Eleanor of Anjou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eleanor of Anjou |
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Eleanor with her sisters in the Bible of Naples
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| Queen consort of Sicily | |
| Tenure | 17 May 1302 – 25 June 1337 |
| Born | August 1289 |
| Died | 9 August 1341 (aged 51–52) |
| Spouse | Philippe II de Toucy Frederick II of Sicily |
| Issue Among Others |
Peter II of Sicily Manfred, Duke of Athens and Neopatria Constance, Queen of Cyprus Elisabeth, Duchess of Bavaria William, Prince of Taranto John, Duke of Randazzo |
| House | Anjou-Sicily |
| Father | King Charles II of Naples |
| Mother | Mary of Hungary |
Eleanor of Anjou was a queen who lived a long time ago, from August 1289 to August 9, 1341. She became the Queen of Sicily when she married King Frederick II of Sicily. Eleanor was born into a powerful family called the House of Anjou. Her parents were King Charles II of Naples and Queen Mary of Hungary.
Contents
Eleanor's First Marriage
When Eleanor was young, around 1299, she first married a man named Philippe II de Toucy. His father was Narjot de Toucy. This marriage did not last long. On January 17, 1300, Pope Boniface VIII ended it. The Pope said they were too closely related and had not asked for his permission to marry.
Becoming Queen of Sicily
On May 17, 1302, Eleanor married for the second time. She married Frederick II, who was the King of Sicily. This marriage was very important for peace. Eleanor's father, King Charles II, and her new husband, King Frederick II, had been fighting for control of the Mediterranean Sea. They especially wanted control over Sicily and a region called the Mezzogiorno.
Their marriage was a way to help end the war. It led to a peace agreement called the Peace of Caltabellotta, signed on August 19, 1302.
The Peace of Caltabellotta
The peace treaty divided the old Kingdom of Sicily into two parts. The island part, which was called the Kingdom of Trinacria, went to King Frederick. He was already ruling it. The mainland part, the Mezzogiorno, went to Eleanor's father, King Charles II. This part was known as the Kingdom of Naples. So, the peace treaty officially recognized how things were already divided.
Eleanor's Children
Eleanor and King Frederick II had nine children together. Many of them became important figures in history:
- Peter II of Sicily (1304–1342), who became king after his father.
- Roger (born 1305), who died when he was young.
- Manfred, Duke of Athens and Neopatria (1306–1317).
- Constance, who married Leo IV of Armenia in 1331.
- Elisabeth (1310–1349), also known as Isabella, who married Stephen II of Bavaria in 1328.
- William, Prince of Taranto (1312–1338). He also became the Duke of Athens and Neopatria.
- Giovanni di Randazzo (1317–1348), who was the Duke of Randazzo and Duke of Athens and Neopatria. He also served as Regent of Sicily starting in 1338.
- Catherine (1320–1342).
- Margaret (1331–1377), who married Rudolf II of the Palatinate in 1348.
Later Life and Death
Eleanor became a widow in 1337 when her husband, King Frederick II, passed away. She died a few years later, on August 9, 1341. She passed away at the Monastery of San Nicolo di Arena in Catania. Eleanor was buried at a Franciscan monastery, also in Catania.
