Irene of Athens
Irene of Athens (Greek Εἰρήνη ἡ Αθηναία Irini i Athinea; * 752 in Athens; † August 9th 803 on Lesbos) was Empress of the Byzantine Empire from 797 to 802
769, she became the wife of Leo IV, who was emperor 775. A year after the marriage she became the mother of a son, the future Constantine VI.
After the death of Leo 780 child Emperor Constantine and Irene was co-regent until his majority, and then along with it. Irene blinded her son Constantine, this brought them, after his death in 797, as Basilissa on the Byzantine throne. Thus she was the first woman alleinherrschende in the Byzantine Empire.
As Empress, she was not very successful, the army supported them only half-heartedly, and the ministers were arguing among themselves. Irene cut taxes in order to gain popularity, but got by financial difficulties.
Irene's reign fell in the middle of the period of Byzantine iconoclasm in the 8th and 9th centuries. Irene belonged to the party of Ikonodulen ( images worshipers ) and called 787, the Second Council of Nicaea one who decided, among other things, that icons honored, but should not be worshiped.
Under Roman law, no woman could have the supreme command of the army: From her position as Empress, however, other problems with far-reaching consequences incurred. Since the Emperor this position ex officio held, no woman could be legally emperor. Therefore, according to some sources, saw Pope Leo III. the Roman imperial throne as vacant and crowned Charlemagne in the year 800, the Roman emperor. This action eliminated the Eastern Roman Empire officially for the Western world and renewed the Western Roman Empire.
According to Theophanes Karl intended after the coronation marriage with Irene to legalize his empire in the East. The marriage, which is not assignable by Frankish or Roman sources, did not materialize, inter alia because Irene was 802 discontinued and replaced by the Finance Minister Nicephorus. Thus ended the Syrian dynasty. Michael I. endorsed Karl 812 to the imperial title.
Irene died 803 in exile.