Constantine VI had the misfortune or fortune (on how one views it) to have an extremely ambitious mother. In 780, Leo IV, Constantine VI’s father died, Irene assumed the regency of her son. As a ruler she was effective in reversing the stringent policies on iconoclastism. As the years went on her relationship with her son weakened due to her insistence on involving herself in the affairs of the state. Soldiers that were still allegiant to Constantine V, the grandfather of Constantine VI, coaxed the young man into exiling his mother. Over time this proved to be his undoing as his real character became more evident to those around him. He was found to be a weak and rather ruthless ruler. In 797 Irene took the opportunity to remove Constantine VI from office and had him blinded. This left sole rule to Irene. Irene had her gender working against her when Pope Leo III used this to proclaim Charlemagne emperor of the Holy Roman Empire thereby cutting ties with the Eastern Roman Empire. He claimed that since a woman was on the throne that the Roman Empire virtually had no ruler. In 802 a coup forced Irene into exile where she died shortly afterwards.