Marie de Bourbon, Princess of Achaea facts for kids
Marie of Bourbon (born around 1315, died 1387) was an important noblewoman in the 1300s. She was the Empress consort of Robert of Taranto, who was the titular (meaning "in name only") Latin Emperor of Constantinople. She also ruled as the baroness of Vostitsa from 1359 to 1370.
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Marie's Early Life
Marie was the daughter of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon and Mary of Avesnes. She had an older brother, Peter I, Duke of Bourbon, and a younger brother, James I, Count of La Marche.
First Marriage and Family
On November 29, 1328, Marie was promised in marriage to Guy of Lusignan at the Château de Bourbon. Guy was known as the titular Prince of Galilee. He was the son of Hugh IV of Cyprus.
Marie and Guy were married by proxy on December 20, 1328. This means someone stood in for one of them during the ceremony. Marie arrived in Famagusta, Kingdom of Cyprus, in June 1329. They had their in-person wedding on January 31, 1330, in Nicosia.
Their only known son, Hugh of Lusignan, was born around 1335. Guy became the Constable of Cyprus, a high military position, between 1336 and 1338. He passed away in 1343. Marie, now a widow, was not allowed to leave Cyprus until 1346 by her father-in-law's orders.
Second Marriage and Challenges
In 1346, Marie and her son left Cyprus and went into exile. By 1347, they had settled in Naples, Kingdom of Naples, at the court of Queen Joanna I of Naples.
On September 9, 1347, Marie married her second husband, Robert of Taranto. Robert was a cousin of Queen Joan. He claimed the throne of the Latin Empire and also held the titles of Prince of Taranto and Prince of Achaea. He was also a military leader in Naples.
Soon after their marriage, Marie and Robert were separated for several years. In 1347, Louis I of Hungary invaded the Italian Peninsula. Robert was arrested in Aversa. In 1348, the Black Death spread across Italy, which made Louis I and his army return to Kingdom of Hungary. Robert was taken as a prisoner to Hungary. He was held captive for about four years and finally returned to Marie in Naples in March 1352.
In 1353, Robert started a military campaign in the Ionian Sea. He wanted to regain control over several Ionian Islands. By 1354, he had secured Corfu, Kefalonia, and Zante. He also became the Duke of Leucas before returning to Naples.
Marie's Rule and Influence
Marie gained from Robert's campaign. He gave her lands in Corfu, Kefalonia, and the area of Kalamata (which was part of the Principality of Achaea). By 1359, she bought the rights to rule the Baronies of Vostitsa and Nivelet.
On September 10, 1364, Robert of Taranto died. Marie and Robert had no children together, so his younger brother, Philip II of Taranto, was his legal heir. However, Marie disagreed with this. By 1364, Marie owned sixteen castles in Achaia, giving her a lot of power in the Principality. She kept the title of Princess of Achaia and put forward her son, Hugh, as her choice for the ruler of the principality.
In 1366, Hugh led an army of 12,000 soldiers into the Peloponnese, starting a civil war for control of Achaia.
On January 17, 1369, Peter I of Cyprus died. His son, Peter II of Cyprus, took over. Hugh saw another chance to claim the throne of Cyprus. He left the Peloponnese to travel to Nicosia, which meant he stopped his campaign in Achaia. Marie continued the civil war until 1370.
Since she couldn't win the war, Marie sold her rights to Philip II for 6,000 gold pieces. She also sold her lands of Vostitsa and Nivelets to Nerio I Acciaioli. She only kept her land in Kalamata.
Hugh of Lusignan married Marie de Morphou but did not have children. He passed away around 1385, before his mother. Marie's last will named her nephew, Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, as her only heir.
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See also
In Spanish: María de Borbón (princesa de Acaya) para niños
