Editing Irene of Athens (section)

===Moechian controversy and conspiracy to depose Constantine VI===
Despite their collaboration, rivalry remained between the two co-rulers. Irene's faction also returned, with her powerful eunuch minister Staurakios once again at the helm, they began to take revenge on anyone who had opposed them in the past or present. The ''moechian'' controversy (from ''moicheia'', "adultery") was begun in 795, when Constantine forced his wife Maria to enter a convent because she allegedly attempted to poison him. He then married his mistress [[Theodote (empress)|Theodote]], which was technically an act of [[adultery]]. Patriarch [[Tarasios of Constantinople]] only offered a light penance for Constantine and Theodote, which caused monks of the [[monastery]] of Sakkoudion including [[Theodore the Stoudite]] to condemn the union and excommunicate Tarasios. Constantine closed the monastery and banished Theodore to [[Thessaloniki]]. Theodore was a prestigious and influential figure, so his opposition to Constantine was significant.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=290}}

[[File:Gold solidus, Byzantine, Irene, 797-802.jpg|thumb|Irene was the only sovereign in the history of the Empire to place her image on both sides of imperial coinage, whereas her predecessors featured their ancestors to symbolize dynastic rule.{{sfn|Auzépy|2008|p=274}}]]
In 797, Irene exploited the controversy to prepare the overthrow of her son. She bribed palace officers to remain neutral and encouraged monastic opposition to the marriage. In August, her agents attempted to capture Constantine as he was travelling by boat from Constantinople to his summer residence. He fled to [[Pylae]], but Irene persuaded her supporters there to capture him. On 19 August, Constantine was blinded and confined to a monastery. It is unknown whether he managed to survive this event.{{efn|The ''Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium'' gives 19 April,{{sfn|ODB|p=1008}} but this is a mistake. [[Theophanes the Confessor]] writes: "[They] ''reached the City on Saturday morning, 15 August''." The 15th was Tuesday, so the correct date would be August 19.{{sfn|Theophanes|loc=AM 6289 (n. 8–10)}}}} Tarasios was reconciled with Theodore, who was made the abbot of the [[Monastery of Stoudios]] and became one of Irene's most loyal supporters.{{sfn|Brubaker|Haldon|2011|p=291}} 

Although it is often asserted that, as monarch, Irene called herself "''[[basileus]]''" ({{langx|el|βασιλεύς}}), "emperor", rather than "''basilissa''" ({{langx|el|βασίλισσα}}), "empress", in fact there are only three instances where it can be proven that she used the title "basileus": two legal documents in which she signed herself as "Emperor of the Romans" and a gold coin of hers found in Sicily bearing the title of "basileus". In relation to the coin, the lettering is of poor quality and the attribution to Irene may be problematic. She used the title "basilissa" in all other documents, coins, and seals.<ref>Liz James, "Men, Women, Eunuchs: Gender, Sex, and Power" in ''A Social History of Byzantium'' (J. Haldon, ed.) pp. 45, 46; published 2009; {{ISBN|978-1-4051-3241-1}}</ref>