Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Cyprus
Encyclopedia
Eleanor of Aragon was Queen consort of Cyprus as the wife of King Peter I of Cyprus
. She was a member of the House of Barcelona
as the daughter of Peter of Aragon and his wife Joan of Foix.
arranged a marriage in 1353 between his cousin Eleanor and Peter I of Cyprus
. By this marriage Eleanor became Queen of Cyprus and titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia
.
The reign of Eleanor's husband was not a windfall for Cyprus. Her husband kept mistresses, which she was unable to endure. In 1366, when Peter went off on a crusade against Alexandria, he made Eleanor regent of Cyprus.
After the return of Peter I from a long trip to Europe, Eleonor was accused of having committed adultery with John of Morf, the titular of Edessa. The court convened and subsequently dismissed the charges. Then Peter tyranisierte preferred by Eleanor nobles, including his own brothers. On 17 January 1369, he was eventually murdered in the arms of a lover, perhaps on the orders of his brothers John
and James
.
Peter and Eleanor had the following children:
On behalf of her son, Eleanor was again regent, together with the brothers of the king, John and James. She stood first in Cyprus to prevent the throne of her son from being usurped.
In a secret message, she invited the Genoese
to a de facto invasion of Cyprus, to take revenge on her brothers-in-law. With the help of the betrayal of John Morf, they were conquered by the Genoese in 1373 and captured James. Eleanor led the assassination of John in 1374.
In 1378, Peter II married Valentina Visconti
, daughter of Barnabò Visconti. The first choice of his marriage would have been to a daughter of John V Palaiologos
; this suggestion was rejected for political reasons, since the Latins did not encourage the marriage of Peter to a Greek princess. The justification that was given to the Palaiologos messengers was that the king was busy with the dangers that threatened Cyprus because of the Genoese invasion of the island.
It is known that Eleanor did not get along with her daughter-in-law Valentina due to being involved in many issues and scandals.
In 1381, the now 44-year-old Eleanor was forced to return to Catalonia
, in order to prevent more problems with Valentina.
, entrusted Eleanor with the city of Valls
. She was co-ruler with the archbishop of Tarragona.
Eleanor moved into the archbishop's palace in Valls. This changed within a short time into a sovereign court with numerous officials and minions; some had accompanied her from Cyprus.
It was necessary in Valls that a tax had to be paid on the import of wine. The favourites of the Queen, however, insisted that they were exempt from these taxes. This led to a revolt, with casualties on both sides. There was no choice but for her friends to pay the taxes.
After the death of King Peter IV, power was transferred to his son and successor, King John I
. The clashes between the population and the Queen Dowager of Cyprus, however, still continued. For alleged insults against the citizens, they broke into the palace and killed John, brother and butler to Eleanor; he was murdered before Eleanor's eyes. Terrified, Eleanor fled to territory of her brother. After twelve years of living in Valls, Eleanor never returned.
She died on 26 December 1416 in the Castle of Falsetto, Barcelona
.
Peter I of Cyprus
Peter I of Cyprus or Pierre I de Lusignan was King of Cyprus, and Titular King of Jerusalem from his father's abdication on 24 November 1358 until his own death in 1369. He was also Latin King of Armenia from either 1361 or 1368...
. She was a member of 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...
as the daughter of Peter of Aragon and his wife Joan of Foix.
Queen of Cyprus
To enhance his kingdom's political and economic power in the Mediterranean, King 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...
arranged a marriage in 1353 between his cousin Eleanor and Peter I of Cyprus
Peter I of Cyprus
Peter I of Cyprus or Pierre I de Lusignan was King of Cyprus, and Titular King of Jerusalem from his father's abdication on 24 November 1358 until his own death in 1369. He was also Latin King of Armenia from either 1361 or 1368...
. By this marriage Eleanor became Queen of Cyprus and titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
The reign of Eleanor's husband was not a windfall for Cyprus. Her husband kept mistresses, which she was unable to endure. In 1366, when Peter went off on a crusade against Alexandria, he made Eleanor regent of Cyprus.
After the return of Peter I from a long trip to Europe, Eleonor was accused of having committed adultery with John of Morf, the titular of Edessa. The court convened and subsequently dismissed the charges. Then Peter tyranisierte preferred by Eleanor nobles, including his own brothers. On 17 January 1369, he was eventually murdered in the arms of a lover, perhaps on the orders of his brothers John
John of Lusignan
John of Lusignan , Regent of Cyprus and Titular Prince of Antioch. He was son of King Hugh IV of Cyprus and his second wife, Alix of Ibelin.He married twice, firstly in 1343 to Constance of Sicily John of Lusignan (or Jean de Lusignan) (ca 1329 or 1329/1330–1375), Regent of Cyprus and Titular...
and James
James I of Cyprus
James I of Cyprus was Regent of Cyprus for his infant nephew Peter from 1369. When Peter died in 1382, James became King of Cyprus that year...
.
Peter and Eleanor had the following children:
- Peter II of CyprusPeter II of CyprusPeter II of Cyprus or Pierre II le Gros de Lusignan , called The Fat, was king of Cyprus from 17 January 1369 until his death.-Biography:...
(c. 1357-1382), succeeded him as King of Cyprus and Jerusalem - Margaret or Maria (ca 1360 – ca 1397), once engaged to Carlo Visconti and married in 1385 to her cousin James of Lusignan (d. 1395/1397), titular Count of Tripoli, grandson of John of LusignanJohn of LusignanJohn of Lusignan , Regent of Cyprus and Titular Prince of Antioch. He was son of King Hugh IV of Cyprus and his second wife, Alix of Ibelin.He married twice, firstly in 1343 to Constance of Sicily John of Lusignan (or Jean de Lusignan) (ca 1329 or 1329/1330–1375), Regent of Cyprus and Titular...
and wife Alice of IbelinAlice of IbelinAlice of Ibelin or Alix d'Ibelin was the titular Princess of Antioch as the second wife of John of Lusignan.-Family:...
, and had issue - Eschive (d. before 1369), died young. It is possible that she was the daughter of Peter's first wife, Eschive de Montfort rather than Eleanor
On behalf of her son, Eleanor was again regent, together with the brothers of the king, John and James. She stood first in Cyprus to prevent the throne of her son from being usurped.
In a secret message, she invited the Genoese
Genoese
Genoese may refer to:* A person from Genoa* The Genoese dialect a variant of main Ligurian language* The Republic of Genoa, a state in Liguria from ca. 1100 to 1805 with various possessions in the Mediterranean...
to a de facto invasion of Cyprus, to take revenge on her brothers-in-law. With the help of the betrayal of John Morf, they were conquered by the Genoese in 1373 and captured James. Eleanor led the assassination of John in 1374.
In 1378, Peter II married Valentina Visconti
Valentina Visconti, Queen of Cyprus
Not to be confused with Valentina Visconti, Duchess of OrléansValentina Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice della Scala...
, daughter of Barnabò Visconti. The first choice of his marriage would have been to a daughter of John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
; this suggestion was rejected for political reasons, since the Latins did not encourage the marriage of Peter to a Greek princess. The justification that was given to the Palaiologos messengers was that the king was busy with the dangers that threatened Cyprus because of the Genoese invasion of the island.
It is known that Eleanor did not get along with her daughter-in-law Valentina due to being involved in many issues and scandals.
In 1381, the now 44-year-old Eleanor was forced to return to Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, in order to prevent more problems with Valentina.
Lady of Valls
After her return, her cousin, 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...
, entrusted Eleanor with the city of Valls
Valls
Valls is the capital of the comarca of Alt Camp, in Catalonia, Spain. The typical food is calçots and also typical are the human towers called castells...
. She was co-ruler with the archbishop of Tarragona.
Eleanor moved into the archbishop's palace in Valls. This changed within a short time into a sovereign court with numerous officials and minions; some had accompanied her from Cyprus.
It was necessary in Valls that a tax had to be paid on the import of wine. The favourites of the Queen, however, insisted that they were exempt from these taxes. This led to a revolt, with casualties on both sides. There was no choice but for her friends to pay the taxes.
After the death of King Peter IV, power was transferred to his son and successor, King John I
John I of Aragon
John I , called by posterity the Hunter or the Lover of Elegance , but the Abandoned in his lifetime, was the King of...
. The clashes between the population and the Queen Dowager of Cyprus, however, still continued. For alleged insults against the citizens, they broke into the palace and killed John, brother and butler to Eleanor; he was murdered before Eleanor's eyes. Terrified, Eleanor fled to territory of her brother. After twelve years of living in Valls, Eleanor never returned.
She died on 26 December 1416 in the Castle of Falsetto, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.