Isabella, Countess of Brienne facts for kids

Isabella of Brienne (born 1306, died 1360) was a powerful noblewoman. She was a ruler in her own right, holding the titles of Countess of Lecce and Conversano. She also had claims to the Duchy of Athens and the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Isabella's Early Life and Family

Isabella was the daughter of Walter V of Brienne, who was the Duke of Athens. Her father died in 1311 at the Battle of Halmyros in Greece. Isabella was also the granddaughter of Hugh of Brienne, who was the Count of Lecce. This meant she was related to the Kings of Jerusalem and Cyprus.

Her father, Walter V, spent most of his life in Greece. He tried to get back lands that belonged to his mother, which included the Duchy of Athens. Walter V hired a group of soldiers called the Catalan Company. These soldiers were meant to fight against other states in Greece. However, Walter V tried to trick and kill them in 1311. Instead, the Catalan Company killed him at the Battle of Halmyros. They then took over the Duchy of Athens.

After her father's death, Isabella's mother, Jeanne de Châtillon, tried to defend the Acropolis of Athens. But she eventually had to give up the fortress to the Catalans.

Moving to France and Marriage

Duchess Joanna fled to France with her two young children, including Isabella. The family owned land in Champagne, near Brienne-le-Château. The family was not very rich at this time. Isabella later married a knight named Walter III of Enghien. His lands were in and around Hainaut, including Condé and Enghien.

Becoming a Countess

Isabella's brother, Walter VI of Brienne, slowly gained more power and land. He became an ally of the Angevin kings of Naples. This helped him get back some family lands in Italy. Walter VI became the constable of France, a very important military role. He was killed in the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

Walter VI had also been the Lord of Florence and a Marshal of France. He held the titles of Count of Lecce and Conversano. He had no children who survived him. Because of this, his sister Isabella's children were next in line to inherit his lands and claims.

Isabella lived longer than her brother. She inherited his titles and died in 1360. Her husband, Walter of Enghien, had passed away in 1345. For a few years, Isabella was the Countess of Lecce and Brienne. She also held the honorary title of Duchess of Athens and other claims.

Dividing the Inheritance

Isabella's oldest son, Gauthier, had died before her brother. So, her second son, Sohier of Enghien, became her main heir. Isabella decided to divide her inherited lands among her many children while she was still alive.

Her brother Gauthier had left Greece around the 1340s. Isabella's oldest surviving son, Sohier of Enghien, lived in Greece as the lord of Argos and Nauplia from about 1350. When the family inheritance was divided between 1356 and 1360, Sohier received the title of Duke of Athens. He also got certain rights in Argos-Nauplia.

However, Isabella's sixth son, Guy of Enghien, received the actual lordship of Argos and Nauplia. He lived there as the lord from 1356 to 1377. Guy was sometimes also called Duke of Athens, even though the official title belonged to his older brother Sohier and Sohier's son. Sohier and his son were the main rulers over Guy and his heirs.

Isabella's fourth son, Louis of Enghien, became the Lord of Conversano. He received the honorary title of Duke of Athens in 1381. This happened when his nephew's inheritance was divided.

Guy's daughter, Maria d'Enghien, was Isabella's granddaughter. Maria married Pietro Cornaro, a Venetian noble. They sold the lordship of Argos and Nauplia to Venice in 1388.

Isabella's main inheritance eventually went to the children of her third son, John of Enghien. These children were Peter I of Enghien, who died without children, and Mary of Enghien (1367–1446).

Isabella's Children

Isabella and Walter of Enghien had many children:

• Walter (born 1322, died 1340)
• Isabella (died 1357), who became an Abbess (head of a convent) at Flines
• Sohier (died 1364), who became Count of Brienne and titular Duke of Athens
• John (died 1380), who was Count of Lecce and Lord of Castro. He was the father of Mary of Enghien.
• Margaret, who married Pierre de Préaux
• Louis (died 1394), who was Lord (and later Count) of Conversano. He also became Count of Brienne and titular Duke of Athens.
• James, who was a canon (a type of priest) in Liège
• Guy (died 1377), who was the lord of Argos and Nauplia
• Engelbert (born about 1330, died 1403), who was Lord of Ramerupt, La Follie, and Seneffe
• Frances, who married Peter, Count of Montebello
• Joan, who was a nun at Flines

See also

In Spanish: Isabel de Brienne para niños