John II of Cyprus
Encyclopedia
John II or III of Cyprus (Nicosia
, May 16, 1418 – Nicosia
, July 28, 1458) 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. In May, 1435/1440 he married Aimee or Amadea Palaeologus of Montferrat (August 3, 1429 – Nicosia
, September 13, 1440), Queen of Cyprus, Titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia, daughter of John Jacob
, Marquess of Montferrat, without issue. His second wife, a distant relative of his first one, married in Nicosia
, 1441 or February 3, 1442 was Helena Palaiologina
(1428 – April 11, 1458), only child and daughter of Theodore II Palaeologus, Despot of Morea
and his wife Cleofa Malatesta
. Theodore was a son of Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus and Helena Dragaš
and the brother of the last two Eastern Roman Emperor, John VIII Palaeologus and Constantine XI Palaeologus. By his second marriage he had two daughters:
Upon the death of John II, his only surviving legitimate child Charlotte
succeeded to the throne.
John had an illegitimate son by Marietta de Patras
, James
, whom he appointed Archbishopic of Nicosia
at the young age of 16. James did not prove ideal Archbishop material, and was stripped of his title after murdering the Royal Chamberlain
. His father eventually forgave him and restored the Archbishopric. James and Helena were enemies, vying for influence over John. After Helena died in 1458, it appeared that John would appoint James as his successor, but John died before he could make it so.
He was the last direct legitimate male descendant of Raymond of Antioch
, an illegitimate son of William IX of Aquitaine
.
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, May 16, 1418 – Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, July 28, 1458) 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. In May, 1435/1440 he married Aimee or Amadea Palaeologus of Montferrat (August 3, 1429 – Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, September 13, 1440), Queen of Cyprus, Titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia, daughter of John Jacob
John Jacob of Montferrat
John Jacob Palaeologus was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1418 to 1435....
, Marquess of Montferrat, without issue. His second wife, a distant relative of his first one, married in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, 1441 or February 3, 1442 was 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...
(1428 – April 11, 1458), only child and daughter of Theodore II Palaeologus, Despot of Morea
Despotate of Morea
The Despotate of the Morea or Despotate of Mystras was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. Its territory varied in size during its 100 years of existence but eventually grew to take in almost all the southern Greek peninsula, the...
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 a son of Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus 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...
and the brother of the last two Eastern Roman Emperor, John VIII Palaeologus and Constantine XI Palaeologus. By his second marriage he had two daughters:
- Charlotte of LusignanCharlotte of CyprusCharlotte , 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...
- Cleopha of Lusignan, died young
Upon the death of John II, his only surviving legitimate child Charlotte
Charlotte of Cyprus
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...
succeeded to the throne.
John had an illegitimate son by 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...
, 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:...
, whom he appointed Archbishopic of Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
at the young age of 16. James did not prove ideal Archbishop material, and was stripped of his title after murdering the Royal Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
. His father eventually forgave him and restored the Archbishopric. James and Helena were enemies, vying for influence over John. After Helena died in 1458, it appeared that John would appoint James as his successor, but John died before he could make it so.
He was the last direct legitimate male descendant of Raymond of Antioch
Raymond of Antioch
Raymond of Poitiers was Prince of Antioch 1136–1149. He was the younger son of William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and his wife Philippa, Countess of Toulouse, born in the very year that his father the Duke began his infamous liaison with Dangereuse de Chatelherault.-Assumes control:Following the...
, an illegitimate son of William IX of Aquitaine
William IX of Aquitaine
William IX , called the Troubador, was the Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou between 1086 and his death. He was also one of the leaders of the Crusade of 1101...
.