Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene
| Maria | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Empress consort of Bulgaria | |
| Tenure | 1269–1279 |
| Born | Unknown Empire of Nicaea |
| Died | Unknown Byzantine Empire |
| Spouse |
Alexios Philes Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria Ivaylo of Bulgaria |
| Issue |
Michael Asen II unnamed daughter (by Ivaylo) |
| House |
Kantakouzenos House of Asen |
| Father | John Kantakouzenos |
| Mother | Eirene Palaiologina |
Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene (Bulgarian: Мария Палеологина Кантакузина, Greek: Μαρία Παλαιολογίνα Καντακουζηνή) was a Byzantine princess, niece of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, and empress consort of Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria and Ivaylo of Bulgaria.
Maria was the second daughter of John Kantakouzenos and Eirene Palaiologina, sister of Michael VIII Palaiologos. According to George Pachymeres, Maria was unusually perfidious and sly and she had a strong influence over the people and the clergy. He would have it that Maria supported her uncle's military coup d'etat and she prompted him to blind the legitimate emperor John IV Laskaris, who was brother of Bulgarian tsarina Irene, second wife of tsar Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria.
The deposition and blinding of the minor Nicaean emperor John IV Laskaris by Michael VIII Palaiologos in 1261 pitted Constantine Tikh, as the brother-in-law of the deposed emperor, against Michael VIII.
After the death of tsarina Irene Laskarina in 1268 Constantine Tikh sought a reconciliation with Michael VIII by proposing to marry a Byzantine princess related to Palaiologos, and Michael VIII offered his niece Maria. Maria had one previous marriage, to Alexios Philes, and Constantine Tikh had two. As a condition for the marriage alliance, the Black Sea ports of Mesembria and Anchialos were to be handed over as her dowry.
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