Constantine V died in 775, and Leo IV, known as the Khazar for his maternal heritage, became the emperor, and Irene the empress consort. one child: Constantine VI (January 14, 771 – about 797 or before 805), emperor 780 - 797. Theodote had been one of his mother’s ladies-in-waiting. Part of the Isaurian (Syrian) dynasty ruling the Eastern Roman Empire. Same type. Nikephoros was then crowned by Patriarch Tarasius in Hagia Sophia Cathedral. To that end, a council was convened in 786, which ended up disbanded when it was disrupted by forces backed by Irene’s son Constantine. Then, through the use of a bride-show, Irene selected Maria of Amnia as Constantine's bride. Irene was born c. 752 to the influential Sarantapechos family of Athens (hence the moniker); she was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V and married to his son Leo in 768. The rival factions continued their intrigues and, in 797, Constantine found it necessary to flee the palace. Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian (Greek: Ειρήνη η Αθηναία) (c. 752 – 9 August 803) is the name by which Irene Sarantapechaina (Greek: Ειρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα), a Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802, is commonly known. In 790, discontent swelled to open resistance when soldiers from the Theme of Armeniacs proclaimed Constantine the sole ruler. She is most remembered for her marriage to Charlemagne in 803, unifying the Franks and the Byzantines. She is best known for ending Iconoclasm. Leo, however, was a steadfast iconoclastwho, according to tradition, found that Irene possessed icons and thereafter would no longer … In 803, the officials in government rebelled against Irene. Irene came from a noble family in Athens. 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. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Medieval Queens, Empresses, and Women Rulers, Biography of Anna Comnena, the First Female Historian, Five Roman Empresses You Shouldn't Invite to Dinner, M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School. She ruled jointly with her son, Constantine, after the death of her husband Leo. In 797, a conspiracy led by Irene to regain power for herself succeeded. The next year, the Byzantines were at war with the Franks; the Byzantines largely prevailed. In 802 Irene was deposed and exiled to Prinkipo (now Büyükada) and then to Lesbos, where she died August 9, 803. Another victory by the Arabs reduced Irene’s support among the government leaders. Her family background is not known. Irene of Athens (c.752-30 September 806), also known as Irene Sarantapechos, was the Byzantine Empress regnant from 797 to 806. Constantine managed, with the support of the military, to take full power as emperor, though Irene retained the title of Empress. Irene came from a noble family in Athens. Count No Man Happy: A Byzantine Fantasy (835 words) no match in snippet view article find links to article Count No Man Happy: A Byzantine Fantasy is a novel or fictionalized biography published in 2011 by author Paul Kastenellos. F. Halkin, Analecta Bollandiana, 106 (1988) 5-27; see also W.T. In the meantime, having taken Theodote, Irene's lady-in-waiting, as mistress, Constantine arranged that Theodote be crowned augusta, a title which Maria was not granted, and then married her. She was born about 752. 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. She was married by Constantine V, ruler of the Eastern Empire, to his son, the future Leo IV, in 769. In 792, Irene’s title as empress was reconfirmed, and she also regained power as co-ruler with her son. Their daughter Euphrosyne, also living at the nunnery, married Michael II in 823 against Maria’s wishes. Sarantapechos and ? By 792, the feud between Irene and her son had cooled and Irene's title as empress was confirmed. Constantine was not a successful emperor. 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. Leo died in September of 780 of a fever while fighting against the Caliph’s armies. Events came to a head when emissaries from Charlemagne and Pope Leo arrived in Constantinople with a proposal of marriage between Irene and Charlemagne. This council, in contrast with the robber council of 754 in Hieria, was attended by the patriarchs or their representatives. She was brought to Constantinopleby Emperor Constantine Von November 1, 769, and was married to his son Leo IVon December 17. Leo exiled his half-brothers. 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. This time, she was replaced on the throne by Nikephoros, a finance minister. It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. Ruling alone, Irene reigned from 797 to 802, calling herself basileus (βασιλεύς), "emperor," rather than basilissa (βασίλισσα), "empress." Not having a dynastic background, Irene was continually confronted by opposition forces, some of whom used Leo's half-brothers as figureheads. The Caliph Al-Mahdi invaded Leo’s lands several times, always defeated. Irene of Athens - Champion of Orthodoxy and the Birth of the Welfare State. English: Saint Irene (Greek: Ειρήνη, Eirēn ē) (c. 752 – August 9, 803) was Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. The couple were married in November 788. Of the thirteen possibilities, she selected Maria of Amnia, a granddaughter of Saint Philaretos and daughter of a wealthy Greek official. Irene of Athens (c. 752 – 9 August 803), also known as Irene Sarantapechaina, was Byzantine empress consort by marriage to 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. All posts. Constantine, however, did not like Maria and forced her to become a nun. The decision of the council was to end the banning of image veneration while clarifying that the worship itself was to the Divine Being, not to the images. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. The half-brothers attempted another uprising in 799, and the other brothers were at that time blinded. The marriage, however, was very unpopular with the Church, because its legality was seriously questioned. This letter became the beginning of the misconception that Irene is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Irene's place in the Orthodox Christian church is that of a strong defender of the veneration of images. Upon the death of Constantine V in 775, Irene's husband Leo ascended to the throne as Leo IV. Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian (Greek: Εἰρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία; c. 752 – 9 August 803 AD) is the commonly known name of Irene Sarantapechaina (Greek: Εἰρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα), Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802. Sparta was Demoted to Extra , becoming a theme park for Romans who saw Spartan rites and manliness as a kind of professional wrestling sports entertainment of antiquity, and saw The Spartan Way as the province of circus freaks. 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. Both Irene and her son signed the document adopted by the Council which ended on October 23, 787. Technically, the throne was not hereditary, and the leaders of government had to elect the emperor. Though this claim is not supported by the Menaion, the "Lives of Saints" by Nikodemos the Hagiorite, or any other related book of the Orthodox Church, some Western sources [2] still cite Irene as a saint of the Orthodox Church, based on the writings of the Bollandists. Irene was born in Athens sometime between 750 and 755. She was a member of the noble Greek Sarantapechos family, which had significant political influence in central mainland Greece. One was with his five younger half-brothers, who challenged him for the throne. By this marriage they had two daughters, Euphrosyne and Irene. Their son was born just a little over a year after the marriage. The Byzantines did not recognize Charlemagne as Emperor until 814, and never recognized him as Roman Emperor, a title they believed was reserved for their own ruler. He crushed an Armenian revolt with reported cruelty. The Pope had aligned himself with Irene in her work to restore veneration of images, but he could not support a woman as ruler. 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. Prior to becoming empress regnant, Irene was empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. 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. Free WiFi is available. Jone Johnson Lewis is a women's history writer who has been involved with the women's movement since the late 1960s. Leo, however, was a steadfast iconoclast who, according to tradition, found that Irene possessed icons and thereafter would no longer share their marriage bed. Although she was an orphan, her uncle or cousin Constantine Sarantapechos was a patrician and possibly also a strategos ("general") of the theme of Hellas at the end of the eighth century. Her usurpation of the imperial throne created a theoretical justification for the coronation of Charlemagne. Count No Man Happy recounts A relative of Irene’s, Theophano of Athens, was married in 807 by Nikephoros to his son Staurakios. Irene is sometimes recognized as a saint in the Greek or Eastern Orthodox Church, with a feast day of August 9. Irene acceded to the change of events and only asked to continue to live as a private citizen in her palace. FAQs. The controversy over icons continued; his ancestor Leo III had outlawed them, but Irene came from the west and revered icons. Irene had taken a hands-off attitude with Constantine's handling of his marriage. This was, however, one more reason that Constantine lost support. That he died shortly after is assumed by some; in other accounts, he and Theodote retired to private life. Pronunciation of Irene Of Athens with 1 audio pronunciation, 14 translations and more for Irene Of Athens. To blunt the threat from the half-brothers, she had them ordained as priests, since clergy could not rule. With Leo's death, his son became emperor as Constantine VI, but since he was only ten years old his mother Irene was installed with him as co-emperor, and she immediately reversed the iconoclastic policies of her husband. 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. That she was a woman, and an iconophile offended many, and her late husband’s half-brothers again tried to take over the throne. After her son Theophilus became emperor and married, she returned to religious life. Her zeal for the restoration of icons put an end to the most virulent phase of iconoclasm in the Byzantine empire and paved the way for the permanent acceptance of icons in the Orthodox Church. Filter by post type. By her marriage to Emperor Leo IV the Khazar, Irene had only one son Constantine VI, whom she succeeded on the throne. Rivalries in court also intensified. Since Irene didn’t have any siblings, she must have had quite a lonely childhood being shuttled from one house to another. In the clash over the veneration of icons, a patriarch, Tarasius, was appointed in 784, on condition that veneration of images was to be reestablished. History of Athens-Wikipedia Leo IV tried to reconcile the parties, appointing a patriarch of Constantinople who was more aligned with the iconophiles (icon lovers) than the iconoclasts (literally, icon smashers). In 780, Irene arranged a marriage for her son with a daughter of the Frankish King Charlemagne, Rotrude. She was also known to have initiated the Second Council of Nicea. Sarantapechaina Wife of Leo IV the Khazar, Byzantine Emperor Mother of Konstantinos VI Porphyrogénete, Byzantine Emperor and Isaakios Comnenos Sebastokrator Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. After Irene's deposition, the forces for iconoclasm returned to power, finally to be defeated under another strong iconodule leader, the Empress Theodora. The other was born after his father was deposed, and apparently died young. Irene of Athens, Byzantine basilissa, is comparable to Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, and Russian empress Catherine the Great. During Theodote’s life, their residence became a monastery. Irene was born in Athens sometime between 750 and 755. 42759397, citing Constantinople, Monastery of St Euphrosyne, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey ; Maintained by Find A Grave . 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. Treadgold, 'The Unpublished Saint's Life of the Empress Irene', Byzantinische Forschungen, 7 (1982) 237-51. https://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Irene_of_Athens&oldid=120658. Constantine, son of Leo and Irene, was only nine years old at his father’s death, so Irene became his regent, along with a minister named Staurakios. Learning from the experience in Constantinople, Irene arranged that the council in 787 would be away from the capital, in Nicea, which incidentally was the site of Constantine the Great's council of 325. She died the following year. As Constantine matured he became involved in plots to wrestle control from Irene. She was a member of the noble Greek Sarantapechos family, which had significant political influence in central mainland Greece. husband: Emperor Leo IV the Khazar (January 25, 750 – September 8, 780); married December 17, 769, son of Constantine V Copronymus who arranged the marriage and his first wife Irene of Khazaria. The council affirmed the principle of veneration of icons and declared iconoclasm a heresy. However, Irene broke off the engagement in 788, over her son's objections. Irene was born to a noble Greekfamily of Athens, the Sarantapechos family. This page has been accessed 43,263 times. Known for: sole Byzantine emperor, 797 – 802; her rule gave the Pope the excuse to recognize Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor; convened the 7th Ecumenical Council (2nd Council of Nicaea), restoring icon veneration in the Byzantine Empire, Occupation: empress consort, regent and co-ruler with her son, ruler in her own rightDates: lived about 752 – August 9, 803, ruled as co-regent 780 – 797, ruled in her own right 797 – October 31, 802Also known as Empress Irene, Eirene (Greek). Charlemagne was astute enough to realize, of course, that Irene's reign would one day end and that he would eventually be faced with an emperor legitimate in Byzantine eyes. Irene of Athens was the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Leo IV and mother of Constantine VI, both strong iconoclasts. She accepted her fall from power, perhaps to save her life, and was exiled to Lesbos. She gave birth to a son, Constantine, on January 14, 771. 93 relations. She died on August 9, 803. Some contemporaries and later scholars suspected Irene of poisoning her husband. Theodote and Constantine had two sons; one was born in 796 and died in May of 797. By 794, Constantine had a mistress, Theodote, and no male heirs by his wife, Maria. 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. He married Theodote in September 795, though the Patriarch Tarasius objected and would not take part in the marriage though he came around to approving it. Mother and son were already clashing on certain ideas (Irene loved icons; Constantine hated them). Because the Byzantine empire was now ruled by a woman, who by law could not head the army or occupy the throne, Pope Leo III declared the throne vacant, and held a coronation in Rome for Charlemagne on Christmas Day in 800, naming him Emperor of the Romans. [1] Although she was an orphan, her uncle or cousin Constantine Sarantapechos was a patrician and possibly also a strategos ("general") of the theme of Hellas at the end of the eighth century. To forestall threats of disloyalty and to strengthen her position in these feuds, Irene demanded that oaths of fidelity be taken only in her name. The years of Leo’s rule were full of conflicts. She showed little interest in finance or diplomacy, but made her mark in the Orthodox Christian world by rejection of iconoclasm. Irene was born in roughly 752 A.D. to a distinguished Athenian family. She was born about 752. The marriage took place in November. It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. This page was last edited on January 6, 2015, at 06:52. 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. Thus the two halves of the Roman empire would be united. Jump to navigation Jump to search. They apparently were the center of another plot to take over power in 812 but were again exiled. Prior to becoming Empress regnant, Irene had been empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. Being in poor health, Leo died after only five years as emperor, on September 8, 780. Ideally located in the heart of Athens, yet connected to the seaside southern suburbs, Casa D'Irene is close to major sights of Athens. Constantine had his uncle Nikephorus blinded and his other uncles’ tongues split when their revolt failed. Constantine and Maria had one or two daughters (sources disagree). She was married by Constantine V, ruler of the Eastern Empire, to his son, the future Leo IV, in 769. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. 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. Constantine’s first wife, Maria, became a nun after their divorce. Irene of Athens (Εἰρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία; 752 – 9 August 803 AD), also known as Irene Sarantapechaina (Εἰρήνη Σαρανταπήχαινα), was Byzantine empress consort by marriage to Leo IV from 775 to 780, Byzantine regent during the minority of her son Constantine VI from 780 until 790, and finally ruling Byzantine (Eastern Roman) empress from 797 to 802. They were discovered; Irene had the brothers ordained into the priesthood and thus ineligible to succeed. Category:Irene of Athens. Usually, she signed documents as empress (basilissa) but in three instances signed as emperor (basileus). That same year, over Constantine’s objections, Irene ended the betrothal of her son to the daughter of Charlemagne. Irene Sarantapechaina: Birthdate: circa 752: Birthplace: Athens, Greece: Death: August 09, 803 (46-55) о. Лесбос, Greece Immediate Family: Daughter of ? Empress Irene of Athens was the first female ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Athens lies 5 miles (8 km) from the Bay of Phaleron, an inlet of the Aegean (Aigaíon) Sea where Piraeus (Piraiévs), the port of Athens, is situated, in a mountain-girt arid basin divided north-south by a line of hills. The world-renowned Acropolis and its magnificent museum lie within 3 metro stops from Agios Ioannis Station, 250 yards from the property. Another meeting was assembled in Nicaea in 787. Before that, Irene was empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. 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. irene of athens < > Most recent. He was soon defeated in battle by the Bulgars and then by the Arabs, and his half-uncles again attempted to take control. Their son was born just a little over a year after the marriage. Please consider supporting OrthodoxWiki. Irene was born in Athens sometime between 750 and 755. [1] This came at a critical point in history, when the eastern empire was controlled by iconoclasts. Although she was an orphan, her uncle, Constantine Sarantapechos, was a patricianand possibly strategosof the themeof Hellas. Her family background is not known. He was 26 years old. DOC 1a.1; Sear 1599; Füeg 1.C.1. Vita Irenes, 'La vie de l'impératrice Sainte Irène', ed. Rare, minor area of weakness on reverse, otherwise about fdc. A military revolt against Irene in 790 erupted when Irene would not hand over authority to her 16-year-old son, Constantine. Irene was born in Athens, sometime between 750-755. Irene apparently attempted to arrange a marriage between herself and Charlemagne, but the scheme failed when she lost power. She was a member of the noble Greek Sarantapechos family, which had significant political influence in central mainland Greece. Theodore the Studite wrote a praising letter [1] to Irene because of her work in supporting icons. A After her death, she became a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He divorced Maria in January 795, exiling Maria and their daughters. Most popular Most recent. 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. Irene of Athens (c. 752 – 9 August 803), also known as Irene Sarantapechaina, was Byzantine empress consort by marriage to 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 o In the great dispute over Byzantine Iconoclasm, Athens is commonly held to have supported the iconophile position, chiefly due to the role played by Empress Irene of Athens in the ending of the first period of Iconoclasm at the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. In January 771 Irene gave birth to a son, the goal of all queens and empresses of the time. 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. 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. This also brought the Eastern church back into unity with the church of Rome. With the election of Tarasius as the Patriarch of Constantinople on December 25, 784, she was able to convene the Seventh Ecumenical Council. In 788, Irene held a bride show to select a bride for her son. searching for Irene of Athens 3 found (142 total) alternate case: irene of Athens. 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. Athens, under conquest, flourished in the Hellenistic and Roman era, remaining a major student town until Late Antiquity, and becoming the modern capital of Greece. By 780, Leo had reversed his position and was again supportive of the iconoclasts. 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. Irene now ruled in her own right. When Leo died in 780, she became regent for her nine-year-old son. Although she was an orphan, her uncle or cousin Constantine Sarantapechos was a patrician and possibly also a strategos ("general") of the theme of Hellas at the end of the eighth century. How to say Irene Of Athens in English? Irene of Athens was the first woman to be sole ruler (Autokrator) of the Byzantine empire. These were economically disastrous moves for the empire as a whole, leading the patriarchs to want to end her reign. Text. Greater Athens has an area of 165 square miles (427 square km). Before becoming empress, she was consort to Leo IV from 775 to 780 and empress dowager from 780 to 797. 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