Marietta de Patras
Encyclopedia
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. Following the death of her son, she was taken to Venice
where she was kept in semi-captivity.
, Greece. It is not known when she arrived in Cyprus, however, she became the mistress of King John II of Cyprus before 1438. The Chronicle of Florio Bustron describes her as having been "very beautiful and prudent". Together King John and Marietta had one son, King James II of Cyprus
(1439/1440- 10 July 1473), who reigned in 1463-1473. He married Catherine Cornaro
in 1472, by whom he had one posthumous son, James III of Cyprus
; he also had four illegitimate children by an unnamed mistress.
In February 1442, King John married his second wife, the fourteen-year old Byzantine
princess Helena Palaiologina. His first wife Amadea of Montferrat had died childless in September 1440. Upon being apprised of the existence of Marietta and her son, Queen Helena ordered that Marietta's nose was to be cut off.
Queen Helena continued her enmity towards James. In 1456, he was appointed Archbishop
of Nicosia
, an act which enraged her. When he murdered Iacopo Urri, the Royal Chamberlain on 1 April 1457 and escaped to the island of Rhodes
after having been removed from office, the King pardoned him and restored him to his archbishopric which further angered the Queen. In 1458, both King John and Queen Helena died. The crown of Cyprus passed to John's only surviving daughter by Helena, Charlotte
, who reigned as Queen regnant
. James, however, challenged her right to occupy the throne, and with the help of the Mameluk Sultan of Egypt
, James forced Charlotte to flee Cyprus, and in 1463, he was crowned king.
In 1468, King James gave Marietta the villages of Pano Kivides, Lysos
, Peristerona
, and Pelathousa
as gifts.
of Venice dated 22 January 1479 records that Marietta was placed under the control of magister puerorum regiorum Christopher Mutius. Marietta herself died on 12 April 1503 at Padua
. She was buried in the church of Saint Augustine's. An epitaph records the death of Marieta mater quondam Jacobi Cypri Regis. Through her son's illegitimate children, she has numerous descendants in the 21st century.
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 the mother of his illegitimate son King James II of Cyprus
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:...
. Shortly after King John's marriage to 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...
, the new Queen ordered that Marietta's nose be cut off. Following the death of her son, she was taken to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
where she was kept in semi-captivity.
King's mistress
Marietta was born on an unknown date in PatrasPatras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
, Greece. It is not known when she arrived in Cyprus, however, she became the mistress of King John II of Cyprus before 1438. The Chronicle of Florio Bustron describes her as having been "very beautiful and prudent". Together King John and Marietta had one son, King James II of Cyprus
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:...
(1439/1440- 10 July 1473), who reigned in 1463-1473. He married Catherine Cornaro
Catherine Cornaro
Nobil Donna Catherine Cornaro was Queen of Cyprus from 1474 to 1489 and declared a "Daughter of Saint Mark" in order that Venice could claim control of Cyprus after the death of her husband, James II .-Family:She was born in Venice in 1454 and was the daughter of a well-known and powerful family of...
in 1472, by whom he had one posthumous son, James III of Cyprus
James III of Cyprus
James III of Cyprus was the only and posthumous child by marriage of James II of Cyprus and Catherine Cornaro and King of Cyprus from birth. He died in mysterious circumstances as an infant, leaving his mother as the last Queen of Cyprus. His death paved the way for Venice to gain control of...
; he also had four illegitimate children by an unnamed mistress.
In February 1442, King John married his second wife, the fourteen-year old Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
princess Helena Palaiologina. His first wife Amadea of Montferrat had died childless in September 1440. Upon being apprised of the existence of Marietta and her son, Queen Helena ordered that Marietta's nose was to be cut off.
Queen Helena continued her enmity towards James. In 1456, he was appointed Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
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...
, an act which enraged her. When he murdered Iacopo Urri, the Royal Chamberlain on 1 April 1457 and escaped to the island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
after having been removed from office, the King pardoned him and restored him to his archbishopric which further angered the Queen. In 1458, both King John and Queen Helena died. The crown of Cyprus passed to John's only surviving daughter by Helena, 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...
, who reigned as Queen regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
. James, however, challenged her right to occupy the throne, and with the help of the Mameluk Sultan of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, James forced Charlotte to flee Cyprus, and in 1463, he was crowned king.
In 1468, King James gave Marietta the villages of Pano Kivides, Lysos
Lysos
Lysos is a village in Cyprus, about 36 kilometres from Paphos. The population was 160 in 2001....
, Peristerona
Peristerona
Peristerona is a large village about 32 kilometres west of the capital Nicosia, on the foothills of the Troodos Mountain range in the Morphou basin. It is built on the west bank of the river that bears the same name, which is a tributary of the river Serrachis, at an average altitude of 250...
, and Pelathousa
Pelathousa
Pelathousa is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus, located 5 km east of Polis Chrysochous....
as gifts.
Captivity in Venice
When James died on 10 July 1473, Marietta was taken to Venice, where she was placed in semi-captivity. A decision of the Council of TenCouncil of Ten
The Council of Ten, or simply the Ten, was, from 1310 to 1797, one of the major governing bodies of the Republic of Venice whose actions were often secretive. Although some sources may indicate that the Council of Ten was generally accepted in Venice, there was some opposition...
of Venice dated 22 January 1479 records that Marietta was placed under the control of magister puerorum regiorum Christopher Mutius. Marietta herself died on 12 April 1503 at Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
. She was buried in the church of Saint Augustine's. An epitaph records the death of Marieta mater quondam Jacobi Cypri Regis. Through her son's illegitimate children, she has numerous descendants in the 21st century.