Empress Free — Atrocious

Irene’s hunger for power reached a chilling peak when she ordered her own son, Emperor Constantine VI, to be blinded so she could take his place. He died shortly after from his wounds.

She is the ultimate personification of the "unnatural mother," sacrificing her child for a crown. atrocious empress

In many cases, these women operated in "kill or be killed" environments. To show mercy was to show weakness, and in the high-stakes world of imperial politics, weakness was a death sentence. The Hall of Infamy: Three Iconic Figures 1. Empress Wu Zetian (Tang Dynasty, China) Irene’s hunger for power reached a chilling peak

When examining the lives of these women, it is impossible to ignore the "Scold’s Bridle" of historical writing. For centuries, history was written by men—often monks or scholars—who viewed a woman in power as an affront to the natural order. In many cases, these women operated in "kill

Catherine was a mother trying to keep a crumbling dynasty together amidst civil war. Her "cruelty" was often a desperate attempt to find a middle ground between warring religious factions. 3. Empress Irene of Athens (Byzantine Empire)