Queens of the world: Irene of Athens, Byzantine Empress

Summary

Irene 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

00:00

👑 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.

05:01

🏰 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.

10:02

🛡️ 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.

15:04

👁️ 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.

20:05

🏛️ 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.

Keywords

💡Irene of Athens

Irene of Athens was a Byzantine empress who played a significant role in the video's narrative. Born in Athens, Greece, she rose to power as a regent for her son, Emperor Constantine VI. Her rule was marked by her religious convictions, particularly her support for the veneration of icons, which was a contentious issue of the time. The video highlights her as the first Roman empress to rule in her own right, showcasing her political acumen and the challenges she faced.

💡Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, is the historical context of the video. It was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The script discusses the empire's political structure, its religious conflicts, and its cultural practices, such as valuing education and literacy, which were higher than in Western Europe at the time.

💡Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm refers to the religious policy of the Byzantine Empire that opposed the use of religious images and icons, viewing them as idolatrous. The video script describes how Irene's husband and father-in-law were iconoclasts, and it was a significant conflict during her time. Irene herself was an iconophile, supporting the veneration of icons, which eventually led to the Seventh Ecumenical Council ruling in favor of icon veneration.

💡Empress Regent

An empress regent is a female monarch who rules in place of an underage or incapacitated emperor. In the video, Irene initially served as regent for her son, Constantine VI. The script illustrates her transition from regent to the first woman to rule the Roman Empire in her own right, which was a groundbreaking event in the history of the empire.

💡Constantine VI

Constantine VI was the son of Irene of Athens and Emperor Leo IV. The video script details his rise to power as a child emperor under his mother's regency and his later conflict with her, which culminated in his rebellion and subsequent blinding ordered by Irene. His rule and relationship with his mother are central to the video's storyline.

💡Papacy

The papacy, represented by the Pope, was the head of the Catholic Church and had a complex relationship with the Byzantine Empire. The video mentions the Pope's recognition of the Byzantine emperors as legitimate rulers and the conflicts over religious issues, such as icon veneration. The Pope's decision to award the title of Emperor of the Romans to Charlemagne instead of Irene further illustrates the political and religious tensions of the time.

💡Charlemagne

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was a Frankish king who became a rival to Irene. The script describes how Charlemagne's empire in the west grew in power and eventually led to the creation of the Holy Roman Empire. His relationship with Irene, including their failed alliance and marriage plans, is a key aspect of the political dynamics presented in the video.

💡Seventh Ecumenical Council

The Seventh Ecumenical Council was a significant religious gathering that Irene convened to address the issue of icon veneration. The video script highlights how the council ruled in favor of the veneration of icons, which was a major victory for Irene and the iconophiles, and it helped to mend relations with the Pope and the Western Church.

💡Word Farm Adventure

Word Farm Adventure is a game that is mentioned in the video as a sponsor. The game combines word puzzles with a farmscape adventure, allowing players to solve crossword puzzles and complete word scramble missions. The script humorously suggests that the ancient Byzantines, with their agricultural and literacy skills, would have been adept at playing such a game.

💡Great Schism

The Great Schism refers to the event in 1054 when the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church formally split. The video script mentions this as a future event that would further divide the Eastern and Western Churches, which had already been experiencing tensions and disagreements, as seen in the conflicts between Irene and the Pope.

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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[Music]