Florence Sanudo

Florence Sanudo or Fiorenza (died 1371), was

Duchess of the Archipelago

in 1362–1371, in co-regency with her second spouse.

Life

Florence Sanudo was the daughter and successor of

Duke of the Archipelago.^[1]

She first married

Lord of Euboea (d. 1358). She succeeded her father in 1362 as a young widow with only one son, and attracted many suitors, for which reason W. Miller labelled her "the Penelope of Frankish Greece".^[2]

Her marriage was politically very crucial and the subject of much diplomatic activity.

She was given a proposal from the

Robert of Taranto, who, as Prince of Achaia, was the suzerain of Athens. Naples warned Venice from interfering in the marriage, but Venice replied that Florence was a daughter of the republic and that her duchy owed its existence to the diplomacy and fleet of Venice, and ordered its fleet in Greece to prevent the marriage and the landing of Nerio in the Cyclades.^[4]

Duchess Florence was kidnapped and brought via a Venetian galley to Venetian Crete. There, she was treated with respect due to her rank but informed that she would never be allowed to leave unless she agreed to marry the Venetian candidate, her cousin Nicholas Spezzabanda. Reportedly, she was not displeased with the person of Nicholas, who was described as attractive, but whatever the reason, she did consent to marry him, and the wedding took place in 1364.

The Venetians entitled her spouse eight Consort Duke, and Nicholas II were described as an able co-regent and loyal to Venice.

Florence died in 1371 and was succeeded by her son by Giovanni, Nicholas III dalle Carceri, under the regency of his stepfather during his minority.

Issue

By Giovanni dalle Carceri:

Nicholas III dalle Carceri

By Nicholas Spezzabanda:

Maria Sanudo, Lady of Andros
Elisabetta Sanudo

References

^ Mihail-Dimitri Sturdza, Dictionnaire Historique et Généalogique des Grandes Familles de Grèce, d'Albanie et de Constantinople, Paris: Sturdza, 1983, p. 549
^ Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908, p.291
^ Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908.
^ Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908.

Sources

OCLC 563022439
.

External links

Ancestry of Sultana Nur-Banu (Cecilia Venier-Baffo)

Preceded by John I	Duchess of the Archipelago 1362–1371	Succeeded by Nicholas III

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[1] Mihail-Dimitri Sturdza, Dictionnaire Historique et Généalogique des Grandes Familles de Grèce, d'Albanie et de Constantinople, Paris: Sturdza, 1983, p. 549

[2] Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908, p.291

[3] Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908.

[4] Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908.

[1]

[2]

[4]

v t e Dukes of Naxos and of the Archipelago
Sanudo dynasty (1207–1383)	Marco I Angelo Marco II Guglielmo I Niccolò I Giovanni I Fiorenza with Niccolò (II) Spezzabanda Niccolò II (III) dalle Carceri
Crispo dynasty (1383–1566)	Francesco I Giacomo I Giovanni II Giacomo II Gian Giacomo Guglielmo II Francesco II Giacomo III Giovanni III Francesco III Giovanni IV Giacomo IV