罗马-拜占庭法视域下伊琳娜称帝原因解析

An Analysis of the Background of Irene's enthronement as the “Emperor of the Romans” in the Perspective of Romano-Byzantine Jurisprudence

伊琳娜(755—803年)是拜占庭帝国历史上第一位女皇。780年偕子摄政,797年独立执政,统治帝国计23年。后世论者甚至认为,其统治开启了帝国从衰落走向复兴的重要时期。在男权统治下的拜占庭社会,一位女性何以能够从偕子摄政转而成为帝国的全权统治者,这是值得探究的话题。本文通过对6至8世纪拜占庭立法原则变化的分析,探讨该时期拜占庭女性权利和地位的提升,进而探究伊琳娜称帝的法理依据。

Irene of Athens(755-803 CE) was the first female emperor in the history of Byzantine Empire. She became the regent for her son in 780 and later reigned as monarchess in 797. Her whole reign lasted for 23 years. The critics of the later generations even thought that her rule had ushered in an important era during which the Empire revived from its decline. How could a woman become the monarchess of the Empire from the regent for her son? This could be a topic worthy of exploring. Based on the analysis of the changes in Byzantine legislation from the sixth to eighth century, this paper probes into the advancement in the status, rights and heirship of women, and explores the legal foundation for Irene's enthronement as the "Emperor of the Romans".