Euphrosyne (9th century)
Encyclopedia
Euphrosyne a daughter of Byzantine emperor Constantine VI, the last representative of the Isaurian dynasty, and Maria of Amnia
.
. Constantine proceeded to marry his mistress Theodote
.
Euphrosyne spent her life in the monastery until c. 823. The emperor Michael II
had risen to the throne three years before but his dynastic claims were at best shaky. His first wife Thekla
died early in the reign. Michael decided to strengthen his claim to the throne by marrying Euphrosyne.
Euphrosyne was thus taken from her convent and entered the court as the new Empress consort. The highly controversial marriage proved barren. Michael II died on 2 October 829. He was succeeded by Theophilos
, his son from his previous marriage.
As his stepmother, Euphrosyne was still able to take some decisions for the sixteen-year-old emperor. She proclaimed a bride-show
for him and seems to have handpicked her daughter-in-law Theodora
. Soon after she retired to a monastery again. Theophanes Continuatus
, the continuation of the chronicle started by Theophanes the Confessor
, indicates that Theophilos obliged her to hold to her monastic vows, ending the religious controversy concerning her presence in court.
Theodora would go on to restore the veneration of icons in the Empire. Whether Euphrosyne shared her Iconodule tendences and had picked her for political reasons remains vague.
Euphrosyne appears twice more in the historical record. After rumours reached Constantinople that Theophilos
had been killed in his campaign against Al-Afshin
in Anatolia, those senators and senior officials opposed to the Emperor did not trouble to discover if the news was true or not before considering alternative candidates for the throne. Euphrosyne, aware of these political maneuvers, sent a messenger in search of her stepson, advising him to return without delay. According to later Arabic and Syriac sources the message read "The Romans who have come have reported that you are killed and they wish to appoint another king; come quickly." Theophilos returned.
St. Michael of Synkellos records Euphrosyne offering him food, drink and clothing during his imprisonment in 836. Her offer of help to an imprisoned Iconodule again raises the question of her own religious tendencies. Her time of death is not recorded.
Maria of Amnia
Maria of Amnia was the first Empress consort of Constantine VI of the Byzantine Empire.-Family:Maria was born in Amnia, Paphlagonia. The name of her father is unknown. Her mother has been identified as Hypatia by Christian Settipani. Her maternal grandfather was Saint Philaretos, a magnate from...
.
Life
Euphrosyne was one of two daughters born to Constantine VI and Maria of Amnia. In January, 795, Constantine divorced Maria. Maria, Euphrosyne and her sister Irene were sent to a convent in the island of PrinkipoBüyükada
Büyükada is the largest of the nine so-called Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, near Istanbul, with an area of about two square miles...
. Constantine proceeded to marry his mistress Theodote
Theodote
Theodote was the second Empress consort of Constantine VI of the Byzantine Empire.-Family:Theodote was a member of a distinguished family of Constantinople. Her brother Sergios was mentioned as a hypatos. Their mother Anna was a sister of Theoktiste and her brother Platon...
.
Euphrosyne spent her life in the monastery until c. 823. The emperor Michael II
Michael II
Michael II , surnamed the Amorian or the Stammerer , reigned as Byzantine emperor from December 820 to his death on 2 October 829, and the first ruler of the Phrygian or Amorian dynasty....
had risen to the throne three years before but his dynastic claims were at best shaky. His first wife Thekla
Thekla, wife of Michael II
Thekla was the first Empress consort of Michael II of the Byzantine Empire.- Family :According to Theophanes the Confessor, Thekla was the daughter of an unnamed strategos of the Anatolic Theme, where Michael served. On this account, her father has been identified with the general and later rebel...
died early in the reign. Michael decided to strengthen his claim to the throne by marrying Euphrosyne.
Euphrosyne was thus taken from her convent and entered the court as the new Empress consort. The highly controversial marriage proved barren. Michael II died on 2 October 829. He was succeeded by Theophilos
Theophilos (emperor)
Theophilos was the Byzantine emperor from 829 until his death in 842. He was the second emperor of the Phrygian dynasty, and the last emperor supporting iconoclasm...
, his son from his previous marriage.
As his stepmother, Euphrosyne was still able to take some decisions for the sixteen-year-old emperor. She proclaimed a bride-show
Bride-show
The bride-show was a custom of Byzantine emperors and Russian tsars to choose a wife from among the most beautiful maidens of the country.Notable marriages resulting from a bride-show: Theophilos and Theodora, three wives of Ivan IV of Russia, Peter the Great's mother Natalya Naryshkina.-Further...
for him and seems to have handpicked her daughter-in-law Theodora
Theodora (9th century)
Theodora was a Byzantine Empress as the spouse of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos, and regent of her son, Michael III, from Theophilos' death in 842 to 855...
. Soon after she retired to a monastery again. Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus or Scriptores post Theophanem is the Latin name commonly applied to a collection of historical writings preserved in the 11th-century Vat. gr. 167 manuscript. Its name derives from its role as the continuation, covering the years 813–961, of the chronicle of Theophanes the...
, the continuation of the chronicle started by Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, indicates that Theophilos obliged her to hold to her monastic vows, ending the religious controversy concerning her presence in court.
Theodora would go on to restore the veneration of icons in the Empire. Whether Euphrosyne shared her Iconodule tendences and had picked her for political reasons remains vague.
Euphrosyne appears twice more in the historical record. After rumours reached Constantinople that Theophilos
Theophilos (emperor)
Theophilos was the Byzantine emperor from 829 until his death in 842. He was the second emperor of the Phrygian dynasty, and the last emperor supporting iconoclasm...
had been killed in his campaign against Al-Afshin
Afshin (Caliphate General)
Khaydār b. Kāvūs Afshīn known by his hereditary title as Afshin was a senior general at the court of Abbasid caliphs and a son of the vassal prince of Oshrūsana.-Name and family background:...
in Anatolia, those senators and senior officials opposed to the Emperor did not trouble to discover if the news was true or not before considering alternative candidates for the throne. Euphrosyne, aware of these political maneuvers, sent a messenger in search of her stepson, advising him to return without delay. According to later Arabic and Syriac sources the message read "The Romans who have come have reported that you are killed and they wish to appoint another king; come quickly." Theophilos returned.
St. Michael of Synkellos records Euphrosyne offering him food, drink and clothing during his imprisonment in 836. Her offer of help to an imprisoned Iconodule again raises the question of her own religious tendencies. Her time of death is not recorded.