Live auction - bby_1016386 - IRENA Solidus

IRENA

(19/08/797 - 31/10/802)

Irene was born in Athens around 752 into an aristocratic family. Noted for its great beauty by Constantine V Copronymus (741-775), son of the founder of the Isaurian dynasty, Leo III (717-741). The latter made her marry his son, Leo IV the Khazar in 768. The latter has been associated with his father's power since 751 and when his father dies, he succeeds him. But his reign ended with his premature death on September 8, 780.. Irene then became regent for her son, Constantine VI (born in 770) who was associated with the throne from April 24, 776. All of these events took place in the midst of the \"Iconoclastic\" crisis.. Strong opposition, loyal to the choices of Constantine V, forced the mother of Constantine VI into exile in 790.. But the following year, she returned to power, this time associated with her son.. But the young emperor pursued a disastrous policy and was finally deposed by his mother with the agreement of the court on August 19, 797, and blinded.. He died shortly after. Irene then reigned alone, the first woman to assume this office in the already long and tumultuous Byzantine history.. Popular, it nevertheless had to face the Bulgarian and Abbasid invasions. At Christmas 800, Charlemagne was crowned Western Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III, definitively ending the myth of the unity and reunification of the Roman Empire.. Irene was finally overthrown by a palace plot on October 31, 802, and exiled to Lesbos, where she died the following year.. .