Irene Doukaina of Epirus: the controversial tsaritsa of Bulgaria.

IRENE DOUKAINA KOMNENE OF EPIRUS (TSARITSA: 1238-1241)

The «Era of the Greek tsaritsai» of medieval Bulgaria starts with Irene, a woman from the Roman state of Epirus, which was established after the Fourth Crusade next to the Bulgarian borders by Michael Doukas, the uncle of Irene and brother of her father. Irene was one of the two daughters of the emperor of Thessalonica, Theodore Doukas, and of his spouse Maria Petraliphaina. Theodore, her father was one of the most successful and ambitious rulers of Western Greece that expanded the so-called «despotate» of Epirus from Lepanto (Nafpaktos) to Thrace, reaching even close to the conquest of the Latin-held Constantinople.

A geopolitical map of the region we are discussing at the year 1228. We can see in red the borders of the empire of Thessalonica that under Theodore Doukas reached so close to restore the old Roman empire. By Ian Mlajdov.

A PRINCESS IN CAPTIVITY

Irene came to the court of Tarnovo as a prisoner of war of tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241), after the defeat of a great Epirote army in the battle of Klokonitsa (1230). Ivan soon fell in love with the beautiful and youthful Irene and for some time she must have been his mistress. After the death of his Hungarian wife in 1237, Irene and Asen were married and Irene rose from hostage to tsaritsa, which is perhaps one of the greatest social climbings of the 13th century.

The clergy of the Bulgarian Church opposed this union since it broke ecclesiastical canon laws but Ivan that loved Irene «no less than Marcos Antonios loved Cleopatra» (according to Greek historian Akropolites) – made sure to silence the oppression and if the legend is to be believed, he even executed the Bulgarian Patriarch – (or most likely a member or members of the high Bulgarian clergy) that was refusing to recognize Irene as tsaritsa.

A romantic painting of tsar Ivan Asen II and his third tsaritsa Irene Doukaina Komnene from Epirus. Artist: Vasil Goranov.

The marriage of Irene to Ivan was not only beneficial for her alone but for her rest family members too. In 1237, at the time of the marriage, Ivan decided to release from captivity his honorable hostage Theodore Doukas -now his father-in-law- and the two brothers of Irene, John, and Demetrios. Ivan offered them his support to reclaim Thessalonica from Manuel Doukas, the pro-Lascarids brother of Theodore. Irene must used all her influence so to guarantee the release of her father.

FIGHTING FOR HER SON… AND VATATZES

After Ivan’s death, a small civil war unfolded inside the Bulgarian court, between the supporters of Kaliman, the son of Ivan from his second wife, and Michael, the only son of Irene. The Lacarids of Asia Minor supported the circle of Kaliman, while the relatives of Irene in Thessalonica offered their support to Michael who was also a grandson-nephew of them. The feud ended with the underage Kaliman acquiring the throne. Michael was recognized as the first in line heir of the Bulgarian throne in case something unfortunate happened to Kaliman.

Part of the agreement was also Irene to leave Tarnovo since she must was a persona non grata for a great part of the Bulgarian society that was following the view of the church on Irene. The new regents of Bulgaria immediately after the assumption of power renewed their alliance with John Vatatzes, thus confirming the diplomatic success of the Lascarids inside Bulgaria. Irene moved from Tarnovo to Thessalonica, where her relatives lived, and left her son Michael to the care of her supporters, especially two great Bulgarian Boyars, called Peter and Mitso.

Later in 1244, we found Irene mentioned in an interesting episode in the pages of the history of George Akropolites. In 1244, basileus Vatatzes managed to conquer the prestigious city of Thessalonica, the second Constantinople, and to end the rule of Theodore Doukas and his young son Demetrios once and for all. Irene fearing that Vatatzes would mutilate-blind her brother, went to meet the emperor and asked for an audition. There she fell on his feet and begged for clemency for her young immature brother who was barricaded inside the citadel of the city. Vatatzes granted her request and Irene having received oaths, went to the citadel, persuaded Demetrios to surrender and brought him in front of the emperor.

A fictional potrayment of John Doukas Vatatzes that governed the Roman empire of Nicaea-Nymphaion from 1222 to 1254, an era of prosperity, expansion and military victories for his country. The Orthodox church remembers Vatatzes as a Saint.
Artist: Plamen Vulchev.

It appears Vatatzes was fascinated by the tsaritsas’ character and Irene received honors from him. When she rode off her horse, Vatatzes did the same -to the surprise of Akropolites- and stood next to Irene on foot, something that was a sign of humility for the emperors.

THE TSARITSA-MOTHER

Kaliman the stepson of Irene was the successor to the Bulgarian throne, but his government was a fragile one. The Holy See pressed the regents of Kaliman to accept the Catholic faith and to send delegates to Lyon for an official union of the Latin and Bulgarian churches. And this perhaps was the reason Kaliman was murdered in 1246. It is most likely that the young tsar was poisoned by the circle of supporters of Irene, since after his death, her underaged son, Michael, was proclaimed tsar of the Bulgars. Irene was far from Bulgaria during the assassination, but she certainly was in contact with the boyars that supported her son’s right to the throne.

Fresco of Michael II Asen, tsar of Bulgaria from 1246 to 1256. Michael is depicted bearded and with a moustache, so it can be argued that the artwork was painted after he reached 15 years of old, circa 1253. The fresco is located on the old church of Saint Taxiarchai in Kastoria.

The two figures that were instrumental to the downfall of Kaliman were the lords Peter and Mitso. Irene made sure to marry her daughter Anna with Peter that during her son’s reign rose to Sebastokrator and her other daughter Maria to Mitso, thus earning the kinship of two powerful allies. Indeed it was Peter as Sebastokrator that was the main regent of Michael during his younger years and perhaps the man that defined Bulgarian politics during the time. Peter received great properties for his support and even autonomy on his lands.

It is also conceivable that Irene had a significant role on the regency of her underage son, but Peter and Mitso must have been the main regents with Irene acting as the honorable tsaritsa-mother. Perhaps she acted as the intermediator between the Bulgarian government and Epirus that under her cousin Michael II Doukas was searching for allies against the dangerous expansion of Lascarids in Macedonia. She also was a first cousin with Theodora Petraliphaina, the wife of Michael of Epirus.

IRENE, THE SISTER XENE

At some point in her life, during her son’s reign, she retired to a monastery of Bulgaria and received the monastic name Xene meaning «foreigner». Also, her relationship with the Bulgarian church must have been restored, since we find her in the Bulgarian Synodicon -that was read on the Sunday of Orthodoxy for «Eternal Memory»- mentioned as a «pious» woman.

A portrait of tsar Michael and Irene survives in the church of Saint Taxiarchai in Kastoria today. Irene is not depicted with the glamorous appearance of an empress but more like a nun, however, she still wears a diadem adorned and big circular earrings. Michael also wears a robe decorated with circles of white eagles, an attire that was popular in Byzantium.

Fresco of tsaritsa Irene Doukaina on the walls of the church of Saint Taxiarchai in Kastoria. Irene must have been a donor of the church.

After 10 years of reign and just when Michael had started to command his troops personally in battle… he was killed and his cousin Kaliman was proclaimed Tsar, however, Kaliman II wouldnt enjoy this position for long since his own supporters would exterminate him later.

What happened to Irene after her son’s death? Did she retired on the lands of her powerful son-in-law Peter to live with her daughter Ana or she moved to East Bulgaria to be close to her daughter Maria and her powerful husband Mitso. We dont know and simply it doesn’t matter. In the monastery where she was living as the nun Xene, she had all the protection she needed. Most likely she spent the remainder of her life in the abbey with the rest of the sisters of the monastery.

Although, we don’t know if Irene lived to see the downfall of her son or if she had passed away earlier.

Our next post is going to discuss the life of Maria Asenina, daughter of Irene and her husband Mitso.

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