Irene (redirected from Irini)

Irene, Byzantine empress

Irene (īrē`nē), c.750–803, Byzantine empress (797–802). She served (780–90) as regent for her son, Constantine VI, and later was made (792) joint ruler. Devoted to the Orthodox Church, she bent most of her efforts to suppressing iconoclasm. In 797 Irene had her son deposed and blinded, and she ascended the throne. Her accession served as pretext for Charlemagne to be crowned emperor in 800. Irene was deposed in 802 and died in exile.

Bibliography

See C. Diehl, Byzantine Portraits (1906; tr. 1927).

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Irene, in Greek religion and mythology

Irene, in Greek religion and mythology: see Horae.

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Irene

(fl. 3rd century) ministered to St. Sebastian, who was wounded by arrows. [Christian Hagiog.: Hall, 162]

See : Nursing

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Irene

goddess of peace and conciliation. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 21]

See : Peace

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Irene

Born circa 752, in Athens; died Aug. 9, 803, on the island of Lesbos. Byzantine empress from 797 to 802. Wife of Emperor Leo IV (ruled 775–780).

After the death of Leo, Irene became regent for her son, Constantine VI, and later ruled with him. A supporter of the icon worshippers, Irene convened an ecumenical council in Nicaea in 787, which temporarily restored icon veneration. In the struggle for power, she blinded her son (797) and succeeded in being proclaimed sole ruler.

In 802, Charlemagne sent an embassy to Byzantium with a marriage proposal for Irene in order to unite both empires; the Byzantine nobles, however, prevented that course of action. Irene was deposed by a court revolt.