CONSTANTINE VI  ., grandson of Constantine V., was emperor, 780—797 . At ten years of age he succeeded his father, Leo IV., under the guardianship of his mother Irene (q.v.), who held the reins of government for ten years . In 782 the Arabs under Harun al-Rashid penetrated as far as the Bosporus, and exacted an annual tribute as the price of an inglorious peace (see CALIPHATE, § C, 3 ad fin.) . Even when Constantine came of age, Irene practically retained the supreme power . At length Constantine had her arrested, but foolishly pardoned her shortly afterwards . Disastrous campaigns against the Bulgarians and' Arabs afforded her an opportunity of rousing the contempt and hatred of the people against their ruler . On his return to Constantinople, Constantine managed to escape to the Asiatic coast, but being brought back practically by force he was seized and blinded . According to some, he died on the same day; according to others, he survived for several years . With Constantine VI. the Syrian (Isaurian) dynasty became extinct . See Theophanes, and the biographies of the patriarch Tarasius and Theodore of Studium; also F . C . Schlosser, Geschithte der bildersturmenden Kaiser des ostromischen Reichs (Frankfurt am Main, 1812) ; other works s.v .

IRENE .