Charlotte of Cyprus
Encyclopedia
Charlotte was Queen of Cyprus and Princess of Antioch
, as well as titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia.
She was the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus
and Helena Palaiologina
. At the age of 14, she succeeded to the Cypriot throne upon the death of her father in 1458. Her illegitimate half-brother, James
challenged her right to the crown. With the support of the Egyptians, he forced her to flee the island in 1463, and he was later crowned king. She made a military attempt to regain her throne, but was unsuccessful, and died childless in Rome.
and Helena Palaiologina
. Her younger sister Cleopha died in June 1448, shortly before Charlotte's fourth birthday, leaving her the sole legitimate heir to the Cypriot throne and her father's titles. She had an illegitimate half-brother, James
, born to her father's beautiful Greek mistress Marietta de Patras
. Charlotte's mother, Queen Helena was extremely jealous of Marietta, who was already her husband's mistress at the time of their marriage. Shortly after the wedding, she ordered her rival's nose to be cut off.
Her paternal grandparents were King Janus of Cyprus
and Charlotte de Bourbon-La Marche
. Her mother was a daughter of Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
and his wife Cleofa Malatesta
. Theodore was in turn a son of Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
and Helena Dragaš
.
Charlotte succeeded as Princess of Antioch in 1456. At the age of 14, upon her father's death, Charlotte became Queen of Cyprus
, ruling from 1458 to 1460 or 1464. Her right to the throne was challenged by her illegitimate half-brother James who captured Famagusta and Nicosia with Egyptian support. After being blockaded in the castle of Kyrenia
for three years, she fled to Rome
in 1463, whereupon her half-brother was crowned King James II.
She made an unsuccessful military attempt to regain her throne with papal support.
By her second husband Louis, Charlotte had an unnamed son who was born in July 1464, but the boy died within a month of his birth.
She died childless on 16 July 1487, shortly after her forty-third birthday. She adopted as her son, Alfonso of Aragon, the illegitimate son of King Ferdinand II of Naples
, who was married to her half-brother's illegitimate daughter, Charlotte de Lusignan. However, in February 1485, in exchange for an annual pension of 4,300 florins, she instead ceded her claims to her cousin's son Charles I of Savoy
, the next in the legitimate line of succession.
Charlotte is buried in St. Peter's Basilica
.
Princess of Antioch
- House of Hauteville, 1098–1163:-House of Poitiers, 1163–1268:-House of Poitiers, 1268–1299:-House of Toucy, 1299–1300:-House of Lusignan, 1300–1457:...
, as well as titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia.
She was the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus
John II of Cyprus
John II or III of Cyprus was the King of Cyprus and Armenia and also titular King of Jerusalem from 1432 to 1458. He was previously a Titular Prince of Antioch...
and Helena Palaiologina
Helena Palaiologina
Helena Palaiologina was a Byzantine princess of the Palaiologos family, who became the Queen consort of Cyprus and Armenia, titular Queen consort of Jerusalem, and Princess of Antioch through her marriage to King John II of Cyprus and Armenia...
. At the age of 14, she succeeded to the Cypriot throne upon the death of her father in 1458. Her illegitimate half-brother, James
James II of Cyprus
James II of Cyprus or Jacques II le Bâtard de Lusignan , was the illegitimate son of John II of Cyprus and Marietta de Patras.-Archbishop of Nicosia:...
challenged her right to the crown. With the support of the Egyptians, he forced her to flee the island in 1463, and he was later crowned king. She made a military attempt to regain her throne, but was unsuccessful, and died childless in Rome.
Queen of Cyprus
Charlotte was born in Nicosia on 28 June 1444, the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of CyprusJohn II of Cyprus
John II or III of Cyprus was the King of Cyprus and Armenia and also titular King of Jerusalem from 1432 to 1458. He was previously a Titular Prince of Antioch...
and Helena Palaiologina
Helena Palaiologina
Helena Palaiologina was a Byzantine princess of the Palaiologos family, who became the Queen consort of Cyprus and Armenia, titular Queen consort of Jerusalem, and Princess of Antioch through her marriage to King John II of Cyprus and Armenia...
. Her younger sister Cleopha died in June 1448, shortly before Charlotte's fourth birthday, leaving her the sole legitimate heir to the Cypriot throne and her father's titles. She had an illegitimate half-brother, James
James II of Cyprus
James II of Cyprus or Jacques II le Bâtard de Lusignan , was the illegitimate son of John II of Cyprus and Marietta de Patras.-Archbishop of Nicosia:...
, born to her father's beautiful Greek mistress Marietta de Patras
Marietta de Patras
Marietta de Patras was the Greek mistress of King John II of Cyprus and the mother of his illegitimate son King James II of Cyprus. Shortly after King John's marriage to Helena Palaiologina, the new Queen ordered that Marietta's nose be cut off...
. Charlotte's mother, Queen Helena was extremely jealous of Marietta, who was already her husband's mistress at the time of their marriage. Shortly after the wedding, she ordered her rival's nose to be cut off.
Her paternal grandparents were King Janus of Cyprus
Janus of Cyprus
Janus of Cyprus was a King of Cyprus, King of Armenia and a Titular King of Jerusalem from 1398 to 1432.-Biography:He was born in Genoa where his father, King James I of Cyprus was a captive...
and Charlotte de Bourbon-La Marche
Charlotte de Bourbon-La Marche
Charlotte de Bourbon was the Queen consort of Cyprus and titular Queen consort of Armenia and Jerusalem through her marriage to King Janus of Cyprus. She was his second wife and the mother of his six legitimate children, which included King John II and Anne de Lusignan...
. Her mother was a daughter of Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
Theodore II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Despot in Morea from 1407 to 1443.-Life:...
and his wife Cleofa Malatesta
Cleofa Malatesta
Cleofa Malatesta da Pesaro was an Italian noblewoman and the wife of Theodore II Palaiologos, Despot of the Morea, brother of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor. She was a daughter ofMalatesta dei Sonetti, count of Pesaro, and of Isabella Gonzaga...
. Theodore was in turn a son of Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
and Helena Dragaš
Helena Dragaš
Helena Dragaš Helena was born to Constantine Dragaš of the noble House of Dejanović. Constantine was a Serbian provincial lord, ruling one of the principalities that emerged after the breakup of the Serbian Empire, centered at Velbăžd . Her mother was Constantine's unnamed first wife...
.
Charlotte succeeded as Princess of Antioch in 1456. At the age of 14, upon her father's death, Charlotte became Queen of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, ruling from 1458 to 1460 or 1464. Her right to the throne was challenged by her illegitimate half-brother James who captured Famagusta and Nicosia with Egyptian support. After being blockaded in the castle of Kyrenia
Kyrenia
Kyrenia is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
for three years, she fled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1463, whereupon her half-brother was crowned King James II.
She made an unsuccessful military attempt to regain her throne with papal support.
Marriages
Charlotte married twice:- Infante John of PortugalJohn, Prince of AntiochInfante John of Coimbra , also known as John of Coimbra or John of Portugal, was the second son of Infante Peter, Duke of Coimbra, and Isabella of Aragon, Countess of Urgell....
, also known as John of Coimbra, (1431 or 1433 – between July and 11 September 1457) (son of Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra and grandson of King John I of PortugalJohn I of PortugalJohn I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
), in May 1456 in Nicosia. He was made a Titular Prince of Antioch. It is rumoured that his death was a murder due to poisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ing, arranged by Queen Helena, leaving Charlotte free to make a second marriage. - Louis of Savoy, Count of GenevaLouis of Savoy, Count of GenevaLouis of Savoy was King of Cyprus, reigning together with and in the right of his wife, Queen Charlotte of Cyprus. He was the second son and namesake of Louis, Duke of Savoy, and his wife Anne of Lusignan, daughter of King Janus of Cyprus...
(GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 5 June 1436 or 1 April 1437 – ChâteauChâteauA château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
-MonasteryMonasteryMonastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
de Ripaille, August, 1482). The couple were married on 4 October 1459. Louis was the second son and namesake of Louis, Count of Savoy by Anne de Lusignan, daughter of King Janus of CyprusJanus of CyprusJanus of Cyprus was a King of Cyprus, King of Armenia and a Titular King of Jerusalem from 1398 to 1432.-Biography:He was born in Genoa where his father, King James I of Cyprus was a captive...
and became a King of Cyprus from 1459 to 1462 and also a titular King of Jerusalem.
By her second husband Louis, Charlotte had an unnamed son who was born in July 1464, but the boy died within a month of his birth.
She died childless on 16 July 1487, shortly after her forty-third birthday. She adopted as her son, Alfonso of Aragon, the illegitimate son of King Ferdinand II of Naples
Ferdinand II of Naples
Ferdinand II or Ferrante II of Naples , sometimes known as Ferrandino, was King of Naples from 1495 to 1496...
, who was married to her half-brother's illegitimate daughter, Charlotte de Lusignan. However, in February 1485, in exchange for an annual pension of 4,300 florins, she instead ceded her claims to her cousin's son Charles I of Savoy
Charles I of Savoy
Charles I , surnamed the Warrior, was the Duke of Savoy from 1482 to 1490 and titular king of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia from 1485 to 1490....
, the next in the legitimate line of succession.
Charlotte is buried in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
.