Irene Ducas, (born c. 1066, Constantinople, Byzantine Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]—died Feb. 19, 1123 [or 1133], Constantinople), wife of the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus, known from the description of her in the Alexiad of their daughter, Anna Comnena. 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. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell. Byzantine Empress Irene 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. i'm doing a report on infamous people and want to know whether or not she is infamous. Web. When he died in 780, she became regent because his son, Constantine, was only nine years old. Solidus (Coin) of Empress Irene Date: 797-802. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Artist: Byzantine; minted in Constantinople (now Istanbul) About this artwork. Anger at the demand prompted the themes (administrative divisions) of Asia Minor to open resistance in 790. THE NICENE CREED On the evening of the 19 June 325: The Nicene Cree... d is presented for the first time, during the Council in Nicaea, to Emperor Constantine the Great (after being agreed by Papal legates and other bishops). Piroska of Hungary Árpád dynasty Born: 1088 Died: 1134 Royal titles Preceded by Irene Doukaina Byzantine Empress consort 1118–1134 Succeeded by Bertha of Sulzbach Theodora, 500 – 548. Called “Irene of Athens” in honor of her birthplace, Irene is mainly remembered for two dramatic events. The former was logothetes tou dromou or chief minister with a wide range of powers. She was also known to have initiated the Second Council of Nicea. To remain in power she, as usual, killed many people and blinded her own son who died suddenly (but perhaps not surprisingly) after the procedure. Constantine then ordered the tongues of all four of his uncles to be torn out. Byzantine Coinage of the Empress Irene – CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series. 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. Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. Aetios or Aetius (Greek: Ἀέτιος) was a Byzantine eunuch official and one of the most trusted advisers of Byzantine empress Irene of Athens (r. 797–802). We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Cartwright, Mark. 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. Constantine’s first wife, Maria, became a nun after their divorce. There Irene and 350 invited bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church and end iconoclasm. 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. 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. 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. The text was amended and shaped, in the form we know it today, in the next Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, 381. Updates? 16 Jan 2021. In this video, I cover the career of the Empress Irene and discuss why she is one of the most controversial figures in Byzantine history. Portraits of important people appear on local currency all around the world. Constantine VI was proclaimed sole ruler and his mother banished from court. 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. The Empress’ gold coins reveal much of her duplicitous character for, uniquely, they carried a portrait of herself on both sides. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 15 November 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. 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. 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. 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. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Irene & 350 bishops finally ruled to restore the orthodoxy of the veneration of icons in the Christian Church. 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. Irene Ducaena was the wife and empress of Alexios I Comnenus, marrying him shortly after he seized the throne on April 1, 1081. 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. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. When it met in Constantinople in 786, it was broken up by Iconoclast soldiers stationed in that city. An attempt to seize power was crushed by the Empress, who demanded that the military oath of fidelity should recognize her as senior ruler. 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. 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. 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. your own Pins on Pinterest 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. 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. She had Tarasius, one of her supporters, elected patriarch of Constantinople and then summoned a general church council on the subject. "Empress Irene." Cartwright, Mark. Related Content Ancient History Encyclopedia. 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. 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.. Discover (and save!) 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. In 802 a conspiracy of officials and generals deposed her and placed on the throne Nicephorus, the minister of finance. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 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. Empress Irene and the Silk Trade (752-803 CE). 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. Byzantine Ivory Panel Depicting the Adoration of the Magiby Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA). 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 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. 2760. 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. 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. Emperor Constantine brought Irene to Constantinople to marry his son (and heir to the Byzantine Empire), Leo. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Empress_Irene/. Oct 20, 2014 - Find Istanbul Turkey April 10 Empress Irene stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. In 800, Charlemagne was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III, on Christmas Day. Even this seemingly pious campaign was really only a means for Irene to defeat her enemies and keep power. Irene of Athens or Irene Sarantapechaina, c. 752 – 803, a Byzantine empress from 797 to 802, exiled to Lesbos The Empress Theodora and her attendants, from a mosaic in St. Vitale at Ravenna, Italy. 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.. These small farmers of Anatolia owed a military obligation to the Byzantine throne. Mike Markowitz - July 21, 2020. 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. 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. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. The emperor had lost the support of the one group he could always depend on; the iconophiles. Cartwright, M. (2017, November 15). She was exiled, first to the island of Prinkipo (now Büyükada) and then to Lesbos. 0. Mike Markowitz - July 21, 2020. He proved to be an ineffective and unpopular ruler, and Irene seized the throne in 797. Empress Irene was a strong proponent of the use of Icons in the Christian church, a practice that had been prohibited for 60 years. Theodora, 500 – 548. Irene of Athens (Greek: Εἰρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία; c. 752 – 9 August 803 AD), also known as Irene Sarantapechaina (Greek: Εἰρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα), was Byzantine (Eastern Roman) empress from 797 to 802. Irene of Athens or Irene Sarantapechaina (Εἰρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα) was Empress consort by marriage to Leo IV from 775 to 780, regent during the minority of her son Constantine VI from 780 until 790, and finally ruling Byzantine Empire from 797 to 802.Irene was born between 750 and 755 in Athens. 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. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. 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). 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. She was also known to have initiated the Second Council of Nicea. Irene died within a year of losing the throne she had loved so much and clung onto for so long. These were mostly staffed by women, and because of fears of having the skilled workers kidnapped they were not allowed to leave. By. Irene Palaiologina was the eldest daughter of Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and empress Theodora Palaiologina, and empress consort of Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria. 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… Article by Ancient History Encyclopedia Irene’s zeal in restoring icons and her patronage of monasteries ensured her a place among the saints of the Greek Orthodox Church. Irene played little part in government, devoting herself to piety and their many children. Her usurpation of the imperial throne created a theoretical justification for the coronation of Charlemagne. The same was true in ancient Rome, which began producing its first coinage in the late 4th century BC. Riding around Constantinople in a golden chariot launching coins into the crowds did not help much either. Constantine died shortly afterwards, almost certainly as a result of his injuries, which were intended to kill not maim. After Irene's rise to sole rule, Aetios developed an intense rivalry with her eunuch chief minister Staurakios.After Staurakios's death, Aetios became the leading man in the state. 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. Officially, Irene may have been a regent for her son the Emperor, but … 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. 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. Instead, they were permitted to repent of their sins and welcomed back into the Church now glittering once again with its precious icons. Princeton University Library One Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA 609.258.1470 phone | 609.258.0441 fax A After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. 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. Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Tweet on Twitter. Empress Irene, also known as Irene of Athens, was the consort of Emperor Leo IV, who ruled Byzantium. She continued to take an interest in all matters of her empire: politics, warfare, and religion combined and tried to win favour by announcing reductions in taxes for her people. 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. Her daughter, the erudite Anna Comnena, wrote glowingly of her mother in her history, The Alexiad – extolling her beauty, wisdom, and care for her family. Little is known of the young Irene except that she was an extraordinarily beautiful orphan girl from Athens, born c. 752 CE. As Constantine approached maturity, he grew resentful of his mother’s controlling influence in the empire. Irene of Athens 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. Troubled times were in store for Byzantium’s most ambitious and ruthless of sovereigns. In one ninth-century example, the eunuch Staurakios helped Empress Irene overthrow and blind her own son. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. (115). 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. 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. In 797 Irene had … By. With the army opposition dealt with, Staurakios accompanied Irene to the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in September 787 CE. Prior to becoming empress regnant, Irene was empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. The army still contained many iconoclasts, and they had refused to swear loyalty to Irene alone on religious grounds. Irene left a lasting impression not only on Byzantine coins, but also on the empire. She was educated like any other Greek Byzantine noble girl of her class. But Irene’s beauty was simply not enough to make for an agreeable marriage. 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. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. Empress Irene. 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´s vassals would have revolted and usurped the title of the Empress of the Byzantine Empire from her. Image of christianity, jesus, pantocrator - 131388754 Tweet on Twitter. Powerful Facts About Empress Irene, The Byzantine Rebel Beauty, brains, and an iron will: Irene of Athens used all of these to stay in power in the cut-throat world of the Byzantine Empire. The wife of the Byzantine emperor Leo IV, Irene became, on her husband’s death in September 780, guardian of their 10-year-old son, Constantine VI, and co-emperor with him. The Emperor Theophilus (r. 829–842) had two-winged bronze doors with his monograms installed at the southern entrance of … At that time, all religious pictures and statues were removed from the Hagia Sophia. Once abroad the army was disbanded and their positions of authority back home taken by those more loyal to the Empress. Ten years later, he assumed the throne as Constantine VI. According to the contemporary Byzantine historian Theophanes, the scheme was frustrated by one of Irene’s favourites. To make matters worse, the couple had a son 18 months later. 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. Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. There were often coups against the ruler in the Byzantine Empire and it means that the union between the Frankish and the Byzantine Empires would have been quite short. After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.. "Empress Irene." Constantine VI ruled from 780 to 797 CE, inheriting his title aged just nine. As empress, Irene made determined efforts to stamp out iconoclasm everywhere in the empire, including within the ranks of the army. It was a rare moment of decision, but it was too little, too late. Solidus (Coin) of Empress Irene Date: 797-802. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Mark is a history writer based in Italy. 0. John Kantakouzenos was a Byzantine prince. Mosaic of Empress Irene, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. A relative of Irene’s, Theophano of Athens, was married in 807 by Nikephoros to his son Staurakios. After violent opposition from Iconoclasts, Irene managed to arrange the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, at which the use of Icons was restored. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. 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.... Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. In effect, they ruled jointly for the next five years, but Irene soon began to plot against her son. 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. Her feast day is August 9. Corrections? Irene Ducaena was the wife and empress of Alexios I Comnenus, marrying him shortly after he seized the throne on April 1, 1081. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Nov 2017. In January 792, however, Irene was allowed to return to court and even to resume her position as co-ruler. 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. She is best known for ending Iconoclasm. 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. Called “Irene of Athens” in honor of her birthplace, Irene is mainly remembered for two dramatic events. Irene built the palace of Eleutherios, which was surrounded by the silk workshops. However, the new approach to join the two families met fierce opposition, especially from the powerful eunuch Aetios in Constantinople. Irene is sometimes recognized as a saint in the Greek or Eastern Orthodox Church, with a feast day of August 9. Irene then reigned alone as emperor (not empress) for five years. 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