Irene of Athens

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Irene of Athens
Isaurian
ReligionChalcedonian Christianity

Irene of Athens (

iconophile sympathies. During her rule as regent, she called the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, which condemned iconoclasm as heretical and brought an end to the first iconoclast period (730–787). Her public figure was very polarizing during her 5 year reign, as most saw it as wrong for a woman to rule solely. Her reign as such made her the first ever empress regnant, ruling in her own right, in Roman and Byzantine imperial history.[1]

The untimely death of her husband caused the throne to actually fall to her, leaving her solely in charge. During her regency with her son, Constantine VI, Irene became very influential in government policies.[2] As Constantine VI reached maturity, he began to move out from under the influence of his mother. In the early 790s, several revolts tried to proclaim him as sole ruler. One of these revolts succeeded, but in 792 Irene was re-established in all imperial powers as co-emperor with Constantine VI.[3] In 797, Irene organized a conspiracy in which her supporters gouged out her son's eyes, maiming him severely. He was imprisoned and probably died shortly afterwards. With him out of the way, Irene proclaimed herself sole ruler. Pope Leo III—already seeking to break links with the Byzantine East—used Irene's alleged unprecedented status as a female ruler of the Roman Empire to proclaim Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day of 800 under the pretext that a woman could not rule and so the throne of the Roman Empire was actually vacant. A revolt in 802 overthrew Irene and exiled her to the island of Lesbos, supplanting her on the throne with Nikephoros I. Irene died in exile less than a year later.[4]

Early life

Irene was born in

theme of Hellas at the end of the eighth century.[5] Constantine Sarantapechos's son Theophylact was a spatharios and is mentioned as having been involved in suppressing a revolt in 799.[5] According to Theophanes the Confessor, Irene was related to Theophano of Athens who would become empress consort after her marriage to the Byzantine emperor Staurakios.[10]

Empress consort

Selection and marriage

Irene was brought to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine V on 1 November 769 and was married to his son Leo IV on 3 November. Her coronation took place the following month, on 17 December.[11][5] It is unclear why she was selected as the bride for the young Leo IV.[5] The influence of the prominent Sarantepechos family in the theme of Hellas likely played a part in the selection of Irene as the wife of the emperor's son.[12] Especially unusual is that, while Constantine V was a militant iconoclast who was known for persecuting venerators of icons, Irene herself displayed iconophile predilections.[5] This fact, combined with the limited information available about her family, has led some scholars to speculate that Irene may have been selected in a bride-show, in which eligible young women were paraded before the bridegroom until one was finally selected.[5] If this was the case, then she would have been the first imperial bride to be selected in this manner.[5] However, there is no solid evidence to support this hypothesis other than the apparent oddity of Irene's selection as Leo IV's bride.[5]

On 14 January 771, Irene gave birth to a son, the future Constantine VI, who was named after his grandfather, Irene's father-in-law, Constantine V.[13] When Constantine V died in September 775, Leo IV ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-five, and Irene became empress.[14] An unnamed female relative of Irene was married to the Bulgar ruler Telerig in 776. Irene also had a nephew.[15]

Iconoclasm

Leo IV, though an iconoclast like his father, pursued a policy of moderation towards iconophiles.[14] He removed the penalties on monasteries that had been imposed by his father and began appointing monks as bishops.[14] When Patriarch Nicetas I of Constantinople died in 780, Leo IV appointed Paul of Cyprus, who had iconophile sympathies, as his successor, although he did force him to swear oaths that he would uphold the official iconoclasm.[14] During Lent of 780, however, Leo IV's policies on iconophiles became much harsher.[14] He ordered for a number of prominent courtiers to be arrested, scourged, tonsured, and tortured after they were caught venerating icons.[14]

According to the 11th century historian George Kedrenos, who wrote many centuries after Irene's death, this crackdown on iconophiles began after Leo IV discovered two icons hidden underneath Irene's pillow.[16] Leo IV launched an investigation and discovered the courtiers who had brought the icons. He had them tortured and scolded Irene for violating the law and breaking with her faith. Irene insisted that she had not known the icons were there. After the incident, Leo refused to have marital relations with Irene ever again. Lynda Garland, a historian of the Byzantine Empire, states that this story too closely resembles a different story told about the later empress Theodora, wife of Theophilos, to be historically true. Nonetheless, she maintains that it is possible that Irene may have been trying to fill the palace with supporters of iconophilism, which may have triggered Leo IV's crackdown.[17]

Regent and empress

Gold solidus showing Irene as regent along her son Constantine VI; Irene took control of the throne and ruled the empire solo until 790.

Leo IV died on 8 September 780 and Irene became regent for their nine-year-old son Constantine VI.[18] Rumors were circulated claiming that Leo IV had died of a fever after putting on the jeweled crown that had been dedicated by either Maurice (ruled 582–602) or Heraclius (ruled 610–641).[17] Irene herself may have promoted this rumor in an effort to smear her deceased husband's memory.[17]

In October, only six weeks after Leo IV's death, Irene was confronted with a conspiracy led by a group of prominent dignitaries that sought to raise Caesar Nikephoros, a half-brother of Leo IV, to the throne.[17] Irene had Bardas (the former strategos of the Armeniac Theme), Gregory (the logothete of the dromos), and Konstantinos (the count of the excubitors) scourged, tonsured, and banished.[17] She replaced all of them with dignitaries who were loyal to her.[17] She had Nikephoros and his four brothers ordained as priests, a status which disqualified them from ruling, and forced them to serve communion at the Hagia Sophia on Christmas Day 780.[17] On the same day, Irene returned the crown her husband had removed as part of a full imperial procession.[17] Possibly hoping to placate supporters of her husband's family, Irene is reported to have proposed that Leo IV's sister Anthousa should join her as co-regent, but Anthousa is said to have rejected the offer.[19]

Irene of Athens (or Irene Doukaina) in the Pala d'Oro, Venice.

From the beginning, Irene seems to have taken more power for herself than was traditionally expected of female regents.[20] Her earliest coins depict both herself and her son Constantine VI on the obverse, listing them as co-rulers rather than as ruler and regent.[20] Furthermore, Irene is shown holding the orb, not Constantine, and only Irene's name is listed on the obverse of the coin, with Constantine VI's name only listed on the reverse, the less important side. Also, in all orders, both oral and written, Irene's name took precedence over her son's name, and she signed her orders in the name of the emperor in her own right and her name took precedence in the oath of allegiance. Apart from that, she did not allow Constantine any voice in public affairs.[20] At the same time, Irene appears to have been well aware that her position as regent was insecure.[20] The last female regent of the Byzantine Empire had been Empress Martina, who had only managed to survive as regent for less than a year before her tongue was cut out and she was exiled to the island of Rhodes.[17] Most people were probably expecting that Irene's reign would come to a similarly swift and bloody end.[17]

As early as 781, Irene began to seek a closer relationship with the

Hildegard. During this time Charlemagne was at war with the Saxons, and would later become the new king of the Franks. Irene went as far as to send an official to instruct the Frankish princess in Greek; however, Irene herself broke off the engagement in 787, against her son's wishes.[citation needed
]

Irene next had to subdue a rebellion led by Elpidius, the strategos of Sicily. Irene sent a fleet, which succeeded in defeating the Sicilians. Elpidius fled to Africa, where he defected to the Abbasid Caliphate. After the success of Constantine V's general, Michael Lachanodrakon, who foiled an Abbasid attack on the eastern frontiers, a huge Abbasid army under Harun al-Rashid invaded Anatolia in summer 782. The strategos of the Bucellarian Theme, Tatzates, defected to the Abbasids, and Irene had to agree to pay an annual tribute of 70,000 or 90,000 dinars to the Abbasids.[21]

Ending iconoclasm

15th century mural depicting Irene and Constantine VI at the Seventh ecumenical council of 787.

Irene's most notable act was the restoration of the

Tarasios, one of her partisans and her former secretary, as Patriarch of Constantinople in 784, she summoned two church councils. The first of these, held in 786 at Constantinople, was frustrated by the opposition of the iconoclast soldiers. The second, convened at Nicaea in 787 and known as the seventh ecumenical council, formally revived the veneration of icons and reunited the Eastern church with that of Rome.[22][23] The council determined that the honorary veneration (timētikē proskynēsis) of the holy icons was permitted, and that the true adoration (alēthinē latreia) was preserved for God alone. It further stated that the honor paid to the icon eventually passes over to the individual that it represents.[24]

While this greatly improved relations with the Papacy, it did not prevent the outbreak of

.

Fall and return to throne

Gold solidus showing Irene and Constantine VI as co-emperors in c. 793–797 after Irene's return to the throne.

As

Armeniacs, formally proclaimed Constantine VI as the sole ruler.[23]

As an attempt to restore order to the state, Constantine, in a hollow semblance of friendship, restored Irene's titles and confirmed her position as ruler on 15 January 792. As a result, the Irene-Constantine

Bosphorus, Constantine was carried back to the palace at Constantinople and was blinded on 19 August. It is unknown whether he managed to survive this event.[c]

Gold solidus showing Irene as the sole emperor in c. 797–802 after the dismissal and blinding of Constantine.

Although it is often asserted that, as monarch, Irene called herself "basileus" (Greek: βασιλεύς), 'emperor', rather than "basilissa" (βασίλισσα), 'empress', in fact there are only three instances where it can be proven that she used the title "basileus": two legal documents in which she signed herself as "Emperor of the Romans" and a gold coin of hers found in Sicily bearing the title of "basileus". In relation to the coin, the lettering is of poor quality and the attribution to Irene may be problematic. She used the title "basilissa" in all other documents, coins, and seals.[27]

Carolingian Empire

Refusing to recognize Irene's reign, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor.

Irene's unprecedented position as an empress ruling in her own right was emphasized by the coincidental rise of the

Carolingian renaissance
.

Charlemagne was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, 800. The clergy and nobles attending the ceremony proclaimed Charlemagne as "Augustus". In support of Charlemagne's coronation, some argued that the imperial position was actually vacant, deeming a woman unfit to be emperor; however, Charlemagne made no claim to the Eastern Roman Empire. Whether he actually desired a coronation at all, remains controversial – his biographer Einhard related that Charlemagne had been surprised by the Pope – but the Eastern Empire felt its role as the sole Roman Empire threatened and began to emphasize its superiority and its Roman identity. Relations between the two empires remained difficult. Irene is said to have endeavored to bring about a marriage alliance between herself and Charlemagne, but according to Theophanes the Confessor, who alone mentions it, the scheme was frustrated by Aetios, one of her favorites.[23][28]

Final years and legacy

Presumed sarcophagus of Irene of Athens in Hagia Sophia.

In 802 the patricians conspired against her, deposing her on 31 October, and placing

logothetēs tou genikou), on the throne. Irene was exiled to Lesbos and forced to support herself by spinning wool.[23] She died the following year, on 9 August.[29][30]

A female relative of Irene,

Theophano, was chosen in 807 by Emperor Nikephoros I as the bride of his son and heir Staurakios
.

Irene's zeal in restoring the icons and monasteries made Theodore the Studite praise her as a saint.[31] She is listed in some Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox sources as a saint commemorated on 7 August, but her name is not found in the Menaion.[32]

Media

H. Rider Haggard incorporated Irene as a villain in his novel The Wanderer's Necklace.[33]

Notes

  1. ^ [sarandaˈpixena]
  2. ^ The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium gives her birth date as c. 752,[6] but this is not corroborated by contemporary sources.[7][8] The Ecloga issued by Leo III established the minimum age of marriage at 15 for men and 13 for women.[9] Her marriage took place in 769, so she was born in 756 at the latest. On the other hand, Leo IV was 19 years old at the time.
  3. ^ The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium gives 19 April,[6] but this is a mistake. Theophanes the Confessor writes: "[They] reached the City on Saturday morning, 15 August." The 15th was Tuesday, so the correct date would be August 19.[26]

References

  1. OCLC 50583149
    .
  2. ^ Garland 1999, pp. 76–80.
  3. ^ Garland 1999, p. 83.
  4. ^ Garland 1999, p. 90.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Garland 1999, p. 73.
  6. ^ a b ODB, p. 1008.
  7. ^ PBW, Eirene 1.
  8. ^ PMBZ, Eirene (#1439/corr.).
  9. S2CID 213898030
    .
  10. .
  11. ^ Theophanes, AM 6261.
  12. .
  13. ^ Theophanes, AM 6262.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Garland 1999, p. 74.
  15. ^ Herrin, pp. 56, 70, 134.
  16. ^ Garland 1999, pp. 74–75.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Garland 1999, p. 75.
  18. ^ Theophanes, AM 6273.
  19. ^ Garland 1999, pp. 75–76.
  20. ^ a b c d Garland 1999, p. 76.
  21. ^ Theophanes, AM 6274.
  22. ^ Lagarde 1915, p. 423.
  23. ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911.
  24. .
  25. ^ Theophanes, AM 6284.
  26. ^ Theophanes, AM 6289 (n. 8–10).
  27. ^ See Garland, p. 89, who explains that Aetios was attempting to usurp power on behalf of his brother Leo.
  28. ^ ODB, p. 165.
  29. ^ Theophanes, AM 6295.
  30. ^ Theodori Studitae Epistulae, Volume 2 (Berlin, 1992).
  31. ^ Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra (2008). "The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church," Volume Six. Ormylia, Chalkidiki, Greece: Holy Convent of the Annunciation of Our Lady. pp. 403–04. [Irene's] commemoration is . . . to be found in some manuscripts of the "Synaxarion of Constantinople.
  32. ^ Daniel D. McGarry, Sarah Harriman White (1963). Historical Fiction Guide: Annotated Chronological, Geographical, and Topical List of Five Thousand Selected Historical Novels. Scarecrow Press, p. 58.

Primary sources

Modern sources

External links

Irene of Athens
Born: c. 752 Died: 9 August 803
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Byzantine empress-regnant

19 August 797 – 31 October 802
Succeeded by
Royal titles
Preceded by
Eudokia
Byzantine empress-consort

775–780
Vacant
Title next held by
Maria of Amnia