Byzantine Empire, Constantine VI and Irene, 8 September 780 - 19 August 797 A.D. BZ116673. Silver miliaresion, DOC III-1 4a, Morrisson BnF 26/Cp/AR/01, Ratto 1776, Tolstoi 14, Wroth BMC 6, Sommer 25.4, SBCV 1595, aVF, toned, holed, overstruck or double struck, 1.515g, 20.8mm, 0o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, IhSUS XRIS-TUS nICA (Greek: Jesus Christ, Conqueror), cross potent on three steps, triple border; reverse COnS/TAnTInO/S S IRInI E / C QEU bA/SILIS (Latin-Greek: Constantine and Irene, in Christ, Emperor and Empress) in five lines, no cross after inscription, triple border ; scarce
Irene served as regent for her young son Constantine VI, but in 790 he took control and sent her into exile. Constantine was cruel, weak and unpopular. Within a year Irene was back, but with more power as co-ruler. Irene was also cruel, but not weak. In 797, she deposed and blinded her own son and took sole rule of the empire. Irene was the first woman to rule the Empire (at least officially). In 802, she was ousted in a coup, and exiled to Lesbos where she died soon after. |