Beatrice of Sicily, Latin Empress
Beatrice of Sicily (1252 – 17 November/12 December 1275) was titular Latin Empress as the wife of Philip of Courtenay. Her parents were Charles I of Sicily and Beatrice of Provence.
| Beatrice of Sicily | |
|---|---|
| Latin Empress consort of Constantinople | |
| Tenure | 15 October 1273 – 1275 |
| Born | c. 1252 |
| Died | 1275 (aged 23) |
| Spouse | Philip of Courtenay ( m. 1273) |
| Issue | Catherine I of Courtenay |
| House | Anjou-Sicily |
| Father | Charles I of Sicily |
| Mother | Beatrice of Provence |
Under the Treaty of Viterbo (27 May 1267), Baldwin II of Courtenay transferred much of the rights to the Latin Empire to Charles I.[1] Charles was to be confirmed in possession of Corfu and some cities in Albania. He was also given suzerainty over the Principality of Achaea and sovereignty of the Aegean Islands, excepting those held by Venice and Lesbos, Chios, Samos, and Amorgos. The same treaty arranged the marriage of Philip of Courtenay, heir apparent to the Latin Empire, and Beatrice, second daughter of Charles. If the marriage was childless, Philip's rights would be inherited by Charles I.[1] Beatrice was approximately fifteen-years-old at the time of her betrothal.
On 15 October 1273, Beatrice and Philip were married in Foggia. The bride was twenty-one-years old and the groom thirty. Her father-in-law died days later. Philip was proclaimed emperor with Beatrice as empress. The marriage was harmonious and produced a daughter, Catherine I of Courtenay, born on 25 November 1274.
Beatrice died in late 1275 after a short illness.
References
- John V.A. Fine, Jr., The Late Medieval Balkans (1987), page 170
External links
| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marie of Brienne |
— TITULAR — Latin Empress consort of Constantinople 1273–1275 Reason for succession failure: Conquest by Empire of Nicaea in 1261 |
Succeeded by Marie of Bourbon |