Irene

Irene, a poor orphan girl of Athens (born about 752), whose beauty and talents excited the admiration of the Emperor Leo IV., who married her in 769. After the death of Leo in 780 she ruled as regent during the minority of her son, Constantine VI. Banished to Lesbos in 802, she died there the next year. The Greek Church, on account of her zeal for image-worship, counts her among its saints. See BYZANTINE EMPIRE.