Elisenda of Montcada
Encyclopedia
Elisenda de Montcada was a daughter of Pere de Montcada and his wife Elisenda de Pinos. She was Queen consort of Aragon by her marriage.
Elisenda's great-grandmother was Constance, Lady of Aitona, an illegitimate daughter of Peter II of Aragon
, making her and her husband second cousins once removed.
In 1322 Elisenda became the fourth and last wife of James II of Aragon
, thirty years her senior. Elisenda became stepmother to James' ten children by his second marriage to Blanche of Naples. The marriage lasted for only five years before James died in November 1327, they had no children.
In 1326, James and Elisenda had founded the Monastery of Pedralbes. A year after she was widowed, she retired to the monastery of Pedralbes palace immediately. Although she was never a nun, she was endowed with wide powers over the internal workings of the monastery. Elisenda remained there for the rest of her life.
Elisenda died in 1364. Her tomb is a magnificent work of Catalan Gothic, showing the side of the church and Queen Elisenda dressed along the cloister as a penitent.
Elisenda's great-grandmother was Constance, Lady of Aitona, an illegitimate daughter of Peter II of Aragon
Peter II of Aragon
Peter II the Catholic was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1196 to 1213.He was the son of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile...
, making her and her husband second cousins once removed.
In 1322 Elisenda became the fourth and last wife of 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...
, thirty years her senior. Elisenda became stepmother to James' ten children by his second marriage to Blanche of Naples. The marriage lasted for only five years before James died in November 1327, they had no children.
In 1326, James and Elisenda had founded the Monastery of Pedralbes. A year after she was widowed, she retired to the monastery of Pedralbes palace immediately. Although she was never a nun, she was endowed with wide powers over the internal workings of the monastery. Elisenda remained there for the rest of her life.
Elisenda died in 1364. Her tomb is a magnificent work of Catalan Gothic, showing the side of the church and Queen Elisenda dressed along the cloister as a penitent.