Mary of Enghien
| Mary of Enghien | |
|---|---|
| Countess of Lecce | |
| Reign | 1384–1446 |
| Predecessor | Peter of Enghien |
| Successor | Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo |
| Queen consort of Naples | |
| Reign | 1406 – 6 August 1414 |
| Born | 1367 or 1370 |
| Died | 9 May 1446 |
| Spouse |
Raimondo Orsini Del Balzo Ladislaus of Naples |
| Issue More |
Caterina del Balzo Orsini Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo |
| House | Enghien |
| Father | John of Enghien |
| Mother | Sancia Del Balzo |
Mary of Enghien, also Maria d'Enghien, (1367 or 1370 – 9 May 1446) was Countess of Lecce from 1384 to 1446, and, by her second marriage, Queen of Naples and titular Queen of Sicily, Jerusalem, and Hungary (1406–1414).
She was the daughter of John of Enghien, Count of Castro, and Sancia Del Balzo. Her father was the third son of Isabella of Brienne (who died in 1360) and her husband Walter of Enghien (who had died in 1345).
Her paternal grandmother Isabella survived her brother Walter VI of Brienne, titular Duke of Athens etc., who died without surviving issue in 1356 at the Battle of Poitiers. As his heir, she became Countess of Lecce and Brienne etc., as well as titular Duchess of Athens. Since her eldest son Walter had died before her brother, her heir was her second son Sohier of Enghien. She allowed her inherited lands to be divided between her numerous children during her own lifetime. Mary's father, the third (but second surviving) son, had received the County of Lecce and the lordship of Castro.
Mary's father John died in 1380, leaving minor children. Mary's brother Peter of Enghien, also called Pyrrhus (Pyrro or Pirro), became the Count of Lecce. However, Peter died childless in 1384 and was succeeded by Mary and her husband Raimondo del Balzo Orsini di Nola, whom she married that same year in Taranto.
Chroniclers describe her as beautiful, intrepid and adventurous: adored by her children, loved by her first husband, besieged by King Ladislaus of Naples, and treated cruelly by the king's sister.
She stayed in her castles of Lecce and Copertino when Raimondo travelled, and gave his services to the king against the papal troops and supporters of the junior Angevin line. She was occupied by their children, Marias, Caterina, Giovanni Antonio, and Gabriele.
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