Empress Irene

Empress Irene of Athens was a Byzantine ruler who reigned from 797 to 802 AD. Initially serving as a regent for her son, she eventually took power for herself, becoming the first woman to rule the Byzantine Empire in her own right. Known for her intelligence and political acumen, she is notable for restoring the veneration of icons after the period of Iconoclasm, which opposed religious images. Her reign was marked by both political intrigue and significant cultural developments, but it ended when she was overthrown in a coup, highlighting the challenges of female leadership in a male-dominated political landscape.