Catherine of Hungary, Queen of Serbia
Encyclopedia
Catherine of Hungary was the second daughter of Stephen V of Hungary
and his wife Elizabeth
, a member of the Cuman tribes. Catherine became Queen consort of Serbia
by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin of Serbia.
Catherine was the second of six children. Her sister Elizabeth
also became a Queen of Serbia, by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin's brother, Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
. Another sister, Maria married Charles II of Naples
and had fourteen children. Catherine's third sister, Anna married Andronikos II Palaiologos
. Catherine's brother was Ladislaus IV of Hungary.
Catherine's paternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
and his wife Maria Laskarina
. Her maternal grandparents were Köten
, leader of a tribe of Cumans, his wife was Mstislawna, a Russian noblewomen who may have royal connections.
to secure his southern boundary while moving toward the Adriatic included establishing leaders in Srem
(John Angelos
) and Slavonia
(Rostislav Mikhailovich) who were not only capable but also closely connected to the royal family. It is quite reasonable that an effective way to at least neutralize Serbia
under Uros would be to connect him through dynastic marriage to Hungarian nobility, whether by diplomacy or force. Such use of dynastic marriage occurred, for example, in 1268 when Stephen Uroš I of Serbia unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Macva
. The result was the marriage of Catherine to his son Stephen Dragutin of Serbia in c.1268. A detailed reexamination of the relations between Hungary
and Serbia in the period 1240-1265, and especially around 1250, would be expected to show that the marriage of Helen of Anjou
and Stephen Uros was a natural outcome of political factors. Such a study would also aid in illuminating later developments in Hungarian-Serbian relations.
For example, it is well known that Dragutin was given Macva
, Usor and Soli
by his brother-in-law Ladislas IV of Hungary after yielding the Serbian throne to his brother Milutin in 1282. It has been assumed that he was known as King of Srem because these territories south of the Sava included those which at one time were called Sirmia ulterior by the Hungarians, even though only Sirmia citerior between the Sava and Danube was normally known as Srem. Dragutin received many of these lands due to his marriage to Catherine.
Catherine and Stephen Dragutin had three children, all of them are believed to have lived to adulthood:
Catherine's children were heirs to the throne of Hungary
when Catherine's brother Ladislaus died childless, after neglecting his wife, Elizabeth of Sicily
, for the sake of their Cuman family. However, Catherine's children did not inherit Hungary, her distant cousin, Andrew III of Hungary inherited instead, though his claim was in question because other European monarchs believed that Hungary was in their possession. However, Catherine's son Stefan Vladislav II of Syrmia
was always a pretender to Hungary even after the death of Andrew III in 1301. Catherine and her son were in competition with her nephews. Catherine's nephew, Charles Martel of Anjou
gave them the province of Slavonia
even though it did not belong to him.
Near the end of his life, Catherine's husband separated from his Hungarian friends, gained from their marriage and strengthened his connections in Serbia. He later became a monk and changed his name to Teoktist. He died in 1316 and was buried in the Đurđevi Stupovi monastery near Novi Pazar.
Catherine herself died sometime after 1314, others are not sure when she died
Stephen V of Hungary
Stephen V , was King of Hungary from 1270 to 1272.-Early years:...
and his wife Elizabeth
Elizabeth the Cuman
-Daughter of Kuthen:She was born in about 1239/40, a daughter of Kuthen/Kotyan/Kotony , khan of the Cumans , and his wife whose identity has not been established. The Cumans were the western tribes of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. The Cumans were a confederation of Turkic speaking peoples who...
, a member of the Cuman tribes. Catherine became Queen consort of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin of Serbia.
Family
Catherine's mother followed the Shamanist religion, like other Cumans. She was considered a Pagan by contemporary Christians of Europe. Elizabeth had to convert to the Roman Catholic faith in order to marry Catherine's father, Stephen.Catherine was the second of six children. Her sister Elizabeth
Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen of Serbia
Elizabeth of Hungary the widow was one of younger children of King Stephen V of Hungary and his wife Elizabeth the Cuman. She was a member of the House of Arpad and later became Queen consort of Serbia by her marriage to Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia....
also became a Queen of Serbia, by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin's brother, Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin was a king of Serbia , and member of the House of Nemanjić.-Early:...
. Another sister, Maria married Charles II of Naples
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
and had fourteen children. Catherine's third sister, Anna married Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
. Catherine's brother was Ladislaus IV of Hungary.
Catherine's paternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
and his wife Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina was a daughter of Theodore I Laskaris and his first wife Anna Angelina.-Life:She was a younger sister of Irene Lascarina, first Empress consort of John III Doukas Vatatzes. Theodore married his eldest daughter to his designated heir in 1212...
. Her maternal grandparents were Köten
Köten
Köten was a Cuman khan and member of the Terter clan. This Köten is the same Prince Kotjan Sutoevic of the Russian annals, who forged the Russian-Cuman alliance against the Tatars...
, leader of a tribe of Cumans, his wife was Mstislawna, a Russian noblewomen who may have royal connections.
Marriage
The efforts of Catherine's grandfather, Bela IV of HungaryBéla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
to secure his southern boundary while moving toward the Adriatic included establishing leaders in Srem
Srem
Śrem is a town on the Warta river in central Poland. It has been situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; from 1975 to 1998 it was part of the Poznań Voivodeship...
(John Angelos
John Angelos
John Angelos is the Executive Vice President of the Baltimore Orioles, a position he has held since April 1999, leading the club's front office and overseeing the day to day business operations including marketing, communications and sales. He also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the...
) and Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
(Rostislav Mikhailovich) who were not only capable but also closely connected to the royal family. It is quite reasonable that an effective way to at least neutralize Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
under Uros would be to connect him through dynastic marriage to Hungarian nobility, whether by diplomacy or force. Such use of dynastic marriage occurred, for example, in 1268 when Stephen Uroš I of Serbia unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Macva
Macva
Mačva is a geographical region in Serbia, mostly situated in the northwest of Central Serbia. It is located in a fertile plain between the Sava and Drina rivers. The chief town of this region is Šabac. The modern Mačva District of Serbia is named after the region, although the region of Mačva...
. The result was the marriage of Catherine to his son Stephen Dragutin of Serbia in c.1268. A detailed reexamination of the relations between Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Serbia in the period 1240-1265, and especially around 1250, would be expected to show that the marriage of Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou or Hélène d'Anjou was the queen consort of the Serbian Kingdom, wife of Stephen Uroš I and mother of kings Dragutin and Milutin.-Life:Helen was a Catholic and was born in ca 1236. Her origins are not known for certain...
and Stephen Uros was a natural outcome of political factors. Such a study would also aid in illuminating later developments in Hungarian-Serbian relations.
For example, it is well known that Dragutin was given Macva
Macva
Mačva is a geographical region in Serbia, mostly situated in the northwest of Central Serbia. It is located in a fertile plain between the Sava and Drina rivers. The chief town of this region is Šabac. The modern Mačva District of Serbia is named after the region, although the region of Mačva...
, Usor and Soli
Soli
Soli can refer to:* Soli, Cyprus, an ancient city on the island of Cyprus.* Soli, Cilicia, an ancient city in Cilicia, later renamed Pompeiopolis.* Soli, a 10th century name for Tuzla, a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina....
by his brother-in-law Ladislas IV of Hungary after yielding the Serbian throne to his brother Milutin in 1282. It has been assumed that he was known as King of Srem because these territories south of the Sava included those which at one time were called Sirmia ulterior by the Hungarians, even though only Sirmia citerior between the Sava and Danube was normally known as Srem. Dragutin received many of these lands due to his marriage to Catherine.
Catherine and Stephen Dragutin had three children, all of them are believed to have lived to adulthood:
- Stefan Vladislav II, king of Srem (1316–1325).
- ElisabethElizabeth of SerbiaElizabeth of Serbia was Baness of Bosnia by her marriage to Stephen I, Ban of Bosnia.-Family:...
, married in 1284 to Stephen I, Ban of Bosnia, becoming mother of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia. - UrošicUrošicStefan Urošic or Urošica was a member of the Nemanjić Dynasty that became a Serbian Orthodox monk.He was born in 1285 to the royal family of Serbia, the second son of King Stefan Dragutin of Serbia, of the Nemanjić. His mother was Catherine of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary.He...
(Урошиц), died as a monk.
Catherine's children were heirs to the throne of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
when Catherine's brother Ladislaus died childless, after neglecting his wife, Elizabeth of Sicily
Elisabeth of Sicily (1261–1300)
Elisabeth of Sicily was the youngest child of Charles I of Naples and his first wife Beatrice of Provence. Her maternal grandparents were Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy. Her paternal grandparents were Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile...
, for the sake of their Cuman family. However, Catherine's children did not inherit Hungary, her distant cousin, Andrew III of Hungary inherited instead, though his claim was in question because other European monarchs believed that Hungary was in their possession. However, Catherine's son Stefan Vladislav II of Syrmia
Stefan Vladislav II of Syrmia
Stephen Vladislav II was a 14th-century Serb royalty, King of Syrmia and claimant to the whole Serbia.He was the son of Stefan Dragutin, who had ruled Serbia until 1282, when he became ill and abdicated, giving the superior rule to his younger brother Stefan Milutin...
was always a pretender to Hungary even after the death of Andrew III in 1301. Catherine and her son were in competition with her nephews. Catherine's nephew, Charles Martel of Anjou
Charles Martel of Anjou
Charles Martel of the Angevin dynasty, also known as Charles I Martel, was the eldest son of king Charles II of Naples and Maria of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary....
gave them the province of Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
even though it did not belong to him.
Near the end of his life, Catherine's husband separated from his Hungarian friends, gained from their marriage and strengthened his connections in Serbia. He later became a monk and changed his name to Teoktist. He died in 1316 and was buried in the Đurđevi Stupovi monastery near Novi Pazar.
Catherine herself died sometime after 1314, others are not sure when she died