Constance of Aragon, Queen of Majorca
Encyclopedia
Constance of Aragon was the eldest daughter of Alfonso IV of Aragon
and his first wife Teresa d'Entença
. She was born into the House of Aragon
. She married James III of Majorca
, she married into the House of Barcelona
and became Queen consort of Majorca as a result.
and James I of Urgell
.
When Constance was nine years old in 1327, her mother Teresa died in childbirth, the son called Sancho only lived a few days. In 1329 Constance's father remarried to Eleanor of Castile, from this marriage Constance gained two half-siblings Ferdinand, Marquis of Tortosa and John of Aragon.
Her paternal grandparents were James II of Aragon
and Blanche of Anjou
, daughter of Charles II of Naples
and his wife Maria of Hungary. Constance's maternal grandparents were Gombaldo, Baron of Enteça and Constanza de Antillòn.
became King of Majorca upon the death of his uncle Sancho of Majorca. James wished to make friendly relations with Aragon
, in order to do this he married Constance. Though the kings of Majorca traditionally swore an oath of fealty to the kings of Aragon, James claimed that no king could have lordship over any other king.
The couple were married at Perpignan
on 24 September 1336.
In 1342 James refused to render the oath of fealty to Constance's brother Peter IV of Aragon. He was supported, however, by the doctors of the University of Montpellier and by an Aragonese troubadour, Thomàs Périz de Fozes
, who wrote a poem in his defence.
James and Constance were married for ten years in this time they had two children:
In a short war (1343–44) James (and supposedly Constance) was driven out of Majorca by Constance's brother King Peter, who reannexed the Balearic Islands
to the Crown.
Two years later in 1346, Constance died at Montpellier
. She was outlived by James and her two children. Her husband remarried the following year to Violante of Vilaragut
, who gave him one short-lived daughter. Violante helped arrange Isabella's marriage to John II
Alfonso IV of Aragon
Alfonso IV, called the Kind was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1327 to his death. He was the second son of James II and Blanche of Anjou...
and his first wife Teresa d'Entença
Teresa d'Entença
Teresa d'Entença was the eldest daughter of Gombald d'Entença and his wife Constance of Antillón. She was Queen consort of Aragon by her marriage to King Alfonso IV of Aragon and was Countess of Urgell in her own right; however control over her estate passed to her husband.- Life :Before dying at...
. She was born into the House of Aragon
House of Aragon
The House of Aragon is the name given several royal houses that ruled the County, the Kingdom or the Crown of Aragon.Some historiansGuillermo Fatás y Guillermo Redondo, Alberto Montaner Frutos, Faustino Menéndez Pidal de Navascués...
. She married James III of Majorca
James III of Majorca
James III , called the Rash or the Unfortunate, son of Ferdinand of Majorca and Isabelle de Sabran, heiress of Principality of Achaea, was the King of Majorca from 1324 to 1344. He was the last independent king of Majorca of the House of Barcelona.James was born at Catania...
, she married into the House of Barcelona
House of Barcelona
The House of Barcelona was a medieval dynasty that ruled the County of Barcelona continuously from 878 and the Crown of Aragon from 1137 . From the male part they descend from the Bellonids, the descendants of Wifred the Hairy...
and became Queen consort of Majorca as a result.
Early Life and Family
Constance was born in 1318 and was not only the eldest daughter but also the eldest child that survived to adulthood. Constance had two surviving brothers Peter IV of AragonPeter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
and James I of Urgell
James I of Urgell
James I , the eighteenth Count of Urgell, was the fourth son of Alfonso IV King of Aragon and Teresa d'Entença & Cabrera, 17th Countess of Urgell.-Biography:...
.
When Constance was nine years old in 1327, her mother Teresa died in childbirth, the son called Sancho only lived a few days. In 1329 Constance's father remarried to Eleanor of Castile, from this marriage Constance gained two half-siblings Ferdinand, Marquis of Tortosa and John of Aragon.
Her paternal grandparents were James II of Aragon
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
and Blanche of Anjou
Blanche of Anjou
Blanche of Anjou was the second Queen consort of James II of Aragon. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, she is also known as Blanche of Naples-Family:...
, daughter of 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 his wife Maria of Hungary. Constance's maternal grandparents were Gombaldo, Baron of Enteça and Constanza de Antillòn.
Marriage
In 1324, James III of MajorcaJames III of Majorca
James III , called the Rash or the Unfortunate, son of Ferdinand of Majorca and Isabelle de Sabran, heiress of Principality of Achaea, was the King of Majorca from 1324 to 1344. He was the last independent king of Majorca of the House of Barcelona.James was born at Catania...
became King of Majorca upon the death of his uncle Sancho of Majorca. James wished to make friendly relations with Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, in order to do this he married Constance. Though the kings of Majorca traditionally swore an oath of fealty to the kings of Aragon, James claimed that no king could have lordship over any other king.
The couple were married at Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
on 24 September 1336.
In 1342 James refused to render the oath of fealty to Constance's brother Peter IV of Aragon. He was supported, however, by the doctors of the University of Montpellier and by an Aragonese troubadour, Thomàs Périz de Fozes
Thomàs Périz de Fozes
Thomàs Périz de Fozes was an Aragonese troubadour of the knightly class, who has left two poems in the Occitan language. His mother tongue was evidently Aragonese...
, who wrote a poem in his defence.
James and Constance were married for ten years in this time they had two children:
- JamesJames IV of MajorcaJames IV of Majorca was King of Majorca from 1349 until his death.James was the son of James III of Majorca and Constance of Aragon...
(c. 1336 – January 20, 1375), pretender to Majorca. He married Joan I of NaplesJoan I of NaplesJoan I , born Joanna of Anjou, was Queen of Naples from 1343 until her death. She was also Countess of Provence and Forcalquier, Queen consort of Majorca and titular Queen of Jerusalem and Sicily 1343–82, and Princess of Achaea 1373/5–81....
, he died childless. - Isabella (1337–1406), claimed her rights to Majorca after the death of her brother but abandoned claim. Married firstly to John II, Marquess of MontferratJohn II, Marquess of MontferratJohn II Palaeologus was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1338.He was the son of Theodore I of Montferrat, with whom he was associated in the government from 1336. He had great fortune in extending the boundaries of the margraviate against his neighbours...
, had issue. Married secondly to Baron Konrad von Reischach zu Jungnau, had issue.
In a short war (1343–44) James (and supposedly Constance) was driven out of Majorca by Constance's brother King Peter, who reannexed the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
to the Crown.
Two years later in 1346, Constance died at Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. She was outlived by James and her two children. Her husband remarried the following year to Violante of Vilaragut
Violante of Vilaragut
Violante of Vilaragut was a daughter of Berengeur de Vilaragut and his second wife Saura of Majorca, who was an illegitimate daughter of James II of Majorca. Violante was Titular queen consort of Majorca by her marriage to her cousin James III of Majorca.-Life:The marriage contract was signed on...
, who gave him one short-lived daughter. Violante helped arrange Isabella's marriage to John II