Marriage
Irene married John Kantakouzenos. Her husband was a son of Michael Kantakouzenos and Theodora Angelina Palaiologina. In his history, John records his mother being a kinswoman of Andronikos II Palaiologos. Persumably a cousin by one of the siblings of Michael VIII. The marriage produced six children:
- Matthew Kantakouzenos (c. 1325 – 24 June 1283), co-emperor 1353–1357, later despotēs in Morea.
- Manuel Kantakouzenos (c. 1326 – 10 April 1380), despotēs in Morea.
- Maria Kantakouzene (died after 1379), who married Nikephoros II Orsini of Epirus.
- Theodora Kantakouzene (died after 1381), who married Sultan Orhan of the Ottoman Empire.
- Helena Kantakouzene (1333 – 10 December 1396), who married Emperor John V Palaiologos.
- Andronikos Kantakouzenos (c. 1334 – 1347). Last child of the marriage. The history of John records that this son died due to "plague". Given the year of his death, Andronikos was probably among the casualties of the Black Death.
Read more about this topic: Irene Asanina
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