Anna of Savoy
| Anna | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Byzantine Empress consort | |
| Reign | 1326–1341 |
| Born | 1306 |
| Died | 1365 (aged 58–59) Thessaloniki |
| Spouse | Andronikos III Palaiologos |
| Issue |
Maria (renamed Eirene) John V Palaiologos Michael Palaiologos Eirene (renamed Maria) |
| House | Savoy |
| Father | Amadeus V, Count of Savoy |
| Mother | Maria of Brabant |
| Religion |
Eastern Orthodox prev. Roman Catholic |
Anna of Savoy, born Giovanna (1306–1365) was a Byzantine Empress consort, as the second spouse of Andronikos III Palaiologos. She served as regent during the minority of her son from 1341 until 1347.
Anna was a daughter of Amadeus V, Count of Savoy, and his second wife, Maria of Brabant.
She was betrothed to Andronikos III Palaiologos, during which time he was involved in a civil war with his paternal grandfather Andronikos II Palaiologos. He had claimed the throne since 1321.
According to the history of John VI Kantakouzenos, the marriage took place in October, 1326. She joined the Eastern Orthodox Church and took the name Anna.
In 1328, Andronikos III entered Constantinople and finally deposed his grandfather.
On 15 June 1341, Andronikos III died. He was succeeded by their son John V who was still three days short of his ninth birthday. Anna was appointed regent for her son. However Andronikos III had entrusted the administration to his advisor John Kantakouzenos. Anna did not trust the powerful advisor.
At about the same time, Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia launched an invasion of Northern Thrace. Kantakouzenos left Constantinople to try to restore order to the area. In his absence, Patriarch John XIV of Constantinople and courtier Alexios Apokaukos convinced Anna that the senior advisor was her enemy. Anna declared Kantakouzenos an enemy of the state and offered the title of eparch of Constantinople to Apokaukos.
Kantakouzenos was still in control of part of the Byzantine army. On 26 October 1341, he answered by proclaiming himself emperor at Didymoteicho. This was the beginning of a civil war that would last until 1347. Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria soon allied with the faction under John V and Anna while Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia sided with John VI. Both rulers were actually taking advantage of the civil war for their own political and territorial gains. In time John VI would ally himself with Orhan I of the nascent Ottoman emirate.
...
Wikipedia