Queens of the world: Irene of Athens, Byzantine Empress
Summary
TLDRIrene of Athens, a Byzantine empress, ruled as regent for her son, Constantine VI, before becoming the first Roman empress to rule independently. Her reign was marked by religious conflict, political intrigue, and the restoration of icon veneration, ultimately leading to the Great Schism. Despite her controversial rule, Irene's legacy endures as a symbol of female power in a male-dominated era.
Takeaways
- 👑 Irene of Athens was the first woman to rule as a Roman empress in her own right, following the blinding of her son, Constantine VI.
- 🏛 Born around 752 in Athens, Greece, Irene grew up in a politically influential family within the Byzantine Empire, which was the Eastern Roman Empire at the time.
- 🛡 The Byzantine Empire emerged in the early 400s after the Western Roman Empire fell to barbarian invasions, with Constantinople becoming the new capital.
- 📚 Byzantine literacy rates were high due to the Greek tradition of valuing education, which was reflected in the populace's engagement with farming and learning.
- 🎲 The script humorously connects the Byzantine people's literacy and agricultural skills to the modern game Word Farm Adventure, suggesting they would excel at it.
- 👰 Irene was chosen as a bride for Emperor Leo IV amidst religious tensions of the 8th century, particularly regarding the veneration of icons.
- 🛑 As regent for her son, Irene quelled plots against her rule and strategically placed eunuchs in her council to prevent noble dynasties from forming.
- 🔄 Irene's rule saw religious shifts, including the restoration of icon veneration, which was popular among the people and improved relations with the Pope.
- 💔 Tensions between Irene and her son led to his rebellion, which she crushed, and eventually his blinding, an act considered cruel but a political maneuver in the Byzantine Empire.
- 🌐 Irene's reign was marked by controversy, including the Pope's decision to crown Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans, thus creating two rival Roman Empires.
- 📉 Financial troubles, including high ransoms to the Abbasid Caliphate and the elimination of taxes, contributed to Irene's downfall and deposition in 802.
Q & A
Who was Irene of Athens and what was her significance in history?
-Irene of Athens was a Byzantine Empress who ruled as regent for her son, Constantine VI, and later became the first Roman Empress to rule in her own right. She is known for her role in the restoration of icon veneration and for her controversial actions, including the blinding of her own son.
What was the religious conflict during Irene's time known as?
-The religious conflict during Irene's time was known as Iconoclasm, a period where the use of religious icons and images was prohibited and destroyed by the state, viewing them as idolatrous.
Why was Irene's selection as Leo IV's bride surprising?
-Irene's selection was surprising because her family and the Emperor were on opposing sides of the Iconoclasm debate. Her family supported icon veneration, while the Emperor was an iconoclast.
How did Irene's husband, Leo IV, initially differ from his father in terms of religious policy?
-Leo IV was initially more moderate than his father, especially on the issue of iconography. He removed many of the penalties imposed by his father, showing a more lenient stance towards the use of religious icons.
What was the significance of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in Irene's reign?
-The Seventh Ecumenical Council was significant in Irene's reign as it ruled in favor of the veneration of icons, effectively ending the period of Iconoclasm and restoring the use of religious images in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Why did Pope Leo III consider the Roman throne vacant during Irene's reign?
-Pope Leo III considered the Roman throne vacant because he did not believe a woman could hold the title of Emperor, which was Irene's claim. He instead awarded the title to Charlemagne, creating a rivalry between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
What was the impact of Irene's actions on the relationship between the Eastern and Western Churches?
-Irene's actions, particularly her support for icon veneration, initially improved relations with the Pope and the Western Church. However, disagreements on other religious issues and political rivalries eventually led to the Great Schism of 1054, separating the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church.
How did Irene's rule affect the Byzantine Empire's political structure?
-Irene's rule challenged traditional political structures by being the first woman to rule as Emperor in her own right. She also made significant changes in the imperial court, including filling her council with eunuchs from low-born origins to prevent the formation of rival noble dynasties.
What was the outcome of Irene's conflict with her son, Constantine VI?
-The conflict between Irene and her son, Constantine VI, ended with Irene ordering the blinding of Constantine, which was a common political maneuver to render members of the imperial family unfit to reign. Constantine later died from his wounds.
How did the Byzantine Empire's literacy rates compare to Western Europe during Irene's time?
-The Byzantine Empire had significantly higher literacy rates than Western Europe during Irene's time, largely due to the ancient Greek tradition of valuing education, which extended to the common people and resulted in most peasants attending school into their teens.
What was the final fate of Irene of Athens?
-Irene of Athens was eventually deposed due to financial difficulties and political plots against her. She was allowed to live in dignified exile on the island of Lesbos, where she died the following year. She was later canonized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Outlines
👑 Rise of Irene of Athens and the Byzantine Empire's Struggle
Irene of Athens, born around 752 in Greece, ascended to power as regent for her son, Constantine VI, the Eastern Roman Emperor. Her rule was marked by a conflict with the Pope over her legitimacy, leading to the emergence of two rival Roman Empires. Irene's early life was influenced by the politically powerful Sarin Topicos family. The Byzantine Empire, formed after the Western Roman Empire's fall, was characterized by high literacy rates and a tradition of valuing education. Irene's reign began with her marriage to Leo IV and was later defined by her struggle against iconoclasm, the religious debate of the time. Despite her controversial actions, including blinding her son, she became the first Roman empress to rule independently.
🏰 Irene's Consolidation of Power and Religious Conflicts
After the death of her husband, Emperor Leo IV, Irene became regent for her young son, Constantine VI. She navigated the treacherous waters of court intrigue and secured her position by eliminating potential threats and filling her council with loyal eunuchs. Irene's rule was marked by her struggle with iconoclasm, a religious debate that divided the empire. Despite initial challenges, including accusations of her husband's poisoning, she managed to maintain her authority and even attempted to form alliances with Charlemagne, the Frankish king. Her efforts to promote the veneration of icons and her eventual success in convening the Seventh Ecumenical Council to restore the practice endeared her to the people and the church.
🛡️ Military Challenges and Irene's Political Maneuvering
Irene's rule was not without its military challenges, as she faced rebellions and invasions from external forces such as the Abbasid Caliphate. She was forced to make costly ransom payments to secure peace. Internally, she dealt with Constantine's growing discontent and his eventual rebellion, which she quelled. Irene's political acumen was evident in her handling of the court and her strategic appointments, including her son's marriage to Maria of Amnia, a move that further solidified her power. However, Constantine's later actions, including his ill-advised military campaigns and scandalous personal life, strained their relationship and led to Irene's increased control over the empire.
👁️ The Blinding of Constantine VI and Irene's Sole Reign
As Constantine VI's rule became more disastrous, Irene saw an opportunity to remove him from power. Following a failed rebellion by her son, Irene orchestrated a coup that resulted in Constantine's capture and the gruesome punishment of having his eyes gouged out, a common yet brutal method to render a member of the imperial family unfit to rule. With Constantine's subsequent death, Irene assumed full control of the empire, becoming the first woman to do so since the times of Augustus. Her reign was marked by controversy, especially when Pope Leo III considered the Roman throne vacant and crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans, an act that deeply offended Irene and her people.
🏛️ Irene's Downfall, Legacy, and the Byzantine Empire's Aftermath
Empress Irene's reign ultimately ended due to financial difficulties caused by high ransoms and the elimination of taxes to appease the populace. In 802, she was deposed by a group of patricians and replaced by Nikephoros I, her minister of finance. Despite her controversial actions, Irene was protected by powerful friends in the church and was allowed to live in exile on the island of Lesbos. She was later canonized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church for her role in restoring the veneration of icons. The Byzantine Empire continued to face instability, with several emperors succeeding one another in quick succession, reflecting the turbulent times that followed Irene's rule.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Irene of Athens
💡Byzantine Empire
💡Iconoclasm
💡Empress Regent
💡Constantine VI
💡Papacy
💡Charlemagne
💡Seventh Ecumenical Council
💡Word Farm Adventure
💡Great Schism
Highlights
Irene of Athens became the first Roman empress to rule in her own right after having her son's eyes gouged out.
Irene was born in Athens around 752 and grew up in a politically influential family.
The Byzantine Empire emerged in the early 400s after the Western Roman Empire fell to barbarian invasions.
Irene's selection as Leo IV's bride was surprising due to the religious debate of the time.
Irene's husband, Leo IV, was initially more moderate on the issue of iconography than his father.
Emperor Leo IV's death led to Irene becoming regent for her son, Constantine VI.
Irene quelled a plot against her son and filled her council with eunuchs to prevent noble dynasties.
Irene minted coins featuring herself and her son as co-rulers, a bold statement of her power.
Irene was known for her generosity, freeing of prisoners, and was well-liked by the common people.
Irene sought an alliance with Charlemagne, the Frankish king, but their alliance eventually fell apart.
The Seventh Ecumenical Council ruled in favor of the veneration of icons, supported by Irene.
Irene's religious conviction led to a temporary reunion with the Church of Rome and improved relations with the Pope.
Constantine VI rebelled against his mother's rule but was easily crushed by Irene.
Irene's son's scandalous marriage to his mistress led to a loss of support from nobles and the church.
Irene's religious beliefs and political maneuvers led to her ordering the blinding of her own son.
Irene's reign was controversial, leading Pope Leo III to consider the Roman throne vacant and crown Charlemagne as Emperor.
Irene was eventually deposed due to financial issues and lived in exile on the island of Lesbos.
Empress Irene was canonized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church for her work in restoring the veneration of icons.
Transcripts
queens of the world
irene of athens byzantine empress
thank you to word farm adventure for
sponsoring this video
irene of athens ruled as regent for her
son
eastern roman emperor constantine vi
but when he rose up against her and
threatened her religious conviction she
had his eyes gouged out
thus she became the first roman empress
to rule in her own right
but because the pope did not believe a
woman could hold the title he awarded it
to charlemagne thus creating two rival
roman empires one in the east and the
other in the west
irene was born in athens greece around
752
her parents died when she was a baby and
she grew up in the household of her
uncle who was a powerful patrician and
general the sarin topicos family was one
of the most politically influential in
greece which was part of the byzantine
empire known as the eastern roman empire
in its own time the byzantine empire
came to be in the early 400s when
barbarians sacked and conquered the
western regions of the roman empire
including rome itself
roman emperor honorius retreated to
constantinople and made the city his new
capital while the roman emperors were
ruling in the east the pope the head of
the catholic church remained in rome but
successive popes continue to recognize
the emperors sitting on the throne in
constantinople as the legitimate rulers
of all the land formerly part of the
roman empire
while the pope and the eastern roman
empire frequently clashed on a variety
of religious questions this papal
relationship and recognition remained
deeply important to the eastern roman
emperors
the common people of the byzantine
empire were primarily engaged in farming
and herding but because of the ancient
greek tradition of valuing education
most peasants attended school into their
teens byzantine literacy rates were
significantly higher than those in
western europe this combination of
agricultural and literacy skill would
have made the ancient byzantines
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and now back to history in her late
teens irene was selected as a bride for
leo iv the son of emperor constantine v
she was a surprising choice as her
family and the emperor were on opposing
sides of the hot religious debate of the
8th century
iconography the emperor was an
iconoclast he hated the veneration of
religious images and icons
he viewed them as sinful idolatrous and
against the second commandment
he destroyed church art wherever he
found it and persecuted those who held
with icons
the pope on the other hand promoted the
veneration of icons claiming that they
were not worshiping the icons themselves
but merely using them as a
representation for christ and other
worshipful saints
the fact that irene an iconophile was
selected as the future empress consort
still baffles historians
it is theorized that she may have been
chosen not for her mind or her religious
conviction but for her looks as part of
the custom known as a bride show
numerous beautiful maidens were paraded
in front of a royal groom and he would
select the one he desired most this was
a common practice among byzantine
emperors russian tsars and chinese
emperors
if irene was part of a bride show she
would have been the first byzantine
consort selected in this manner the
young bride moved to constantinople in
769
and two years later she gave birth to a
son named constantine
in
775 her father-in-law constantine v died
while campaigning against the bulgarians
irene's husband thus became emperor leo
iv and irene empress consort
leo was initially more moderate than his
father especially on the issue of
iconography
he removed many of the penalties imposed
by his father
but when he discovered two icons under
irene's pillow he flew into a rage leo
scolded his wife and refused to sleep
with her ever again
irene insisted she had not known that
the icons were there but her husband
launched an investigation to discover
who had led her astray
several courtiers were arrested and
subjected to the popular punishment for
upperclass offenders at the time being
scourged and tonsured or being whipped
and having their heads shaved for a
priest this haircut was a sign of
humility but for a noble it was a sign
of shame
emperor leo was suffering from
tuberculosis
and as his only child was still an
infant two of his brothers nikki foros
and christopher schemed to get the
throne for themselves
in order to secure his own dynasty leo
crowned his five-year-old son caesar and
named him his successor
nikiforos and christopher's plot to
overthrow at their brother was exposed
but despite public outcry for their
executions leo merely banished them from
constantinople
in 780 after five years on the throne
emperor leo died of a violent fever due
to his tuberculosis
rumor went about that he had been
poisoned by his ambitious wife
irene countered the slander by spreading
her own propaganda that her late husband
had been struck down by heaven after
trying on a jeweled crown which had
belonged to an ancient emperor irene's
nine-year-old son was now emperor
constantine vi
and irene was his regent
she quickly uncovered a plot among
members of the imperial court to depose
her son in favor of his uncle nikiforos
she had the conspirators scourged and
tonsured
in order to break the power of the noble
families she filled her council with
eunuchs who came from low-born origins
and were incapable of forming their own
noble dynasties
she also had her husband's four brothers
forcibly ordained as priests thus making
them ineligible for the throne she
further humiliated them by making them
serve communion at the highest sophia on
christmas day at 7 80. during the
service irene made a great display of
her own majesty with a full imperial
procession
during which she returned to the church
the ancient crown that had supposedly
killed her husband thus illustrating the
divine favor for her own rule
she did make one concession to her
husband's family by offering the nominal
position of co-regent to leo's sister
anthuza but she refused the offer
female regents were expected to sit back
and let the counselors rule on their
son's behalf the last female regent who
had tried to take power empress martina
had been deposed had her tongue cut out
and was banished to the island of rhodes
but despite the danger empress irene was
not interested in taking a back seat to
power
from the beginning she made it clear
that she was in charge this is boldly
illustrated in the coins she had minted
which featured both herself and her son
and named them co-rulers rather than a
ruler and his regent irene is shown
holding the orb a symbol of power and
her name is listed on the front while
constantine's name is listed on the back
irene was famous for her liberality
generosity and freeing of prisoners and
was well liked by the common people she
sought an alliance with charlemagne the
frankish king who was conquering lands
throughout western europe she betrothed
her son constantine to charlemagne's
daughter rotruda and sent a monk to
teach the princess the greek language
and customs
but other external problems plagued her
rule the general of sicily rebelled
against irene and she defeated him but
he fled and defected to the abbasid
caliphate the muslim empire that ruled
the north african coast and much of the
middle east the general came back with
the abbasid army and invaded the eastern
frontier of irene's empire even more of
her generals defected and in order to
make a truce the empress was forced to
send a ransom of 90 000 dinars and 10
000 silk garments annually to the
caliphate despite the ransom payments
the empire continued to be plagued by
abbasid attacks
out from under the eye of her iconoclast
father-in-law and husband irene was
finally able to practice the deeply held
religious beliefs she had long kept
secret the veneration of icons
and she wanted her people to be free to
practice the same belief but she had to
bide her time
in 784 the iconoclastic patriarch died
and irene appointed a replacement who
was sympathetic to the cause she then
summoned a council of churchmen loyal to
her to rule on the issue of iconography
the council was dispersed by hostile
troops who had been recruited by irene's
father-in-law years earlier once things
settled down irene sent the iconoclast
soldiers on a mission to the eastern
frontier to defend the empire from
opposite attacks
with them out of the way she recruited
her own troops who protected the council
while they reconvened
the seventh ecumenical council ruled in
favor of the veneration of icons
thus endearing irene to her people who
had long lived under the religious
persecution of the iconoclasts the act
also reunited the eastern church and the
church in rome and greatly improved
relations with the pope but charlemagne
was insulted that irene had not
requested his representatives to attend
the council and they also disagreed on
another big religious question of the
day
charlemagne believed that both god and
christ were origins of the holy spirit
while irene believed that only god was
their alliance fell apart and they broke
off the engagement between their
children
charlemagne invaded parts of irene's
empire on the italian peninsula and in
the balkans but irene's counter-attack
retook more than what she had lost in
the vulcans
irene held a bride show for her teenage
son
of the 13 candidates all hand-picked by
his mother constantine selected for his
wife maria of omnia scion of a minor
noble family maria gave birth to two
daughters
as constantine approached adulthood he
began to grow restless under his
mother's rule in typical teenage fashion
he led a rebellion against her which she
crushed with ease
irene then demanded that her name appear
first on government documents and that
the oath of fidelity taken by courtiers
soldiers and civil servants be only in
her name the army sided with a young
emperor
and they rose up to throw the empress
and her entourage of eunuchs out of the
palace
now in full power constantine proceeded
to make a disaster of his rule he
launched ill-planned campaigns against
the bulgars and the abbasid caliphate
both of which he lost spectacularly
losing him the respect of the army to
save face he invited his mother back as
his co-regent and they maintained an
uncomfortable truce for a few years
after six years of marriage constantine
grew tired of his wife maria who was
favored by his mother he was also
frustrated that she had not borne him a
male heir he sent his wife and two
daughters to a convent and married his
mistress theodot who had been one of
irene's ladies in waiting the scandal
infuriated nobles and churchmen as it
was seen as an imperial attempt to
legalize adultery divorce and remarriage
were both condemned by the church
theodot bore a son but he was declared
illegitimate and would not have been
eligible to inherit the throne even if
he hadn't died in infancy irene
privately encouraged her son's
matrimonial escapades as part of her
plan to get the inept young emperor off
of the throne constantine shared his
father's religious beliefs and he was
becoming a rallying point for
iconoclasts to once again outlaw the
veneration of icons
the deeply devout empress placed her
religious convictions above and beyond
what feelings of love she had left for
her petulant son
powerful members of the church turned
against constantine and sided with his
mother and together they plotted to
overthrow the emperor with the writing
on the wall constantine tried to flee
the capital and meet up with troops
loyal to his grandfather whom his mother
had sent to the eastern frontier but he
was captured just outside the capitol
dragged back to the palace and thrown
before his mother irene ordered that her
son's eyes be gouged out
this seems unthinkably cruel and while
it is it was also a common political
maneuver in the byzantine empire to
render members of the imperial family
unfit to reign
constantine died of his wounds several
days later
a solar eclipse blotted out the sun for
17 days and the people said the darkness
was a sign of heaven's horror
from then on irene ruled the empire in
her own right becoming the first woman
to do so since augustus founded the
roman empire eight centuries earlier in
27 bce
she used the title basilios emperor
rather than basilisa empress
but the title of emperor encompassed a
variety of different offices titles and
positions including commander-in-chief
of the army many of which could legally
only be held by a man
irene's reign was highly controversial
thus pope leo iii considered the roman
throne legally vacant
meanwhile in western europe irene's old
rival charlemagne was swallowing up more
and more land he set up his new empire
in the fashion of the ancient romans he
sponsored intellectual and artistic
endeavors as well as enormous
construction projects standardizing
weights and measures and issuing laws
throughout his empire charlemagne's
domain now surrounded the papal state
and he was granting personal protection
to pope leo iii from his enemies on
christmas day the pope crowned
charlemagne imperator romanarium emperor
of the romans thus christening his vast
western holdings the resurrection of the
roman empire
this domain would later become the holy
roman empire
but emperor of the romans was the title
which for 400 years had been bestowed
upon the emperor in constantinople the
title irene considered hers
she and her people were deeply offended
they made efforts to emphasize their
superiority and roman identity but until
the fall of the holy roman empire in the
19th century western europeans would
continue to call its ruler the roman
emperor and the eastern roman empire the
empire of the greeks renaissance
italians actually coined the term
byzantine empire to distinguish and
diminish
the eastern roman empire from the
ancient roman empire of which they felt
they were the rightful successors
the eastern and western churches
continued to limp along together
frequently squabbling over various
religious issues until the great schism
of 1054 when the eastern orthodox church
finally went their own way
under charlemagne and irene relations
between the western and eastern roman
empires were fraught to say the least
the two rulers thought to calm the
tensions by marrying each other
charlemagne's fourth wife litergard had
recently died and he hoped that as irene
had no children and was now 48 past
childbearing age that one of his many
sons might take the eastern empire after
her death but the wedding was delayed by
the jealousy of one of irene's eunuch
advisors and never came to pass
empress irene's final downfall was the
result of insufficient funds in order to
appease the populace after the murder of
her son she had to lower or eliminate
many taxes but she was still paying high
ransoms to the abbasid caliphate who
continued to ravage the frontier
provinces with the imperial outgoings
surpassing its incomings irene was in
serious trouble in 802 a group of
patricians plotted against and deposed
the empress she had been in power for 27
years the throne was given to nikolforos
the first her minister of finance
but thanks to her restoration of icon
veneration the queen had many a powerful
friends in the church who offered her
their protection so rather than be
maimed blinded or murdered as was
customary for deposed rulers she was
allowed to live in dignified exile on
the island of lesbos
she died there the following year
emperor nikiforos only lasted three
years he launched an especially brutal
campaign against the bulgarians but was
defeated by krom the khan of bulgaria
who beheaded him and had his skull
fashioned into a drinking cup
several other emperors took the throne
in quick succession in 820 michael ii
became emperor based on a rather shaky
family lineage in order to solidify his
claim to the throne he abducted irene's
granddaughter yuffrossin who had been
living in a convent with her mother and
sister since they had been cast out by
constantine
emperor michael forced euphrasine to
marry him but their union was childless
he died six years later and after
yufrasin organized a bride show for her
stepson she returned to her convent in
peace
empress irene was canonized as a saint
in the eastern orthodox church shortly
after her death in thanks for her work
to revive the veneration of icons and
the restoration of monasteries
her saints day is celebrated on august
7th
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