Eirene the kaisarissa became a paragon of womanly virtue in the palace

Summary:
Eirene the kaisarissa became a model of womanly modesty and restraint, even before her husband Ioannes and her imperial in-laws Konstantinos and Eudokia. Moving into the palace was, for her, a motivation to greater virtue. One of many signs of her attitude to her husband Ioannes was her concealment of a serious and painful liver disease. She remained so cheerful that Ioannes knew nothing of it and thought she was well. She later recovered. Psellos, who became her adviser in the palace, claims credibility over details 
Dates:
1060 
Eirene Pegonitissa, wife of Ioannes the kaisar (Eirene 20117)
  • She became a paragon of womanly modesty and restraint, even before her husband Ioannes 62, and her imperial in-laws Konstantinos 10 and Eudokia 1 (:) Psellos Eirene 166-168
  • One of many signs of her attitude to her husband Ioannes 62 was her concealment of a serious and painful liver disease; she remained so cheerful that Ioannes thought she was well; she later recovered (:) Psellos Eirene 171
  • Her brother-in-law Konstantinos 10 succeeded to the throne and shone out brilliantly, causing her husband and his family to shine also, but less brightly, all moving into the palace; for her, this was a motivation for greater virtue (:) Psellos Eirene 169-170
  • She had known Michael 61 before Konstantinos 10 came to the throne, but afterwards she consulted him as one who had long lived in the palace; in this way he got to know her spiritual humility and became a kind of spiritual father (:) Psellos Eirene 170-171
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • After the serious liver disease of his wife Eirene 20117, of which he knew nothing, he was raised by his brother to the throne of a kaisar, and made the second person in Byzantium (:) Psellos Eirene 171-172
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He had known Eirene 20117 before Konstantinos 10 came to the throne, but afterwards she consulted him as one who had long lived in the palace; in this way he got to know her well and became a kind of spiritual father (:) Psellos Eirene 170-171