theodoraporphyrogenite: ܀ history meme ܀ ten female royals: Irene of Athens (Ειρήνη η Αθηναία / Iren
theodoraporphyrogenite: ܀ history meme ܀ ten female royals: Irene of Athens (Ειρήνη η Αθηναία / Irene Sarantapechaina) {752? – 9 August 803 A.D} (10/10) → Byzantine Empress – consort/regent/regnant Much of Irene’s reputation resonates from her restoration of icons in a period in Byzantine history that was part of the ‘iconoclasm’ phase and as a reigning empress in her own right. For the first, many iconophiles venerated her as a saint though she was never officially canonized and for the latter, she was criticised for being overbearing and autocratic over her son that caused a struggle for the throne. Keep reading -- source link
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