Sarantapechos

Sarantapechos
Σαραντάπηχος
Noble family
CountryByzantine Empire
Place of originAthens, Hellas
Founded8th century
TitlesPatrician,
Spatharios,
Empress
MembersIrene of Athens,
Constantine Sarantapechos,
Theophylact Sarantapechos,
Leon Sarantapechos
Connected membersTheophano of Athens
Connected familiesIsaurian dynasty

Sarantapechos (Greek: Σαραντάπηχος, Sarantápēchos),[note 1] feminine form Sarantapechaena (Greek: Σαρανταπήχαινα, Sarantapḗchaina), was a Byzantine Greek noble family originating from Athens.[1][2] The family is attested in the second half of the eighth century, as well as in the early ninth century and is thought to have been of political influence in central Greece at the time.[3][4] Very few members are known of the family, the first and most prominent being Irene of Athens, who, after her marriage to emperor Leo IV, became empress consort, later regent, and finally the first empress regnant of the Byzantine Empire in 797.[5]


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  1. ^ Speake 2021, p. 823; Woodacre 2013, p. 12
  2. ^ Bury 2015, pp. 482–483, 494; Vasiliev 1958, pp. 234, 254
  3. ^ Garland 1999, p. 73.
  4. ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 572 :"As early as the later eighth century, the Tessaracontapechys family of Athens was important enough to have a family name and to send their relative Irene to Constantinople as the bride of the emperor's son".
  5. ^ PBW, Eirene 1.