Guglielma Pallavicini facts for kids

Guglielma Pallavicini (died 1358) was a powerful noblewoman known as the Lady of Thermopylae. She was the last ruler from the Pallavicini family in Bodonitsa, a region in Greece. Guglielma was just a baby when she became ruler in 1311, after her father Albert passed away. She shared her rule with her mother Maria dalle Carceri, and later with her stepfather Andrea Cornaro and her own husband Bartolomeo Zaccaria.

Early Life and Marriages

When Guglielma's father died, the rules for passing down lands in Greece were set by a book called the Book of the Customs of the Empire of Romania. These rules said that the land should be split between the widow (Guglielma's mother) and the daughter (Guglielma).

To protect their land from attacks by soldiers from Catalonia, Guglielma's mother, Maria, quickly remarried to Andrea Cornaro.

In 1327, Guglielma married Genoese nobleman Bartolomeo Zaccaria. He had been captured while fighting alongside Andrea Cornaro against an invasion from Alfonso Fadrique of Athens.

Sadly, Bartolomeo died in 1334. Guglielma then married Niccolò Zorzi, a nobleman from Venice. This marriage was very important, especially after her stepfather Cornaro died. It allowed Guglielma to keep living on Negroponte island and helped her settle her claims to the castle of Larmena with Venice. In fact, Guglielma had asked Venice to send one of their own nobles for her to marry. Niccolò Zorzi arrived in Bodonitsa in 1335.

Challenges and Conflicts

Guglielma and Niccolò continued the tradition of paying a yearly tribute of four warhorses (called destriers) to the Catalans in Athens. However, their home life was not peaceful. Venice continued to argue over the castle of Larmena. They even asked an official called a bailiff (a representative) of Catherine II, the Princess of Achaea, to help settle the dispute. Catherine II was the main ruler (or suzerain) over Euboea and Bodonitsa. The bailiff decided that Larmena belonged to Venice.

This decision caused problems in Guglielma's marriage. She accused her husband of being a "coward" and favoring Venice. Guglielma also believed that Niccolò was ignoring the interests of her daughter from her first marriage, Marulla, in favor of his own children. Guglielma had saved a lot of money for Marulla, but she had put it in a Venetian bank.

Guglielma became very angry when her husband ordered the execution of her relative Manfredo, even though it was legal. She stirred up the people against Niccolò, forcing him to flee to Negroponte.

Struggle for Control

The conflict between Guglielma and her husband became very public. Niccolò went to Venice and asked the Senate (the ruling council) for help. The Senate demanded that Guglielma let Niccolò return to his position or give back his property, which she was holding. She refused.

As a result, the bailiff of Negroponte was ordered to stop all communication between Bodonitsa and the island. The Catalans, who had initially been asked to stay out of the fight, were now pressured by Venice to help find a peaceful solution. Joan I of Naples and Humbert II, Dauphin of Vienne, a papal naval commander, also tried to help.

When these efforts failed, Marulla's money was taken away, and Niccolò was given money from those funds. Guglielma still refused to let her husband return to her court. Even Pope Clement VI pleaded with her, but she chose to listen to her own bishop, Nitardus of Thermopylae, who strongly supported her.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1354, Niccolò finally died. Guglielma immediately made their oldest son, Francis, a co-ruler with her. With Francis by her side, she was able to improve her relationship with Venice. She was also included in a peace treaty signed with the Catalans.

Guglielma died in 1358, and Francis became the sole ruler. She also left two other sons, Giacomo and Niccolò III, who later ruled Bodonitsa.