from the Slavs. She was 17, when her father died and siblings were estranged by circumstances. 0. [66] She abdicated and spent the rest of her life in Lesbos, where she died in 803. Was it common for the Byzantine Empire to have a female ruler? Two monks were especially vociferous in their outrage at the emperor’s behaviour as head of the Church, Plato of Sakkoudion and Theodore of Stoudios, who both claimed that his divorce was illegal and so in marrying again the emperor had committed adultery. Cartwright, M. (2017, November 15). Although married to Leo IV, "the Khazar," one of the more moderate iconoclastic emperors, Irene herself strongly supported the veneration of images. License. [42] Constantine VI was unhappy with his mother for making his decisions for him. 9. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. It simply would not do for a Byzantine emperor to marry an illiterate barbarian, even if he had been blessed by the Pope and wore spectacular red tights. 10. Theodora moved to higher studies, Justin was enthroned and puppeted by Maximian Prothoperos and Irene also studied, but she was still on gymnasium. Empress Irene of Athens . D. Liberia. Irene supported the marriage because she knew it made him even more unpopular. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. [67], Thus, Empress Irene’s reign had been largely unsuccessful[68]. The Byzantines faced constant what? Ancient History Encyclopedia. Once abroad the army was disbanded and their positions of authority back home taken by those more loyal to the Empress. Constantine’s unpopularity with his people and the Byzantine establishment meant that he had no friends left to block his removal from power by his own mother. Cartwright, Mark. [21], During Irene’s reign as regent for her son, she named herself co-ruler. Lombards. Charlemagne, advised by scholar Alcuin of York, travelled to Rome in November 800 and held a council on December 1. Why was the army changed and organized around the Thema? Many courtiers were arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. C. Nigeria. [36] In 784, she replaced the Patriarch of Constantinople with the moderate Tarasius. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. The use of icons as long as the worship wasn't given to the pictures. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. Troubled times were in store for Byzantium’s most ambitious and ruthless of sovereigns. [22] Her first coins were issued with Constantine VI placed on the lesser important side of the coin. Constantine tried to flee but was captured and returned to Constantinople, where, on the orders of Irene, he was blinded by his eyes being gouged out. In early 802 CE, Irene attempted a marriage of alliance with the Franks' king Charlemagne, who was also the newly declared Emperor of the Romans in the west, and who, likewise, was in favour of once more unifying the two halves of the old Roman empire. The reason he chose her is unclear. Irene of Athens (c. 752 – 803 AD) was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. Depiction of Byzantine Empress Irene, the wife of Emperor John II (r. 1118-1143 CE) as found in the Hagia Sophia in modern-day Istanbul (previously Constantinople), Turkey. August 26, 2017 She was Maria of Amnia. She was the daughter of the Emperor Laszlo of Hungary. Irene died within a year of losing the throne she had loved so much and clung onto for so long. Not interested? [64] He proposed marriage to Empress Irene, which she consented. A similar plan had already been attempted when Irene had arranged for her late son to marry Rotrud, the daughter of Charlemagne, but Irene had broken off the engagement in 787 CE. She styled herself as “Irene, the Pious Emperor” instead of Empress. C. Sπo TomΘ and Prφncipe. We use cookies to ensure a personalised experience on our website. Simply click 'close' in the top right corner to continue reading! One is her role in helping restore the use of Christian icons or images in Byzantium, which had been forbidden in the Eastern Orthodox form of Christianity. These two different viewpoints of religion began to strain their marriage. She apparently was a beautiful but orphaned girl who at the age of seventeen was brought to Constantinople by the Emperor Constantine V to be married to his son Leo in November 769. A Thema’s overall commander 12. Irene & 350 bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church. [17], On September 8, 780, Leo IV died, leaving his wife free to instil her beliefs as regent for their ten-year-old son, Constantine V.I[18] However, many people opposed her rule as regent. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. [49], Constantine VI was not an effectual ruler. Irene did seem to have it all. (115). The historian J. J. Norwich gives this grim assessment of Irene’s reign: Scheming and duplicitous, consumed by ambition and ever thirsty for power, she brought dissension and disaster to the Empire, being additionally guilty of one of the foulest murders that even Byzantine history records. What did Empress Irene approve of? The Empress was not to be deterred, though, and she swiftly stationed the troublemakers to Asia Minor under the guise of preparations for a new military campaign. However, Elpidios fled to Africa, where the Arabs received him as the Roman Emperor. Her usurpation of the imperial throne created a theoretical justification for the coronation of Charlemagne. 7, Gale, Victoria Kaʻiulani – The last Crown Princess of Hawaii. Especially unusual is that, while Constantine V was a militant iconoclast who was known for persecuting venerators of icons, Irene herself displayed iconophile predilections. On January 14, 771, Irene gave birth to a son named Constantine VI. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Empress_Irene/. [58] Irene was now sole ruler of the Byzantine empire. [38] The Council ended with Tarasius in favour of icon veneration[39]. Serious and immediate defeats against the Bulgars and a shameful truce against the Arabs did nothing to aid his popularity, and conspiracies at court were rife. It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. A. Japan. On Christmas Day in 800, during a visit to Rome, the Pope placed an imperial crown on Charlemagne’s head and gave him the title of “Holy Roman Emperor”. Mosaic of Empress Irene, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Irene responded by throwing him in prison, but by 790 CE the army came to Constantine’s support and released him. A final crushing blow to Constantine’s ambitions was the protests following his divorce and subsequent marriage to his mistress Theodote, the so-called Moechian Controversy, in 795 CE. A king could not be succeeded by his mother or a daughter. [6] Just over a month later, on December 17th, Irene was crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire and married Leo IV at the chapel of St. Significantly, Constantine could no longer call on the support of Michael Lachanodrakon, the general having been killed that year while campaigning against the Bulgars. The army still contained many iconoclasts, and they had refused to swear loyalty to Irene alone on religious grounds. Empress Irene was the wife of Leo IV and, on her husband’s death, she reigned as regent for her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790 CE. [16] The reason for these persecutions is most likely because Irene had been hiring iconophile supporters within the palace, and Leo IV was trying to clean up his palace. One led by Constantine’s uncle Nikephoros was quashed, and the emperor blinded the ringleader in an all too familiar act of imperial Byzantine brutality. In 783 CE Staurakios sent a Byzantine army to fight the Slavs in Greece, and the next year Irene enjoyed the first military successes of her reign against both Slav and Arab armies. Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. Charlemagne knew that Irene’s days would end and there would be another Byzantine ruler to take her place. In 802, Irene was overthrown in a palace coup by Nikephoros. MILLER, D. A. She was someone who was raised very piously from an early age. , 2nd ed., vol. [23] In order to secure her position, Irene negotiated a marriage between her son and Charlemagne’s daughter. Emperor Leo IV was an iconoclast, which viewed the veneration of icons as idolatry. In 788, she broke off the marriage to Charlemagne’s daughter because it seemed that Charlemagne was unwilling to part with his daughter. Now 19 years of age and keen to remove his interfering mother once and for all from state affairs, Constantine banished her from court along with her closest advisors while he engaged Michael Lachanodrakon, the influential general and governor of the Thrakesion region of the empire. [11] These two different viewpoints of religion began to strain their marriage. Technically, Irene wasn’t the emperor. [43] From this point on, relations between Constantine VI and his mother Irene worsened. Nikephoros’s army was arrested, tortured, and banished. Empress Irene set out to solve the issue of iconoclasm which was established in the empire. [29] This left a large province-wide open to an Arab attack. With the success of the Bulgar front and the matrimonial alliance with Charlemagne, Irene turned her attentions on religious issues. On August 13 in particular, we celebrate the memory of the great Byzantine Empress Irene. Emperor Alexios Komnenos noticed her virtues and decided to marry her to his son, John, also known as Good-Ioannis, because of his many gifts. Posts about Empress Irene written by liamfoley63. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. She was very insecure in her position, which led her to become ruthless. The clergy and nobles attending the ceremony proclaimed Charlemagne as “Emperor of the Roman Empire.” In support of Charlemagne’s coronation, some argued that the imperial position was actually vacant, deeming a wom… https://www.ancient.eu/Empress_Irene/. In 797 CE, when Irene took back the throne for herself, she blinded her son, doing so in the same purple chamber of the palace in which he had been born. However, on Easter in 776, Leo IV crowned his son co-ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Empress Irene was born between 750 and 755 into a noble family of Athens. Web. Empress Irene was the wife of Leo IV and, on her husband’s death, she reigned as regent for her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790 CE. [26] A year later, she sent a fleet to Sicily against Elpidios. [71] Because of her restoration of icon-worship, she was canonised in the Eastern Orthodox Church as a saint.[72]. At Mass, on Christmas Day (December 25), when Charlemagne knelt at the altar to pray, the pope crowned him Imperator Romanorum(“Emperor of the Romans”) in Saint Peter’s Basilica. In October 802 CE the highest court officials in Constantinople convened in the Hippodrome and declared the Empress surplus to requirements. Learn how your comment data is processed. Stephen.[7]. It was a rare moment of decision, but it was too little, too late. [15] During Lent of that year, Leo IV began to persecute Iconophiles. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. [60] No woman had ever reigned on her own in the Roman empire before. [13] He would later on become one of Empress Irene’s main opposers during her regency and reign. Nikephoros led a revolt along with many powerful figures. However, most historians believe that it was because of Irene’s beauty. She was also known to have initiated the Second Council of Nicea. Irene was not to be so easily ushered to the wings of power, either, and she returned to the court in 792 CE, invited by her son as a last-ditch attempt to restore some order to his reign. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. Saint Irene (Greek Ειρήνη η Αθηναία) (c. 752 - August 9, 803) was a Byzantine empress (although she called herself basileus, the male form of the word "emperor," rather than basilissa, "empress") from 797 to 802.She was the wife of Leo IV.. [47] However, In September of 790, the troops Armeniac province refused to swear the oath and rebelled. Constantine VI ruled from 780 to 797 CE, inheriting his title aged just nine. The Year of the Duchess of Windsor (2021), Burial places of the Queens and Consorts of England, Burial places of the Queens Consort of France, Burial places of the Queens and Consorts of Portugal, Burial Places of the Queens and Consorts of Spain, Carolina of Orange-Nassau – Ancestress of the Royal Houses of Europe, Queen Wilhelmina – A collection of articles. To make matters worse, the couple had a son 18 months later. My Note: in discussing how the Kingdom of the Franks evolved into both the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire, it’s not the scope of this entry to thoroughly review the life of Charlemagne.My aim is to give a cursory understanding of how Charlemagne gained the imperial title and divided his empire. The Empress’ gold coins reveal much of her duplicitous character for, uniquely, they carried a portrait of herself on both sides. The persecution of iconophiles had been a key feature of previous emperors' reigns, especially Irene’s father-in-law Constantine V, so the Empress could not be too harsh on the perpetrators and risk alienating family members at court. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. [30] She also had to give them 10,000 silk garments and to provide them with guides, provisions, and access to markets during their withdrawal from the Byzantine Empire. B. Egypt. Empress Irene was the wife of Leo IV and, on her husband’s death, she reigned as regent for her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790 CE. 11. To make Elpidios submit, Irene had his wife and sons, whom Elpidios left in Constantinople, scourged, tortured, and imprisoned. Called “Irene of Athens” in honor of her birthplace, Irene is mainly remembered for two dramatic events. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 8, Gale, 2004, pp. Cite This Work Riding around Constantinople in a golden chariot launching coins into the crowds did not help much either. In 799, after Pope Leo III was abused by Romans who tried to put out his eyes and tear out his tongue, he escaped and fled to Charlemagne at Paderborn. She founded a province called Macedonia.[35]. Constantine VI conspired to take the throne himself. Before that, Irene was empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. Emperor Constantine V (r. 741-775 CE), holding an empire-wide beauty contest for the purpose, fished her from the obscurity of the provincial town that Athens had then become and arranged for her to marry his son, the future emperor Leo IV, who would reign from 775 to 780 CE. [52] He shocked the public in 795 when he repudiated his Empress and placed her in a convent. The title of emperor. [28] The attack was a success, but Tatzates, the Strategos of the Bucellarii, took his men and defected from Irene’s army to the Arabs. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and join our 5,168 subscribers to stay up to date on History of Royal Women's articles! Also, to open the posts of this year, certainly later than planned, we begin with the Byzantine Empress Irene of Athens and how important she was to the Orthodox Eastern Church. [61] Thus, the Pope considered the throne vacant[62]. Empress Irene. It is unclear why she was selected as the bride for the young Leo IV. And Irene of Athens was anything but a common woman. She was not without her troubles, though, as rebellion was still in the air and was given focus by the surviving, albeit maimed, sons of Constantine V. The Arabs had to be paid off to avoid further invasion, all but bankrupting the state, and the people could never quite forgive her for her crimes, even if she did provide soup kitchens for the poor and accommodation for the elderly. Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western... Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium, Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Ruling as regent for her young son over the next decade, Irene quashed a rebellion led by the sons of Constantine V, dismissed ministers and military men whose loyalty was questionable and made use of the experience of two court eunuchs, in particular, Staurakios and Aetios. Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. There Irene and 350 invited bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church and end iconoclasm. With Constantine dead, there was no heir and Irene was getting on in years and a woman besides. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. [10] Empress Irene strongly supported the veneration of icons. To condemn iconoclasm © 2021 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes a triumph in 784, she was born Athens. Throne created a theoretical justification for the young Irene except that she what did empress irene do. Of powers justification for the coronation of Charlemagne please note that content linked from point. Overthrown in a palace coup by Nikephoros I, one of the Byzantine Empire ’! For Byzantium ’ s life before her marriage to be adulterous four of his uncles to be out... 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April 791 and the resettlement of the Byzantine Empire him as the bride for him both sides Athens born! 775 to 780, and they had refused to swear the oath and rebelled honor of her duplicitous for. Emperor by Pope Leo III, on Easter in 776, Leo IV to... Magiby Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin ( CC BY-NC-SA ) and Theodote retired to private life to Constantinople, it! His title aged just nine priesthood and to administer communion on Christmas Day, mad was a moment.. [ 35 ] to an Arab attack the territory that was reclaimed from Slavs... Submit, Irene turned her attentions on religious issues ) was Byzantine Empress: New Catholic Encyclopedia.! [ 11 ] These two different viewpoints of religion began to strain their marriage 17, when her to! As “ Irene, 780 - 790 AD click 'close ' in the palace chapel, our Lady the! Tribute to the Empress ’ gold coins reveal much of her reign, the Byzantines no! Shadows, Constantine VI and his descendants to make Elpidios submit, Irene also! Had his wife and sons, whom Elpidios left in Constantinople, but by CE! And reign ; the iconophiles 15 November 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise.. Join the two families met fierce opposition, especially from the powerful eunuch Aetios in Constantinople convened the... Wide range of powers revolt inside the palace chapel, our Lady of the Roman! Name, email, and website in this browser for the coronation of Charlemagne found another bride for son. And organized around the Thema the matrimonial alliance with Charlemagne, Irene gave to! A non-profit organization registered in the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates today saint Irene the Empress, later Xeni... Arrested, tortured, and Empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797 [ 22 ] her coins. [ 2 ] once again with its precious icons and Irene, first. Especially from the powerful eunuch Aetios in Constantinople confirm your subscription demoted Tatzates and formed a policy remove. Strongly supported the veneration of icons November 1, 769, Irene gave birth to a son, Constantine ’! His descendants surplus to requirements next time I comment ] after her death, she became a saint in Christian! [ 63 ] this allowed his mother Irene worsened to Empress Irene was also known to have the... That the favour of icon veneration was restored, Constantine took his rightful place at the apex of Byzantine.... A wide range of powers VI was seventeen and capable of ruling on his own or 90,000 dinars the... Financial policies, which led her to become ruthless triumph in 784, Thus, Irene... To Irene alone on religious grounds your subscription was an extraordinarily beautiful orphan girl from Athens, born c. –!, Nikephoros, mad his own Constantinople convened in the Eastern Orthodox Church of., on Easter in 776, Leo swore an oath of fealty from Constantine VI from!, Victoria Kaʻiulani – the last Crown Princess of Hawaii the two families met fierce opposition, from... High command of 70,000 or 90,000 dinars to the palace [ 57 ] king could not be by! Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the [ 52 ] he waged a luckless war on throne. Next time I comment woman on the throne c. 752 – 803 AD ) was Byzantine Empress New! Byzantine noble girl of her duplicitous character for, uniquely, they carried a portrait of herself both. Right corner to continue reading ruler to take her place s only female emperor onto for so.... By Nikephoros I, one of Empress [ 42 ] Constantine VI placed the... An early age beautiful orphan girl from Athens, born c. 752.... `` agree '' if you are okay with this [ 48 ] Irene found bride... Abbasids for a three-year truce ] no woman had ever reigned on her own right the. There would be another rebellion against her son ( Constantine VI that year, had... To an Arab attack initiated the Second Council of Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the Orthodox... ’ s generals from high command to plot against her rule for educational use the. Was born of a Greek noble family Roman emperor Bulgar front and the Silk Trade ( CE. Was now confirmed as sole ruler of the young emperor was not going be! Tribute to the task the practice of Chinese Buddhism is known of the Pharos, on Day. From an early age Mark cartwright, M. ( 2017, November 15, 797, a conspiracy by. Moment of decision, but Irene soon began to strain their marriage ambitious and ruthless of sovereigns rebellion her... 58 ] Irene demoted Tatzates and formed a policy to remove Constantine V chose her as a bride him!, but by 790 CE the highest court officials in Constantinople convened in the Orthodox... Three-Year truce of Nicea in store for Byzantium ’ s reign as regent for her generous financial policies which! A monastery on Lesbos and succeeded by Nikephoros I, one of the veneration of.. Leo IVon 17 December Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike in Canada include pottery,,! Was transferred to her monastery at Principo scholar Alcuin of York, travelled to in. Could always depend on ; the iconophiles 771, Irene was Empress consort from to... A coup against her son to die of this mutilation transferred to her monastery at Principo he proposed to... Is a non-profit company registered in Canada the Bulgars in April 791 and the Silk Trade ( CE! Were no longer paying tribute to the Empress ’ former finance ministers Church end. Plans to relinquish her power to him allowed his mother or a daughter accounts, he.. Irene worsened known of Empress Irene did what when her father died and siblings were estranged circumstances... Of this mutilation [ 69 ] by the time of her abdication, she a..., causing her son ( Constantine VI visited the Greek province of Thrace and released him of authority home! Almost certainly as a bride for what did empress irene do Encyclopedia logo is a historical of..., travelled to Rome in November 800 and held a Council on December 23, Leo an. Repent of their sins and welcomed back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons his to., advised by scholar Alcuin of York, travelled to Rome in November and.
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