irene of athens

Her family background is not known. Irene of Athens was the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Leo IV and mother of Constantine VI, both strong iconoclasts. Leo, however, was a steadfast iconoclastwho, according to tradition, found that Irene possessed icons and thereafter would no longer … She arranged the convening of the Second Council of Nicea in 787 that restored the practice of veneration of icons. They are considered the most important person in … Another council, which is recognized by both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches as the Seventh Ecumenical Council, met at Nicaea in 787 and restored the cult of images. 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. Britannica Explores. By her marriage to Emperor Leo IV the Khazar, Irene had only one son Constantine VI, whom she succeeded on the throne. Irene Serantapechaina, known as Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian (Greek: Ειρήνη η Αθηναία, "Eirēnē") (c. 752 – August 9, 803) was a Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802, having previously been Empress consort from Constantine, however, did not like Maria and forced her to become a nun. Anger at the demand prompted the themes (administrative divisions) of Asia Minor to open resistance in 790. Irene also had a nephew. Their son was born just a little Thus the two halves of the Roman empire would be united. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Lethal and beautiful, one of the most evil women in history but also one of the most influential. Treadgold, 'The Unpublished Saint's Life of the Empress Irene', Byzantinische Forschungen, 7 (1982) 237-51.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. 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. Portraits [] Irene was born to a noble Greek family of Athens, the Sarantapechos family. Irene of Athens is similar to these monarches: Tzitzak, Theophylact (son of Michael I), Aelia Eudocia and more. Irene of Athens was one of the most ruthless, ambitious, and forceful women ever to hold a throne and, in her determination to prevent her son from reigning and her boldness in daring to become the first woman ever to hold the Roman throne, she ranks with Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt and Catherine the Great as a profound breaker with dynastic tradition. 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. 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. A female relative of Irene, Theophano was chosen in 807 by Empereor Nikephoros as the bride of his son Staurakios. Information and translations of irene of athens in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the As Constantine approached maturity, he grew resentful of his mother’s controlling influence in the empire. Irene acceded to the change of events and only asked to continue to live as a private citizen in her palace. Irene of Athens (c.752-30 September 806), also known as Irene Sarantapechos, was the Byzantine Empress regnant from 797 to 806. 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 was exiled, first to the island of Prinkipo (now Büyükada) and then to Lesbos. Her family background is not known. She had Tarasius, one of her supporters, elected patriarch of Constantinople and then summoned a general church council on the subject. In January 771 Irene gave birth to a son, the goal of all queens and empresses of the time. Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. As Constantine matured he became involved in plots to wrestle control from Irene. Irene was related to the noble Greek Sarantapechos family of Athens. Upon the death of Constantine V in 775, Irene's husband Leo ascended to the throne as Leo IV. She ruled jointly with her son, Constantine, after the death of her husband Leo. In 802 Irene was deposed and exiled to Prinkipo (now Büyükada) and then to Lesbos, where she died August 9, 803. In 798 she opened diplomatic relations with the Western emperor Charlemagne, and in 802 a marriage between her and Charlemagne was reportedly contemplated. She was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on 1 November 769, and was married to his son Leo IV on 17 December. 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. She gave birth to a son, Constantine, on January 14, 771. If you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon. By this marriage they had two daughters, Euphrosyne and Irene. 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. She was also known to have initiated the Second Council of Nicea. The couple were married in November 788. It is believed that she was born of a Greek noble family. Then, through the use of a bride-show, Irene selected Maria of Amnia as Constantine's bride. In 790, discontent swelled to open resistance when soldiers from the Theme of Armeniacs proclaimed Constantine the sole ruler. Irene had taken a hands-off attitude with Constantine's handling of his marriage. Her family background is not known. She sponsored many philanthropic endeavors, remitting taxes and canceling payments from soldiers' widows, which were required in lieu of the deceased soldiers' military service. This page was last edited on January 6, 2015, at 06:52. Please leave this field empty Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and join Irene’s zeal in restoring icons and her patronage of monasteries ensured her a place among the saints of the Greek Orthodox Church. When it met in Constantinople in 786, it was broken up by Iconoclast soldiers stationed in that city. Nikephoros was then crowned by Patriarch Tarasius in Hagia Sophia Cathedral. She was married by Constantine V, ruler of the Eastern Empire, to his son, the future Leo IV, in 769. Irene's place in the Orthodox Christian church is that of a strong defender of the veneration of images. Ruling alone, Irene reigned from 797 to 802, calling herself basileus (βασιλεύς), "emperor," rather than basilissa (βασίλισσα), "empress." Irene was born in Athens about the year 752. He was 26 years old. 42759397, citing Constantinople, Monastery of St Euphrosyne, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey ; Maintained by Find A Grave . Her feast day is August 9. Corrections? 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). Not having a dynastic background, Irene was continually confronted by opposition forces, some of whom used Leo's half-brothers as figureheads. Irene of Athens Tuesday, January 1, 752 Irene of Athens is the most famous person named Irene. Definition of irene of athens in the Definitions.net dictionary. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell. In 802 a conspiracy of officials and generals deposed her and placed on the throne Nicephorus, the minister of finance. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Meaning of irene of athens. Irene of Athens Biography: Irene came from a noble family in Athens. 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. See Article History. The marriage, however, was very unpopular with the Church, because its legality was seriously questioned. An attempt to seize power was crushed by the Empress, who demanded that the military oath of fidelity should recognize her as senior ruler. An unnamed female relative was married to the Bulgar ruler Telerig in 776. Irene was also known for her generous financial policies, which were especially friendly to monasteries. Leo, however, was a steadfast iconoclast who, according to tradition, found that Irene possessed icons and thereafter would no longer share their marriage bed. Omissions? The first woman ever to hold the throne of the Roman Caesars in her own right, however illegally, the empress Irene was born to an obscure but Although she was an orphan, her uncle or cousin Constantine Sarantapechos was a patrician and was possibly strategos of the theme of Hellas at the end of the 8th century. 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. 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. Irene of Athens, Byzantine basilissa, is comparable to Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, and Russian empress Catherine the Great. However, Irene broke off the engagement in 788, over her son's objections. Irene was born in Athens, sometime between 750-755. Each of these women's stories is a great … 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 of Athensの意味や使い方 エイレーネー (東ローマ女帝)エイレーネー“アテナイア”（ギリシア語：Ἐιρήνη ἡ Ἀθηναία, Eirēnē hē Athēnaiā、752年 - 803年8月9日）は、東ローマ帝国イサウリ... - 約1171万語ある英和辞典・和英辞典。 Irene was a strong iconodule. This council, in contrast with the robber council of 754 in Hieria, was attended by the patriarchs or their representatives. Irene was born to a noble Greekfamily of Athens, the Sarantapechos family. She was brought to Constantinopleby Emperor Constantine Von November 1, 769, and was married to his son Leo IVon December 17. To exclusive content unifying the Franks and the birth of the Eastern empire controlled... ( 1988 ) 5-27 ; see also W.T Michael I ), Aelia Eudocia more. For five years as emperor ( not empress ) for five years for her nine-year-old son emperor, January. Was consort to Leo IV and mother of Constantine VI was proclaimed sole ruler and his mother ’ controlling! Asia Minor to open resistance when soldiers from the half-brothers, she Tarasius. 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