Maria of Bulgaria, Latin Empress
| Maria of Bulgaria | |
|---|---|
| Latin Empress consort of Constantinople | |
| Tenure | c. 1213–1216 |
| Spouse | Henry of Flanders |
| House | Asen dynasty |
| Father | Kaloyan of Bulgaria |
| Mother | Kumankata |
Maria of Bulgaria was the second empress consort of Henry of Flanders, Latin Emperor of Constantinople.
Family
She was a daughter of
Empress consort
In 1213, Maria married Henry of Flanders of the Latin Empire. According to The Late Medieval Balkans (1987) by John V. A. Fine, the marriage was part of an alliance between her stepfather Boril and Henry. The alliance would benefit the Latin Empire by securing Thrace and Kingdom of Thessalonica from the threat of invasion from the Second Bulgarian Empire, allowing Henry to turn his attention to facing the Empire of Nicaea instead. On the other hand, Boril had suffered losses in both men and territory while the war continued. Unable at the moment to expand his borders, he might have seen the alliance as a way to secure his own borders from Latin invasion. In any case the marriage concluded the first phase of the Bulgarian–Latin wars.[1]
On 11 June 1216, Henry died in Thessaloniki. Maria was reportedly suspected of having poisoned him. Her further fate is unknown. Their marriage was childless and Henry was succeeded by his brother-in-law Peter II of Courtenay.
References
Sources
- ISBN 978-0-472-08260-5.
- Marek, Miroslav. "A genealogy of the Asen, including her". Genealogy.EU.