Irene of Athens: The Empress Who Blinded Her Son to Keep Power скачать в хорошем качестве

Irene of Athens: The Empress Who Blinded Her Son to Keep Power

Irene of Athens: The Empress Who Blinded Her Son to Keep Power She ordered her own son dragged into the room where he was born and had his eyes gouged out. Then she became the first woman to rule the Roman Empire alone. This is the story of Irene of Athens, the empress whose ambition knew no limits. In eighth-century Constantinople, power was seized and held through blood and brutality. Irene came from obscure origins in Athens to become empress consort, then regent, then sole ruler. She reversed decades of religious policy, restored the veneration of icons, and convened an ecumenical council. But her greatest legacy is the darkest: the blinding of her son Constantine VI in 797. This documentary explores the extraordinary and troubling life of Irene, from her selection as an imperial bride to her religious revolution, her bitter power struggle with her own child, the terrible crime that secured her throne, her brief reign as empress regnant, and her final exile and death. Her story forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about ambition, power, and how far someone will go to keep what they have fought to gain. 📚 Sources and Further Reading: 1. Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle 2. Judith Herrin, Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium 3. Warren Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society 4. Lynda Garland, Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium 5. Leslie Brubaker and John Haldon, Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era DISCLAIMER: This documentary is created for educational and informational purposes only. All content is based on historical research, documented accounts, and the work of respected historians. The primary sources for Irene's life are Byzantine chronicles, particularly Theophanes the Confessor, who wrote within a generation of the events described. Some visual representations are artistic interpretations created to enhance the storytelling experience and may not reflect exact historical accuracy in terms of appearance or setting. Hashtags: #irene #byzantine #medievalhistory #medieval #byzantineempire