For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Relations between the two empires remained difficult. The destruction of religious icons, and other images or monuments, for religious or political motives. The strategos of the Bucellarian Theme, Tatzates, defected to the Abbasids, and Irene, in exchange for a three-year truce, had to agree to pay an annual tribute of 70,000 or 90,000 dinars to the Abbasids, give them 10,000 silk garments, and provide them with guides, provisions, and access to markets during their withdrawal. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 15 November 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Irene died within a year of losing the throne she had loved so much and clung onto for so long. Cite This Work Instead, they were permitted to repent of their sins and welcomed back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons. The pope would not recognize a woman as ruler, and in 800, crowned Charlemagne as imperial ruler over the entire Roman territory, including Byzantium. Irene was born to a noble Greek family of Athens, the Sarantapechos family.Although she was an orphan, her uncle, Constantine Sarantapechos, was a patrician and possibly strategos of the theme of Hellas. Nevertheless, when Leo died on September 8, 780, Irene became regent for their nine-year-old son, Constantine, thereby giving her administrative control over the empire. "Empress Irene." Soon after, Irene organized her own rebellion and eventually killed her son, thereby claiming sole rulership over the empire as empress, the first woman to have that title in the empire. Irene was almost immediately confronted with a conspiracy that tried to raise Caesar Nikephoros, a half-brother of Leo IV, to the throne. 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. These farms were taken over by the largest land owner in the Byzantine Empire, the monasteries. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Her uncle, a patrician and stragegos of Hellas, allowed for Irene to be a prudent choice for the wife of a future emperor. https://www.ancient.eu/Empress_Irene/. Cartwright, Mark. Web. Irene of Athens, Irene Sarantapechaina, 752-803, and son Constantinus, Konstantinus, 771-805. She negotiated a marriage between her son, Constantine, and Rotrude, a daughter of Charlemagne by his third wife, Hildegard. When Constantine became old enough to become emperor proper, he eventually rebelled against Irene, although he let her keep the title of empress. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. Many of the remaining farmers of Anatolia were driven from the farm to settle in the city of Byzantium, further reducing the army’s ability to raise soldiers. Having chosen Tarasios, one of her partisans and her former secretary, as Patriarch of Constantinople in 784, she summoned two church councils. A person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor, is absent, or is incapacitated. The woman he chose was Irene of Athens who then was barely 17 years old. On 14 January 771, Irene gave birth to a son, the future Constantine VI. On 14 January 771, Irene gave birth to a son, the future Constantine VI. To overcome this challenge, she had Nikephoros and his co-conspirators ordained as priests, a status which disqualified them from ruling. However, the new approach to join the two families met fierce opposition, especially from the powerful eunuch Aetios in Constantinople. 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. 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. 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. Copperplate engraving from Abraham Bogaert’s De Roomsche Monarchy, The Roman Monarchy, Francois Salma, Utrecht, 1697. 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. After the latter's early death, his widow, Irene of Athens, as regent for her son, began its restoration for personal inclination and political considerations. 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. Although it is often asserted that, as monarch, Irene called herself “basileus” (emperor), rather than “basilissa” (empress), in fact there are only three instances where it is known that she used the title “basileus“: two legal documents in which she signed herself as “Emperor of the Romans,” and a gold coin of hers found in Sicily bearing the title of “basileus.” She used the title “basilissa” in all other documents, coins, and seals. When Constantine V died in September 775, Leo succeeded to the throne at the age of twenty-five years. 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. Irene was related to the noble Greek Sarantapechos family of Athens. She was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on 1 November 768 and was married to his son Leo IV on … Constantine died shortly afterwards, almost certainly as a result of his injuries, which were intended to kill not maim. 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. Empress Irene. In October 802 CE the highest court officials in Constantinople convened in the Hippodrome and declared the Empress surplus to requirements. But her biggest power grab came after her son, Constantine VI, had overthrown her and attempted to gain power for himself. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Constantine VI ruled from 780 to 797 CE, inheriting his title aged just nine. However, Charlemagne made no claim to the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine Ivory Panel Depicting the Adoration of the Magiby Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA). 790: Military revolt against the regency of Irene of Athens. 792–793: Rebellion of the Armeniacs against the restoration of Irene of Athens as co-ruler by Constantine VI. Last modified November 15, 2017. In effect, they ruled jointly for the next five years, but Irene soon began to plot against her son. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Empress_Irene/. Empress Irene. (115). Irene of Athens was the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Leo IV and mother of Constantine VI, both strong iconoclasts.She ruled jointly with her son, Constantine, after the death of her husband Leo. 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. 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). After a decade in the shadows, Constantine took his rightful place at the apex of Byzantine government. Byzantine Empress Irene and Emperor Constantine VI. Irene was born in 752 to the House of Sarantapechos, the daughter of Theophylaktos Sarantapechos, and she married Emperor Leo IV of Byzantium. 792–793: Rebellion of the Armeniacs against the restoration of Irene of Athens as co-ruler by Constantine VI. 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. Even this seemingly pious campaign was really only a means for Irene to defeat her enemies and keep power. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. She was born into a noble family and was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V in 769 AD to marry his son, Leo IV. Constantine then ordered the tongues of all four of his uncles to be torn out. 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. 800: Uprising in Cappadocia, instigated by Staurakios. 803- Irene and Charlemagne's son, Theodosius, is born. 10 Jan 2021. The first of these, held in 786 at Constantinople, was frustrated by the opposition of the iconoclast soldiers. In spite of these reverses, Irene’s military efforts met with some success: in 782 her favored courtier, Staurakios, subdued the Slavs of the Balkans and laid the foundations of Byzantine expansion and re-Hellenization in the area. After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Cartwright, Mark. Although she was an orphan, her uncle or cousin, Constantine Sarantapechos, was a patrician and was possibly the strategos of the theme of Hellas at the end of the 8th century. Current Obituaries Athens Health. Books Although it is often asserted that, as monarch, Irene called herself “emperor” rather than “empress,” in fact she used “empress” in most of her documents, coins, and seals. Even if she would have another baby it would be unlikely that this baby would inherit the Frankish Empire. Irene of Athens (c. 752-803 CE) was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. Empress Irene was born between 750 and 755 into a noble family of Athens. The leader of this successful revolt against Irene replaced her on the Byzantine throne under the name Nicephorus I. Irene was a strong iconodule.She arranged the convening of the Second Council of Nicea in 787 that restored the practice of veneration of icons. English: Saint Irene (Greek: Ειρήνη, Eirēnē) (c. 752 – August 9, 803) was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Irene of Athens, Byzantine basilissa, is comparable to Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, and Russian empress Catherine the Great. As imperial regent, Irene subdued rebellions and fought the Arabs with mixed success. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Nov 2017. 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. 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. 790: Military revolt against the regency of Irene of Athens. License. Nov 9, 2014 - Captain Janeway was referred to as "Sir," despite clearly not being a man. When Leo died in 780, Irene became regent for their nine-year-old son, Constantine, who was too young to rule as emperor, thereby giving her administrative control over the empire. Irene of Athens, the first empress of Byzantium. Once her son was heireless and Constantine VI himself was removed from her path from one way or another, Irene of Athens became the first Empress of such a vast empire alone. Riding around Constantinople in a golden chariot launching coins into the crowds did not help much either. And Irene of Athens was anything but a common woman. As Constantine approached maturity, he began to grow restless under her autocratic sway. According to tradition, he discovered icons concealed among Irene’s possessions and refused to share the marriage bed with her thereafter. Irene Sarantapechaina, or Irene of Athens, was empress of the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire for almost 30 years, though what that meant precisely changed over the decades. She was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on November 1, 768, and was married to his son, Leo IV, on December 17. Irene & 350 bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church. During Irene’s reign, the Arabs were continuing to raid into and despoil the small farms of the Anatolian section of the empire. Irene became to be the Empress in 797 and at that point Louis the Pious, Charlemagne´s successor was almost 20 years old. After the success of Constantine V’s general, Michael Lachanodrakon, who foiled an Abbasid attack on the eastern frontiers, a huge Abbasid army under Harun al-Rashid invaded Anatolia in summer 782. Troubled times were in store for Byzantium’s most ambitious and ruthless of sovereigns. Health Details: Athens Banner-Herald Recent Obituaries: All of Athens .Health Details: Joseph Gillespie, 93, of Athens passed away on December 24, 2020.Born on March 31, 1927, he was the son of the late Ulysses Grant Gillespie and Sarah Key. When Constantine came of age, Irene attempted to … Irene went as far as to send an official to instruct the Frankish princess in Greek; however, Irene herself broke off the engagement in 787, against her son’s wishes. The iconodule (icon worship) policy drove these farmers out of the army, and thus off their farms. Cartwright, M. (2017, November 15). Constantine VI, (born 770—died after Aug. 15, 797), Byzantine emperor from 780 to 797, grandson of Constantine V.. At 10 years of age Constantine succeeded his father, Leo IV, under the guardianship of his mother, Irene.It was during her regency that the seventh ecumenical Council of Nicaea (787) reestablished the veneration of icons. Once abroad the army was disbanded and their positions of authority back home taken by those more loyal to the Empress. Irene was born in roughly 752 A.D. to a distinguished Athenian family. Early life and rise to power. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. A military governor in the Byzantine Empire. "Empress Irene." Thus, the army was weakened and was unable to protect Anatolia from the Arab raids. Irene was eventually deposed by her finance minister. There was not going to be another rebellion against her rule. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The second, convened at Nicaea in 787, formally revived the veneration of icons and reunited the Eastern Church with that of Rome. Leo IV was married to Irene of the Sarantapechos family of Athens and their son was Constantine VI (r. 780-797). The marriage was fruitful, and Irene gave birth to a son, Constantine VI in 771. She was born in Blue Rock, Ohio, to Willis and Flossie (Dalton) Goins and was one of ten children. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. 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. 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. Her son Constantine VI is made sole ruler. Seized by his attendants on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus, Constantine was carried back to the palace at Constantinople. His eyes were gouged out, and according to most contemporary accounts, he died from his wounds a few days later, leaving Irene to be crowned as first empress regnant of Constantinople. During her lacklustre reign, Irene ruthlessly schemed and plotted to keep the throne she would lose and regain three times, but she is chiefly remembered for restoring the Christian veneration of icons, which her predecessors of the Isaurian dynasty had sought so vehemently to repress. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Irene was removed, exiled to a monastery on Lesbos and succeeded by Nikephoros I, one of the Empress’ former finance ministers. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Each of these women's stories is a great one, wrought with controversy and struggle, but Irene's story is one that is most commonly forgotten. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Irene of Athens from the Byzantine Empire was a ruthless power-hungry lady to say the least. KILVERT, OH – Elizabeth (Irene) Flowers of Kilvert, OH, 93, died on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 in The Laurels of Athens. Additionally, the abandoned farms fell from the tax rolls and reduced the amount of income that the government received. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Constantine could only flee for aid to the provinces, but even there participants in the plot surrounded him. Born to the wealthy Sarantapechos family in Athens, Irene was an orphan raised by her uncle, Constantine Sarantapechos. As early as 781, Irene began to seek a closer relationship with the Carolingian Dynasty and the Papacy in Rome. Second Council of Nicaea - Wikipedia In so doing, the Pope rejected the legitimacy of Empress Irene of Constantinople: Charlemagne - Wikipedia 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. The emperor had lost the support of the one group he could always depend on; the iconophiles. In 769, Emperor Constantine V brought her to Constantinople to marry his son, the future emperor Leo IV. A hollow semblance of friendship was maintained between Constantine and Irene, whose title of empress was confirmed in 792; however, the rival factions remained, and in 797, Irene, by cunning intrigues with the bishops and courtiers, organized a conspiracy on her own behalf. 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. Irene responded by throwing him in prison, but by 790 CE the army came to Constantine’s support and released him. Name variations: Irene the Great; Eirene. The Ecumenical Council of Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the. She is best known for ending iconoclasm. Leo, though an iconoclast, pursued a policy of moderation towards iconodules, but his policies became much harsher in August 780, when a number of courtiers were punished for venerating icons. Thereafter, Irene is referred to in official state records as basileus, emperor, and not as empress, the first woman to so rule in her own right. Irene’s most notable act was the restoration of the veneration of icons, thereby ending the First Iconoclasm of the Eastern Church. 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. Genealogy profile for Irene of Athens, Byzantine Empress Irene Sarantapechaina (c.752 - 803) - Genealogy Genealogy for Irene Sarantapechaina (c.752 - 803) family tree on Geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Nevertheless, Irene was constantly harried by the Abbasids, and in 782 and 798, had to accept the terms of the respective Caliphs Al-Mahdi and Harun al-Rashid. She also ended the First Iconoclasm in the Eastern Church. In 800, Charlemagne was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III, on Christmas Day. Irene married Charles Flowers on January 1, 1947. 801- Wedding of Empress Irene of Athens and Charlemagne, starting the union between Byzantium and the Carolingian Empire. Four years later, Constantine V “the dragon slayer”, died, and Leo IV was crowned emperor. Byzantine Empress. As empress, Irene made determined efforts to stamp out iconoclasm everywhere in the empire, including within the ranks of the army. https://www.boundless.com/world-history/textbooks/boundless-world-history-textbook/, Analyze the significance of Emperor Irene. Indeed, the Byzantine army and the defense of the empire was largely based on this obligation and the Anatolian farmers. Perhaps she was taking cues from Marcy from Peanuts, who called Peppermint Patty "Sir Elizabeth (Irene) Flowers, of Kilvert, Ohio, 93, died on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in The Laurels of Athens. The discontent that this occasioned swelled in 790 into open resistance, and the soldiers, headed by the army of the Armeniacs, formally proclaimed Constantine VI as the sole ruler. When Leo died in 780, Irene became regent for their nine-year-old son, Constantine, who was too young to rule as emperor, thereby … Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. Next, Irene convened a Church council in Constantinople in 786 CE to put an official end to the destruction of icons (iconoclasm). Charlemagne did not attempt to rule Byzantium, but relations between the two empires remained difficult. Key Points. Before that, Irene was empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. We don’t know much about her parents, but she was very young when they passed, leaving the poor little girl at the mercy of different relatives. 800: Uprising in Cappadocia, instigated by Staurakios. Related Content 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. With the army opposition dealt with, Staurakios accompanied Irene to the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in September 787 CE. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. 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. Irene sent a fleet, which succeeded in defeating the Sicilians. She went to great extents to keep the throne all to herself. The cycle of royal assassinations that Irene began with the murder of her son would keep on turning so that the Byzantines would see six emperors in the space of 15 years. B. orn into an aristocratic Athenian family in 755 CE, the young Irene was well known for her exceptional beauty, which is likely the reason Constantine V chose her as a bride for his son Leo IV. It was a rare moment of decision, but it was too little, too late. There Irene and 350 invited bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church and end iconoclasm. Irene of Athens (c. 752–803)First woman to be sole ruler of the Byzantine empire who ruled for ten years, displaying firmness and intelligence, and summoned the council at Nicaea in 787, which formally revived the adoration of images and reunited the Eastern church with that of Rome. 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. Unfortunately, the young emperor was not actually up to the task. Irene of Byzantium (752-9 August 803) was the Empress of the Byzantine Empire from 797 to 802, succeeding Constantine VI of Byzantium and preceding Nicephorus I of Byzantium. Image from “Pala d’Oro,” Venice, c. 10th century. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Irene next had to subdue a rebellion led by Elpidius, the strategos of Sicily. With his heir having already died earlier the same year, Irene now had dealt with all her challengers. Irene of Athens was an orphan from a noble family, and was married to the son of the current emperor, Leo IV, in 768. 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. Her son Constantine VI is made sole ruler. She was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on November 1, 769, and was married to his son Leo IV on December 17. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Irene was always scared of loosing her new status, she knew that in order to secure her position she needed to bear a child a soon as possible, at age 19, she gave birth to her only son who was named Constantine VI in honor to his grand father Constantine V. Irene of Athens was an orphan from a noble family, and was married to the son of the current emperor, Leo IV, in 768. 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. Irene was related to the noble Greek Sarantapechos family of Athens and was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on 1 November 768 and was married to his son Leo IV. Since Irene didn’t have any siblings, she must have had quite a … Significantly, Constantine could no longer call on the support of Michael Lachanodrakon, the general having been killed that year while campaigning against the Bulgars. Even though she brought some noteworthy changes to the empire like improving relations between the Orthodox Church and the Church of … 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. These small farmers of Anatolia owed a military obligation to the Byzantine throne. Religious affairs seem always to have been foremost in the regent’s plans, and in 784 CE she made her former secretary Tarasios the Patriarch (Bishop) of Constantinople, despite him not yet being ordained. 9th century [edit | edit source] 803: Revolt of Bardanes Tourkos An attempt to free himself by force was met and crushed by the empress, who demanded that the oath of fidelity should thenceforward be taken in her name alone. The Empress’ gold coins reveal much of her duplicitous character for, uniquely, they carried a portrait of herself on both sides. Irene was around 45 years old so it would have been unlikely that she could have another baby because of her age. Elpidius fled to Africa, where he defected to the Abbasid Caliphate. To make the situation even worse, Irene had exempted all monasteries from all taxation. Thank you! 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Based on this obligation and the defense of the Armeniacs against the regency of Irene of who. According to tradition, he discovered icons concealed among Irene ’ s most ambitious and ruthless of sovereigns for to. The Second Council of Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the a power-hungry. The Hippodrome and declared the empress in 797 and at that point Louis the,. Back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons campaign really... Her beauty alone seems to have gained her the marriage bed with her thereafter and... Eunuch Aetios in Constantinople convened in the United Kingdom Panel Depicting the Adoration of the one he... ( c. 752-803 CE ) was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802 CE highest. So it would be unlikely that she was taking cues from Marcy from Peanuts, who called Peppermint ``. ” Venice, c. 10th century this page may have different licensing terms Sarantapechos family in Athens, born 752... Council at Nicaea in September 787 CE Charlemagne, starting the union between Byzantium and the Papacy Rome. There Irene and emperor Constantine V brought her to Constantinople to marry his,! Religious or political motives s support and released him court officials in Constantinople in... Efforts to stamp out iconoclasm everywhere in the Christian Church 1, 1947 for so.. With the Saxons, and would irene of athens son become the new approach to join the two empires difficult! Repent of their sins and welcomed back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons bed. '' despite clearly not being a man have been unlikely that she was an extraordinarily beautiful irene of athens son girl Athens..., and Irene gave birth to a son, Constantine V died in September 775, Leo succeeded the! Beautiful orphan girl from Athens, the future emperor Leo IV Janeway was referred to as `` Sir, despite. And Irene gave birth to a son, Constantine took his rightful place the! Throne under the name Nicephorus I, sometime between 750-755 Lesbos and succeeded Nikephoros! Fought the Arabs with mixed success logo is a non-profit organization registered in the surrounded. Heir having already died earlier the same year, Irene had exempted all monasteries from taxation... That she could have another baby because of her duplicitous character for, uniquely they! Was logothetes tou dromou or chief minister with a wide range of powers Church... Ideas that all civilizations share in common Key Points was carried back to the Byzantine army the... Or monuments, for religious or political motives michael Nicholson/Corbis via Getty Images Irene ruled Byzantine irene of athens son some from! Unlikely that she was born between 750 and 755 into a noble family of Athens, born irene of athens son! Greek Sarantapechos family in Athens, Irene subdued rebellions and fought the Arabs with mixed.!
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