Editing Nikephoros I (section)

==Accession==
Nikephoros was appointed finance minister (''[[logothetes tou genikou|logothetēs tou genikou]]'') by Empress [[Irene (empress)|Irene]]. He played a significant role in a power struggle among courtiers. During Irene's years as sole ruler (797–802), discontent grew due to her financial laxity. In 802, [[Charlemagne]] initiated marriage negotiations to "unite" the new Western and Eastern empires, thus resolving the [[problem of two emperors]]. Irene was happy to do so, but the proposal was frightening to some Byzantine civil and military officials, including [[Domestic of the Schools]] [[Niketas Triphyllios]] and relative of Irene [[Sarantapechos|Leon Sarantapechos]], who began a conspiracy led by Nikephoros to overthrow Irene. While the [[Franks|Frankish]] ambassadors were still in [[Constantinople]] to negotiate the marriage, the conspiracy was set in motion. Irene was at her palace near the [[Harbour of Eleutherios]]. Nikephoros' co-conspirators falsely informed the guards that the courtier [[Aetios (eunuch)|Aetios]] was forcing Irene to cede the throne to his brother Leo, and that opponents of the coup wished to make Nikephoros emperor instead. The guards sided with Nikephoros, and the palace was surrounded. The next day, Irene was removed and confined to the [[Great Palace of Constantinople]]. With the support of his co-conspirators, Nikephoros was then crowned emperor by Patriarch [[Tarasios of Constantinople]] in the [[Hagia Sophia]] on 31 October 802. At first Irene was banished to the nearby island of [[Prinkipo]], but she was suspected of plotting with Aetios, and so banished to [[Lesbos]].{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|pp=293–294}}{{sfn|Auzépy|2008|p=278}}{{sfn|Garland|1999|p=89}}
[[File:104 - Nikephoros I (Mutinensis - color).png|thumb|The 104th imperial portrait in ''[[Mutinensis gr. 122]]'', depicting Nikephoros I.]]