Maria of Amnia
Encyclopedia
Maria of Amnia was the first Empress consort of Constantine VI of the Byzantine Empire
.
. 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 the Armeniakon Theme
known for his charitable activities. The relation is mentioned in his Hagiography
.
. The bride-show had been ordered by Regent
Empress Irene
in search of a suitable bride for her son Constantine VI. Constantine was previously betrothed to Rotrude
, daughter of Charlemagne
and Hildegard, but Irene had called off the engagement.
Maria was chosen primarily by Irene. Constantine and Staurakios
, a eunuch
who served as the logothetes tou dromou
, were also reportedly involved in the presentation of the candidates. However whether they influenced the choice is unstated.
The marriage took place in November, 788. The marriage was recorded in the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
. The marriage lasted for about six years and resulted in two daughters. Theophanes records that Constantine had turned against his first wife at some point. Theophanes attributed the deterioration of the marriage to the machinations of Irene. The lack of a male heir following six years of marriage could also be one of the reasons.
In 794, Constantine had found a mistress in the person of Theodote
, a kubikularia (Lady-in-waiting
) of his mother. In January, 795, Constantine divorced Maria. Maria and both of their daughters were sent to a convent in the island of Prinkipo
. In September, 795, Constantine and Theodote were wed.
The initial divorce had met with disapproval in circles of the Eastern Orthodox Church
. The remarriage while Maria was still alive was seen as an attempt for legalization
of adultery
. The legality of the second marriage sparked a religious controversy, the so-called "Moechian Controversy" (from the Greek
moichos, "adulterer"). However Maria is not recorded as involved with any of the conflicts of the time.
She remained a nun for the rest of her life. She is last mentioned c. 823. Her daughter Euphrosyne
was taken from their convent to marry Michael II
(reigned 820 - 829). She protested the decision to no effect. Her protestation is mentioned in the correspondence of Theodore the Studite
. The year of her death is not known.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
Family
Maria was born in Amnia, PaphlagoniaPaphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
. The name of her father is unknown. Her mother has been identified as Hypatia by Christian Settipani
Christian Settipani
Christian Settipani is the Technical Director of an IT company in Paris and a genealogist and historian.He has a Master of Advanced Studies degree from the Paris-Sorbonne University and is currently preparing his doctoral thesis, while he often gives lectures to students undergraduates at the...
. Her maternal grandfather was Saint Philaretos, a magnate from the Armeniakon Theme
Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)
The themes or themata were the main administrative divisions of the middle Byzantine Empire. They were established in the mid-seventh century in the aftermath of the Muslim conquests of Byzantine territory and replaced the earlier provincial system established by emperors Diocletian and...
known for his charitable activities. The relation is mentioned in his Hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
.
Empress
In 788, Maria was one of thirteen candidates in the earliest recorded bride-showBride-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...
. The bride-show had been ordered by Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
Empress Irene
Irene (empress)
Irene Sarantapechaina , known as Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian was a Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802, having previously been empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. It is often claimed she called herself "basileus" , 'emperor'...
in search of a suitable bride for her son Constantine VI. Constantine was previously betrothed to Rotrude
Rotrude
Rotrude was the second daughter of Charlemagne from his marriage to Hildegard.-Early life:...
, daughter of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
and Hildegard, but Irene had called off the engagement.
Maria was chosen primarily by Irene. Constantine and Staurakios
Staurakios (eunuch)
Staurakios was a Byzantine eunuch official, who rose to be one of the most important and influential associates of Byzantine empress Irene of Athens . He effectively acted as chief minister during her regency for her young son, Emperor Constantine VI Staurakios (or Stauracius) (died on June 3,...
, a eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
who served as the logothetes tou dromou
Logothetes tou dromou
The logothetēs tou dromou , in English usually rendered as Logothete of the Course/Drome/Dromos or Postal Logothete, was the head of the department of the Dromos, the Public Post , and one of the most senior ministers of the Byzantine Empire.- History and functions :The exact origin and date of...
, were also reportedly involved in the presentation of the candidates. However whether they influenced the choice is unstated.
The marriage took place in November, 788. The marriage was recorded in the chronicle of 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,...
. The marriage lasted for about six years and resulted in two daughters. Theophanes records that Constantine had turned against his first wife at some point. Theophanes attributed the deterioration of the marriage to the machinations of Irene. The lack of a male heir following six years of marriage could also be one of the reasons.
In 794, Constantine had found a mistress in the person of 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...
, a kubikularia (Lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
) of his mother. In January, 795, Constantine divorced Maria. Maria and both of their daughters were sent to a convent in the island of Prinkipo
Büyükada
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...
. In September, 795, Constantine and Theodote were wed.
The initial divorce had met with disapproval in circles of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. The remarriage while Maria was still alive was seen as an attempt for legalization
Legalization
Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal.Legalization is a process often applied to what are regarded, by those working towards legalization, as victimless crimes, of which one example is the consumption of illegal drugs .Those...
of adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
. The legality of the second marriage sparked a religious controversy, the so-called "Moechian Controversy" (from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
moichos, "adulterer"). However Maria is not recorded as involved with any of the conflicts of the time.
She remained a nun for the rest of her life. She is last mentioned c. 823. Her daughter Euphrosyne
Euphrosyne (9th century)
Euphrosyne , a daughter of Byzantine emperor Constantine VI, the last representative of the Isaurian dynasty, and Maria of Amnia.- Life :...
was taken from their convent to marry 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....
(reigned 820 - 829). She protested the decision to no effect. Her protestation is mentioned in the correspondence of Theodore the Studite
Theodore the Studite
Theodore the Studite was a Byzantine Greek monk and abbot of the Stoudios monastery in Constantinople. He played a major role in the revivals both of Byzantine monasticism and of classical literary genres in Byzantium...
. The year of her death is not known.
Children
Maria and Constantine VI had two daughters:- EuphrosyneEuphrosyne (9th century)Euphrosyne , a daughter of Byzantine emperor Constantine VI, the last representative of the Isaurian dynasty, and Maria of Amnia.- Life :...
(c. 790 – after 836). Married Michael IIMichael IIMichael 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....
. - Irene. Became a nun in 795. Last mentioned alive in 796.