The Byzantine Empire was a powerful entity, and Constantinople, the city from which the emperor ruled, was known as the "largest, finest, and wealthiest metropolis of the known world" (p.9). The empire lasted for more than 1000 years and was governed by many dynasties throughout its existence. Herrin's work focuses on three empresses who influenced the Byzantine Empire during their reigns: Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora. These women contributed to different areas of Byzantine society, but their most notable contributions were in the area of religion, specifically the reversal of the iconoclastic movement in the eastern church. Herrin details the lives of these three empresses, and how their actions affected Byzantium. The thesis of the book
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She traveled from central Greece, which was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. There is little information about her life before she was chosen and it is unknown as to why she was selected to be empress. Herrin goes on to expand on Irene's marriage to Leo IV and her introduction into the life of an empress within Constantinople; soon after her marriage, Irene gives birth to one child, Constantine VI. After the death of Leo IV, Irene begins her rule as a powerful empress at the age of twenty-five. Irene ruled as regent from 780 to 790, and then as the sole ruler from 797 to 802. During her initial reign as regent, Irene's adept manipulations and her appointment of several eunuchs allowed her to remove the most fervent supporters of iconoclasm from power. This allowed her to reverse official iconoclasm with little opposition. (Her work to end iconoclasm was later ruined after her reign when Emperor Leo V reinstated iconoclasm in 815.) Irene meets her "downfall" during a coup d'état by Nikephoros on October 31, 802 (p.126). This was the end of Irene's reign as empress of the Byzantine …show more content…
Theodora was most famous for her incredible beauty, but she was more than a beautiful empress. After the death of her husband Theophilos, she came into power as regent for their son Michael III, who was only two years old at the time of his father's death. Theodora brought about the second and final reversal of iconoclasm. The conditions for this movement were excellent — the military had suffered in battle and the losses were seen as a divine act. The unfortunate events led to the loss of faith in the practice of iconoclasm. Theodora capitalized on the loss of support and commenced a council to begin the proceedings. Methodios, an ally of Theodora, was "elected to the patriarchal throne" and exiled iconophiles were welcomed back into Constantinople (p.207). Methodios was given the responsibility of creating a new liturgy that celebrates the end of iconoclasm. On March 11, 843, iconoclasm was officially ended in the Orthodox church when the new liturgy was performed. The final demise of iconoclasm was a triumph and Theodora's success justifies Herrin's argument of the empresses importance in
She traveled from central Greece, which was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. There is little information about her life before she was chosen and it is unknown as to why she was selected to be empress. Herrin goes on to expand on Irene's marriage to Leo IV and her introduction into the life of an empress within Constantinople; soon after her marriage, Irene gives birth to one child, Constantine VI. After the death of Leo IV, Irene begins her rule as a powerful empress at the age of twenty-five. Irene ruled as regent from 780 to 790, and then as the sole ruler from 797 to 802. During her initial reign as regent, Irene's adept manipulations and her appointment of several eunuchs allowed her to remove the most fervent supporters of iconoclasm from power. This allowed her to reverse official iconoclasm with little opposition. (Her work to end iconoclasm was later ruined after her reign when Emperor Leo V reinstated iconoclasm in 815.) Irene meets her "downfall" during a coup d'état by Nikephoros on October 31, 802 (p.126). This was the end of Irene's reign as empress of the Byzantine …show more content…
Theodora was most famous for her incredible beauty, but she was more than a beautiful empress. After the death of her husband Theophilos, she came into power as regent for their son Michael III, who was only two years old at the time of his father's death. Theodora brought about the second and final reversal of iconoclasm. The conditions for this movement were excellent — the military had suffered in battle and the losses were seen as a divine act. The unfortunate events led to the loss of faith in the practice of iconoclasm. Theodora capitalized on the loss of support and commenced a council to begin the proceedings. Methodios, an ally of Theodora, was "elected to the patriarchal throne" and exiled iconophiles were welcomed back into Constantinople (p.207). Methodios was given the responsibility of creating a new liturgy that celebrates the end of iconoclasm. On March 11, 843, iconoclasm was officially ended in the Orthodox church when the new liturgy was performed. The final demise of iconoclasm was a triumph and Theodora's success justifies Herrin's argument of the empresses importance in