Irene Palaiologina was born in 1349 as one of older children of
John V Palaiologos and
Helena Kantakouzene. In 1352, her parents left for
Thrace to take charge of the administration of the cities that had been ceded to them by their grandfather
John VI Kantakouzenos. Irene, however, remained in the capital, where her father entrusted his daughter's education and upbringing to her grandmother, Empress
Irene Asanina, who cared for her until her parents' return. In 1358, ten-year-old Irene was betrothed to
Halil Bey, an
Ottoman prince, son of Sultan
Orhan I. Irene's fiancé was also her first cousin, as his mother
Theodora Kantakouzene was Irene's maternal aunt, sister of Empress Helena Kantakouzene. In 1357, the Ottoman prince was kidnapped by Genoese pirates and, after long attempts to free him with the help of Irene's brother
Andronikos IV Palaiologos, he was released for a large ransom in 1359. The betrothal was the counterpart demanded by the Byzantines in exchange for help in freeing the prince. Shortly after, Irene married Halil and, despite her young age, managed to give him two sons, who were murdered along with their father by his brother
Murad I in 1362. In 1372, the Byzantines offered Irene's hand in marriage to King
Peter II of Cyprus, but the offer was rejected by the Cypriots. There is no further information on the princess's life. == Issue ==