Charlotte of Cyprus
| Charlotte | |
|---|---|
Charlotte of Cyprus, in the centre with the open book
|
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| Queen of Cyprus | |
| Reign | 28 July 1458 – 1464 |
| Coronation | 7 October 1458 St. Sophia Cathedral |
| Predecessor | John II |
| Successor | James II |
| Born | 28 June 1444 Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Died | 16 July 1487 (aged 43) Rome, Italy |
| Spouse |
John of Portugal m. 1456 – wid. 1457 Louis of Savoy, Count of Geneva m. 1459 – wid. 1482 |
| House | Poitiers-Lusignan |
| Father | John II of Cyprus |
| Mother | Helena Palaiologina |
Charlotte (28 June 1444 – 16 July 1487), was Queen of Cyprus and Princess of Antioch, as well as titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia.
She was the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus and Helena Palaiologina. At the age of 14, she succeeded to the Cypriot throne upon the death of her father in 1458. Her illegitimate half-brother, James challenged her right to the crown. With the support of the Egyptians, he forced her to flee the island in 1463, and he was later crowned king. She made a military attempt to regain her throne, but was unsuccessful, and died childless in Rome.
Charlotte was born in Nicosia on 28 June 1444, the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus and Helena Palaiologina. Her younger sister Cleopha died in June 1448, shortly before Charlotte's fourth birthday, leaving her the sole legitimate heir to the Cypriot throne and her father's titles. She had an illegitimate half-brother, James, born to her father's Greek mistress Marietta de Patras.
She was raised in the Byzantine tradition and spoke fluent Greek, which she learned from her mother. She could write French, Italian, and possibly Latin, but throughout her life spoke mainly Greek. Due to her outspoken manner, Pope Pius II called her the "Greek torrent".
Charlotte succeeded as Princess of Antioch in 1456 the same year she married her first husband, John of Portugal. She was widowed in 1457, and on 28 July 1458 her father died. At the age of fourteen Charlotte became Queen of Cyprus and was crowned at St. Sophia Cathedral on 7 October 1458.
Her reign was not successful. She had a tenuous hold on the kingdom as her right to the throne was constantly being challenged by her illegitimate half-brother James. On 7 October 1459, she married her second husband, Louis of Savoy, Count of Geneva. This marriage had been arranged by the Genoese who promised their assistance in retaining her crown against the claims by James.
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Wikipedia