Elvira of Sicily

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Not to be confused with Elvira of Castile, Queen of Sicily.

Elvira of Sicily (died in 1231) was a member of the

House of Hauteville who claimed the throne of the Kingdom of Sicily. She is known by an exceptional number of names, including Albinia, Elvira, Maria, Albidina and Blanche.[1]

Early life

Elvira was the eldest daughter of

Hohenburg Abbey. They either escaped or were set free following papal intervention.[1][2]

Pursuing claims

In 1199, Sibylla arrived in France with her daughters.

Walter III of Brienne.[2][3] Shortly after the marriage, Elvira, her husband and her mother all asked Pope Innocent III to help them take the kingdom. Walter petitioned him to recognize Elvira's claim to her father's throne.[3] Innocent was Frederick's guardian, however, and refused to recognize Elvira as the heir of the entire kingdom. Instead, he recognized her right to the fiefs of Lecce and Taranto, her father's original domain, which had been promised to her mother by Henry.[3][3] In exchange for this, Elvira and her family had to accept the infant Frederick as their king.[3]

Elvira accompanied Walter to the Kingdom of Sicily in 1201. Her husband achieved significant victories against Frederick's forces

House of Brienne and John made no effort to support her claims.[5]

Later life

In order to protect her son's interests and advance her own claim to the throne, Elvira remarried soon after Walter's death.[5] Her second husband was James, Count of Tricarico, whom she married already in 1205. She married, thirdly, Tegrimo di Modigliana, Count Palatine of Tuscia. Elvira died there in 1231.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ a b McDougall 2016, p. 213.
  2. ^ a b c Perry 2013, p. 32.
  3. ^ a b c d e McDougall 2016, p. 214.
  4. ^ Perry 2013, p. 33.
  5. ^ a b c Perry 2013, p. 35.
  6. ^ Gualtiero di Brienne.

References

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