Catherine of Courtenay

Catherine I
Titular Empress of Constantinople
Reign	15 December 1283 – 11 October 1307
Marquise de Namur
Dame de Courtenay, de Montargis, and de Blacon
Born	25 November 1274
Died	11 October 1307 (aged 32) Paris, France
Burial	Maubuisson Abbey, Paris
Spouse	Charles of Valois
Issue	John, Count of Chartres Catherine II of Valois, Princess of Achaea Joanna of Valois Isabella of Valois
House	Courtenay
Father	Philip of Courtenay
Mother	Beatrice of Sicily
Religion	Roman Catholic

Catherine I, also Catherine of Courtenay (25 November 1274 – 11 October 1307), was the recognised Latin Empress of Constantinople from 1283 to 1307, although she lived in exile and only held authority over Crusader States in Greece. In 1301, she became the second wife of Charles of Valois, by whom she had one son and three daughters; the eldest of these, Catherine II of Valois, Princess of Achaea succeeded her as titular empress.

She was born on 25 November 1274, the only daughter and heir of the titular Emperor of Constantinople Philip I of Courtenay by Beatrice of Sicily.

Upon her father's death on 15 December 1283, Catherine inherited his claims to the Latin throne of Constantinople and was recognized as empress by the Latin states in Greece, despite the city having been re-taken by the Empire of Nicaea in 1261.

Catherine was betrothed to three men she never married, including James of Majorca. On 28 February 1301 at the Priory of St. Cloud near Paris, she became the second wife of Count Charles of Valois, son of King Philip III of France. On 23 April 1301, Charles became titular emperor with Catherine until her death in Paris on 11 October 1307 at the age of 32. She was buried at the abbey of Maubuisson the following day, 12 October. Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar served as one of her pallbearers.

By Charles of Valois, Catherine I had four children:

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