Constance of Aragon, Holy Roman Empress
| Constance of Aragon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Queen consort of Hungary | |
| Tenure | 1198–1204 |
| Queen consort of Germany | |
| Tenure | 9 December 1212/5 July 1215 – 23 April 1220 |
| Holy Roman Empress | |
| Tenure | 22 November 1220 – 23 June 1222 |
| Coronation | 22 November 1220 (Rome) |
| Born | 1179 |
| Died | 23 June 1222 (aged 42–43) Italy |
| Spouse |
Emeric of Hungary Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Issue |
Ladislaus III of Hungary Henry (VII) of Germany |
| House | Barcelona |
| Father | Alfonso II of Aragon |
| Mother | Sancha of Castile |
Constance of Aragon (1179 – 23 June 1222) was an Aragonese infanta who was by marriage firstly Queen of Hungary, and secondly Queen of Germany and Sicily and Holy Roman Empress. She was regent of Sicily from 1212–1220.
She was the second child and eldest daughter of the nine children of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile.
Her father died in 1196 and Constance's fate was decided by the new King, her brother Peter II. Peter arranged her marriage with King Emeric of Hungary, and the nineteen-year-old Constance left Aragon for Hungary. The wedding took place in 1198. Two years later, in 1200, the Queen gave birth to a son, called Ladislaus.
When King Emeric was dying, he crowned his son Ladislaus co-ruler on 26 August 1204. The King wanted to secure his succession and had his brother Andrew promise to protect the child and help him govern the Kingdom of Hungary until reaching adulthood. Emeric died three months later, on 30 November.
Ladislaus succeeded him as King while Andrew became his Regent. Andrew soon took over all regal authority while Ladislaus and Constance were little more than his prisoners. Constance managed to escape to Vienna with Ladislaus.
The two found refuge in the court of Leopold VI, Duke of Austria, but Ladislaus would soon die (7 May 1205). The former Regent and now King Andrew II of Hungary took the body of his nephew and buried him in the Royal Crypt of Székesfehérvár. Duke Leopold sent Constance back to Aragon.
When Constance returned to Aragon, she took up residence with her mother, Queen Sancha, in the Abbey of Nuestra Senora, at Sijena; Sancha had founded the abbey after her husband's death, and now lived there in retirement. Constance spent the next five years in the abbey with her mother, until her fate, again, was changed by her brother.
Pedro II wanted to be on good terms with Pope Innocent III, since he wanted an annulment of his marriage with Maria of Montpellier, and needed the blessing of the Pope. The Pope solicited the hand of the Dowager Queen of Hungary for his pupil, the young King Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. The Aragonese King accepted the proposal; Constance left her mother and the abbey of Nuestra Senora and began her trip to Sicily (1208). She never returned to Aragon or saw her mother again. Sancha died shortly after the departure of her daughter.
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