Irene Asanina
| Irene Asanina | |
|---|---|
Theodora Kantakouzene Helena Kantakouzene | |
| House | Asen |
| Father | Andronikos Asen |
| Mother | Tarchanaiotissa |
Irene Asanina (Greek: Εἰρήνη Ἀσανίνα; died after 1354), was the empress consort of John VI Kantakouzenos of the Byzantine Empire. She is known to have participated in military issues in a degree uncommon for a Byzantine empress. She commanded the garrison of Didymoteicho during the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, and organized the defense of Constantinople against the Genoese in 1348, and the forces of John V in 1353.[1]
Early life
Asanina was a daughter of Andronikos Asen and his wife Tarchanaiotissa. Her paternal grandparents were Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria and Irene Palaiologina.[2] Her maternal grandparents were protostrator Michael Doukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes and his wife Maria Doukaina Komnene Palaiologina Branaina.
The last names of her maternal grandmother indicate descent from the families
Her paternal grandmother, Irene Palaiologina, was a daughter of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Palaiologina which makes Asanina a member of the extended Imperial family of her time.
Empress
Kantakouzenos was a trusted advisor of
At about the same time,
This was the beginning of a
During the war Irene remained at Didymoteicho with her three daughters while John VI was busy campaigning. Irene was given the command of the garrison and defended Didymoteicho.
On 3 February 1347, the two sides reached an agreement. John VI was accepted as senior emperor with John V as his junior co-ruler. The agreement was sealed with the marriage of their daughter Helena Kantakouzene to John V. John VI entered Constantinople and took effective control of the city with Irene serving as senior Empress at his side.[4]
In 1348, Irene organised the defense of Constantinople against the Genuese.[5]
However, John V restarted the conflict in 1352 and gained support as the "legitimate" emperor. In 1353, Irene organised the defense of Constantinople against John Palaiologos.[6]
Later life
On 4 December 1354, John VI abdicated and the former imperial couple retired themselves to separate monasteries. In her case, it was the convent of Hagia Martha under the monastic name Eugenia.[7] In 1356 and the following year, Irene rejected the offer of Ziani, to effect the release of her son Matthew Kantakouzenos, then imprisoned by Emperor John V, and reinstate him as Emperor. In 1359, she was joined at the convent by her daughter Maria, and her granddaughter Theodora, the eldest daughter of Matthew.
Nicol speculates that she followed the rest of her family to the Morea where her younger son
Although the date of her death is not recorded, Nicol presumes it happened before 1379 when her husband and other members of her family were taken to Galata as hostages by Andronikos IV Palaiologos.[8]
Marriage
Irene married John Kantakouzenos, a son of Michael Kantakouzenos and Theodora Angelina Palaiologina. In his History, John records his mother being a kinswoman of Andronikos II Palaiologos, presumably a cousin by one of the siblings of Michael VIII. The marriage produced six children:[9]
- Matthew Kantakouzenos (c. 1325 – 24 June 1383), co-emperor 1353–1357, later despotēs in Morea.
- Manuel Kantakouzenos (c. 1326 – 10 April 1380), despotēs in Morea.
- Andronikos Kantakouzenos (c. 1334 – 1347). The History of John records that this son died due to "plague". Given the year of his death, Andronikos was probably among the casualties of the Black Death.[10]
- Maria Kantakouzene (died after 1379), who married Nikephoros II Orsini of Epirus.[11]
- Helena Kantakouzene (1333 – 10 December 1396), who married Emperor John V Palaiologos.
References
- ^ Lynda Garland:Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204
- ^ a b Nicol 1968, p. 104.
- ^ Guglielmo Cavallo:The Byzantines
- ^ Nicol 1968, pp. 104ff..
- ^ Guglielmo Cavallo:The Byzantines
- ^ Lynda Garland:Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 106.
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 107.
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 108.
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 129.
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 130.
- ^ Nicol 1968, p. 134.
Sources
- OCLC 390843.