Empress Irene was the wife of Leo IV and, on her husband's death, she reigned as regent for her son Constantine VI from 780 to 790 CE. From 797 to 802 CE she ruled as emperor in her own right, the first woman to do so in Byzantine history. During her lacklustre reign, Irene ruthlessly schemed and plotted to keep the throne she would lose and regain three times, but she is chiefly remembered for restoring the Christian veneration of icons, which her predecessors of the Isaurian dynasty had sought so vehemently to repress. Even this seemingly pious campaign was really only a means for Irene to defeat her enemies and keep power. The Empress' gold coins reveal much of her duplicitous character for, uniquely, they carried a portrait of herself on both sides.
More about: Empress IreneServer Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$3926 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 752Byzantine empress Irene is born in Athens.
-
780 - 790Empress Irene rules as regent for Byzantine emperor Constantine VI.
-
780 - 797Reign of Byzantine emperor Constantine VI (with Empress Irene as regent 780-790 CE).
-
Sep 787The Ecumenical Council of Nicaea rules an end to iconoclasm in the Byzantine Christian Church.
-
797 - 802Empress Irene rules the Byzantine empire.
-
797Byzantine empress Irene blinds and kills her son Constantine VI.
-
802Byzantine empress Irene is exiled to Lesbos.
