Irene of Athens

Irene of Athens was a powerful Byzantine empress who ruled as regent in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. She became empress when her son, Emperor Constantine VI, was young, and later declared herself empress. Irene is notable for ending the Byzantine iconoclasm—an era when religious images were banned—restoring the veneration of icons. Her leadership helped stabilize the empire during a turbulent time, but her reign was also marked by political struggles, and she was eventually overthrown. Irene's rule showcases her influence as a rare female ruler in a male-dominated society and her role in a pivotal religious and political period.