Irene empress

Saint Irene (Greek: Ειρήνη) (c. 752 - August 9, 803) was a Byzantine empress (although she called herself basileus(βασιλεύς), the male form of the word "emperor," rather than βασίλισσα basilissa, "empress") from 797 to 802. She was the wife of Leo IV. Originally a poor but beautiful Athenian orphan, she speedily gained the love and confidence of her feeble husband, and at his death in 780 was left by him sole guardian of th ...

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