Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus
| Charlotte | |
|---|---|
 Charlotte in the centre with the open book | |
| Queen of Cyprus | |
| Reign | 28 July 1458 – 1464 |
| Coronation | 7 October 1458 St. Sophia Cathedral |
| Predecessor | John II |
| Successor | James II |
| Co-ruler | Louis (from 1459) |
| Contender | James II (from 1460) |
| Born | 28 June 1444 Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Died | 16 July 1487 (aged 43) Rome, Italy |
| Spouses | |
Poitiers-Lusignan | |
| Father | John II of Cyprus |
| Mother | Helena Palaiologina |
Charlotte (28 June 1444 – 16 July 1487) was the Queen of Cyprus from 1458 until 1464. 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. Her illegitimate half-brother, James, challenged her right to the crown. With the support of the Egyptians, he forced her to flee the island in 1463, and he was later crowned king. She made a military attempt to regain her throne, but was unsuccessful, and died childless in Rome.
Family and childhood
Charlotte was born in Nicosia on 28 June 1444, the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus and Helena Palaiologina.[1] Her younger sister Cleopha died in June 1448, shortly before Charlotte's fourth birthday, leaving her the sole legitimate heir to the Cypriot throne and her father's titles. She had an illegitimate half-brother, James, born to her father's Greek mistress Marietta de Patras.[2]
She was raised in the
Queen of Cyprus
Charlotte was named
Charlotte's reign was not successful. She had a tenuous hold on the kingdom as her right to the throne was constantly being challenged by her illegitimate half-brother James. On 7 October 1459, she married her second husband,
In 1460 he managed to capture
With the fall of Kyrenia before the autumn of 1464, de facto Charlotte and Louis lost their throne.[7] Her half-brother was crowned King James II. She took up residence at the Convertendi Palace in Trastevere. Pope Pius II, who was acquainted with her described Charlotte as "a woman of about twenty-four, of middle height: bright eyes, complexion betwixt dark and pale; speech smooth and flowing torrent like after the manner of the Greeks; French costume; manners becoming her royal blood".[3]
She later formed a small court on the Greek island of Rhodes. She made an unsuccessful military attempt to regain her throne with papal support. She also intrigued against James's widow, Catherine Cornaro, but failed to oust her from power.[3] In November 1483 she was received by Pope Sixtus IV in the Vatican Palace and was seated in a chair of the same "height and dignity" as the pope.[3] In Rome, she lived in a house in Piazza Scossacavalli in Borgo which had already hosted queen Catherine of Bosnia.[8]
Succession and death
She had adopted as her son, Alonso d'Aragona (1460–1510), the illegitimate child of King
Charlotte died childless on 16 July 1487, shortly after her forty-third birthday. Her body is buried in the chapel of Saint Andrew and Saint Gregory, St. Peter's Basilica; the funeral was paid for by Pope Innocent VIII.[3] She was the last member of the House of Poitiers-Lusignan.[12]
Marriages
Charlotte married twice:
- Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra and grandson of King John I of Portugal), in May 1456 in Nicosia. He was made a titular Prince of Antioch. It is rumoured that his death was a murder due to poisoning, arranged by Queen Helena, leaving Charlotte free to make a second marriage.
- King of Cyprus from 1459 to 1462 and also a titular King of Jerusalem.
By her second husband Louis, Charlotte had;
- Hugh or Henry,[a][13] who was born on 4 July 1464 in Rhodes.[14] The boy died within a month of his birth.
Notes
- ^ Ούγος (Ερρίκος) της Σαβοΐας/της Κύπρου in Greek, Hugues (Henri) de Chypre/de Savoie in French, Hugo (Henricus) Cypri/Sabaudiensis in Latin, Հուգո (Հենրիկ) Կիպրոսի in Armenian.
References
- ^ a b c Scott 2003, Appendix B.
- ^ Letts 2016, p. 252.
- ^ a b c d e f Women of History – C [full citation needed] (Note: Perhaps intended 'Women of History' by Eminent Authors, published by William P Nimmo, 1871).
- ^ Mas Latrie, Histoire de l'île de Chypre sous le règne des princes de la maison de Lusignan. Paris, 1855, v. III, p. 152
- ^ K. Sathas, Mesaeonike Bibliotheke, v. 2, p. 99]:"sermone blando, et Craecorum more torrenti simili".
- ^ Sathas K. N. (1873) Mesaionike Bibliotheke ("Medieval Library"), vol. 2, "Chronos" Editions, Venice, table Z
- ^ "CARLOTTA di Lusignano, regina di Cipro". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Borgatti 1926, p. 163.
- ^ Rudt de Collenberg, Wipertus Hugo : Les Lusignan de Chypre = EΠETHΡΙΣ 10, Nicosia, 1980. p. 199
- ^ Hill 1948, p. 655, 1158.
- ^ Hill 1948, p. 612.
- ^ Fileti, F. (2000). I Lusignan di Cipro. Florence. p. 79.
- ^ (It) Ludovico di Savoia re di Cipro – 26 November 2020
- ^ (It) Dillon Bussi: Carlotta di Lusignano, Regina di Cipro – 26 November 2020
Sources
- Borgatti, Mariano (1926). Borgo e S. Pietro nel 1300 – 1600 – 1925 (in Italian). Federico Pustet, Roma.
- Letts, Malcolm (2016). The Pilgrimage of Arnold von Harff, Knight, from Cologne, 1496–1499. Routledge.
- Hill, George (1948). A History of Cyprus. Vol. The Frankish Period, 1432–1571. Cambridge University Press.
- Scott, John Beldon (2003). Architecture for the Shroud: Relic and Ritual in Turin. University of Chicago Press.
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
