When Leo died in 780, she became regent for her nine-year-old son. At this time, October 31, 802, the nobles of the empire, having been concerned with her financial incompetency, took action and chose Nikephoros, Irene's finance minister, as emperor. Nikephoros was then crowned by Patriarch Tarasius in Hagia Sophia Cathedral. Later in that year she crushed what seems to have been a plot by the Iconoclasts (opposers of the use of icons) to put Leo’s half brother, Nicephorus, on the throne. If you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon. By skillful intrigues with the bishops and courtiers she organized a conspiracy against Constantine, who was arrested and blinded at his mother’s orders (797). Irene (c. 752 - 9 August 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. Information and translations of irene of athens in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the Irene of Athens (780-802), Solidus, Constantinople, AD 797-802 AV (g 4,41; mm 19; h 6) Bust of Irene facing, wearing loros and crown with cross, pinnacles and pendilia, holding a globus cruciger and a cross tipped sceptre, Rv. Irene’s zeal in restoring icons and her patronage of monasteries ensured her a place among the saints of the Greek Orthodox Church. Theodore the Studite wrote a praising letter [1] to Irene because of her work in supporting icons. See Article History. Since Irene didn’t have any siblings, she must have had quite a lonely childhood being shuttled from one house to another. Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. The first woman ever to hold the throne of the Roman Caesars in her own right, however illegally, the empress Irene was born to an obscure but Thus the two halves of the Roman empire would be united. 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. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Irene of Athens (Greek: Εἰρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία; c. 752 – 9 August 803 AD), also known as Irene Sarantapechaina (Greek: Εἰρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα), was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. Irene acceded to the change of events and only asked to continue to live as a private citizen in her palace. In 802 a conspiracy of officials and generals deposed her and placed on the throne Nicephorus, the minister of finance. Irene was related to the noble Greek Sarantapechos family of Athens. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell. She was born about 752. This came at a critical point in history, when the eastern empire was controlled by iconoclasts. It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. By this marriage they had two daughters, Euphrosyne and Irene. Each of these women's stories is a great … By 792, the feud between Irene and her son had cooled and Irene's title as empress was confirmed. Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. She gave birth to a son, Constantine, on January 14, 771. In January 771 Irene gave birth to a son, the goal of all queens and empresses of the time. By her marriage to Emperor Leo IV the Khazar, Irene had only one son Constantine VI, whom she succeeded on the throne. Irene was born in Athens, sometime between 750-755. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Irene of Athens (c.752–803), Find a Grave Memorial no. He was 26 years old. 42759397, citing Constantinople, Monastery of St Euphrosyne, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey ; Maintained by Find A Grave . It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. She had Tarasius, one of her supporters, elected patriarch of Constantinople and then summoned a general church council on the subject. Same It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. Irene of Athens (Greek: Εἰρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία, Eirénē ē Athēnaía; c. 752 – 9 August 803), surnamed Sarantapechaina (Σαρανταπήχαινα), was Byzantine empress consort by marriage to Emperor Leo IV from 775 to 780, regent during the minority of her son Constantine VI from 780 until 790, co-regent from 792 until 797, and finally sole ruler and first empress regnant of the Byzantine Empire from 797 to 802. Captured by forces friendly to Irene, Constantine was brought back to Constantinople to the Purple Palace, Porphyra, where he was born, and there blinded in mid-August 797, apparently with the foreknowledge of his mother, Irene. Then, she had them administer communion at the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord to demonstrate that they had rejected politics. However, after she had disclosed the location of the imperial treasures she held Nikephoros banished her to the island of Lesbos, where she supported herself by spinning. Events came to a head when emissaries from Charlemagne and Pope Leo arrived in Constantinople with a proposal of marriage between Irene and Charlemagne. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Irene had taken a hands-off attitude with Constantine's handling of his marriage. Rivalries in court also intensified. Irene of Athens was one of the most ruthless, ambitious, and forceful women ever to hold a throne and, in her determination to prevent her son from reigning and her boldness in daring to become the first woman ever to hold the Roman throne, she ranks with Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt and Catherine the Great as a profound breaker with dynastic tradition. With the election of Tarasius as the Patriarch of Constantinople on December 25, 784, she was able to convene the Seventh Ecumenical Council. As Constantine matured he became involved in plots to wrestle control from Irene. When it comes to Irene of Athens, who ruled the Byzantine Empire at the turn of the 9 th century, iconoclasm was fine as long as it wasn’t for religious reasons. Then, through the use of a bride-show, Irene selected Maria of Amnia as Constantine's bride. Not having a dynastic background, Irene was continually confronted by opposition forces, some of whom used Leo's half-brothers as figureheads. This council, in contrast with the robber council of 754 in Hieria, was attended by the patriarchs or their representatives. Irene, (born c. 752, Athens—died Aug. 9, 803, Lesbos), Byzantine ruler and saint of the Greek Orthodox Church who was instrumental in restoring the use of icons in the Eastern Roman Empire. Anger at the demand prompted the themes (administrative divisions) of Asia Minor to open resistance in 790. Initially convened in Constantinople on August 1, 786, the council was moved to Nicea in May 787 because of the instigated opposition in Constantinople of soldiers loyal to the iconoclasts who forced the dissolution of the 786 sessions. FAQs. Her family background is not known. Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. 100 Women Trailblazers. Irene of Athens Tuesday, January 1, 752 Irene of Athens is the most famous person named Irene. Definition of irene of athens in the Definitions.net dictionary. Irene then reigned alone as emperor (not empress) for five years. Upon the death of Constantine V in 775, Irene's husband Leo ascended to the throne as Leo IV. Irene of Athens, Byzantine basilissa, is comparable to Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, and Russian empress Catherine the Great. Constantine VI was proclaimed sole ruler and his mother banished from court. Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. 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. She was married by Constantine V, ruler of the Eastern Empire, to his son, the future Leo IV, in 769. The couple were married in November 788. 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. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Although she was an orphan, her uncle, Constantine Sarantapechos, was a patricianand possibly strategosof the themeof Hellas. To blunt the threat from the half-brothers, she had them ordained as priests, since clergy could not rule. However, Irene broke off the engagement in 788, over her son's objections. Irene of Athens is similar to these monarches: Tzitzak, Theophylact (son of Michael I), Aelia Eudocia and more. Irene of Athens was the first woman to be sole ruler (Autokrator) of the Byzantine empire. Irene favoured the restoration of the use of icons, which had been prohibited in 730. Biography Irene was born in 752 to the House of Sarantapechos, the daughter of Theophylaktos Sarantapechos, and she married Emperor Leo IV of Byzantium. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Irene-Byzantine-empress-752-803, Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors - Biography of Constantine VI and Irene. For what she thought was for the safety and protection of her family The council affirmed the principle of veneration of icons and declared iconoclasm a heresy. In January 792, however, Irene was allowed to return to court and even to resume her position as co-ruler. Her family background is not known. Irene Serantapechaina, known as Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian (Greek: Ειρήνη η Αθηναία, "Eirēnē") (c. 752 – August 9, 803) was a Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802, having previously been Empress consort from She was the wife of Leo IV. Seeking closer relations with the Carolingians, Irene negotiated a marriage between her son and Rotrude, who was a daughter of Charlemagne by his third wife Hildegard. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... 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