Adelheid of Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Irene of Brunswick, born Adelheid, (c. 1293 – 16/17 August 1324) was the first wife of Andronikos III Palaiologos
, and by marriage Empress of Constantinople, although she died before her husband became sole Emperor.
She was a daughter of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
and Agnes of Meissen. Her maternal grandparents were Albert II, Margrave of Meissen
and Margaret of Sicily
.
In March, 1318, she married Prince Andronikos Palaiologos. He was the eldest son of Michael IX Palaiologos
and Rita of Armenia
. Her father-in-law was at the time junior co-emperor with his own father Andronikos II Palaiologos
. She joined the Eastern Orthodox Church
with her marriage and took the name Irene. They would have only one child:
She died in Rhaedestos
during the civil war
between Andronikos II and Andronikos III from 1321 to 1328. Her husband claimed the throne for its duration. Making her the empress to a rival emperor. Her husband proceeded to marry Anna of Savoy
.
Andronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...
, and by marriage Empress of Constantinople, although she died before her husband became sole Emperor.
She was a daughter of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called the Admirable , was the first ruler of the Principality of Grubenhagen....
and Agnes of Meissen. Her maternal grandparents were Albert II, Margrave of Meissen
Albert II, Margrave of Meissen
Albert II, the Degenerate was a Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave of Thuringia and Count Palatine of Saxony...
and Margaret of Sicily
Margaret of Sicily
Margaret of Sicily , was a Princess of Sicily and Germany, and a member of the House of Hohenstaufen...
.
In March, 1318, she married Prince Andronikos Palaiologos. He was the eldest son of Michael IX Palaiologos
Michael IX Palaiologos
Michael IX Palaiologos or Palaeologus , , reigned as Byzantine co-emperor with full imperial style 1294/1295–1320...
and Rita of Armenia
Rita of Armenia
Rita of Armenia was a daughter of King Levon II of Armenia and Queen Keran. She was the wife of Byzantine co-emperor Michael IX Palaiologos, making her a junior empress-consort of the Byzantine Empire. In 1317, she became the only empress upon the death of the senior empress, Irene of Montferrat...
. Her father-in-law was at the time junior co-emperor with his own father Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
. She joined the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
with her marriage and took the name Irene. They would have only one child:
- A son (June, 1320 – February, 1322).
She died in Rhaedestos
Tekirdag
Tekirdağ , the ancient Bisanthi , is a city in Eastern Thrace, in the European part of Turkey. Tekirdağ is the capital of Tekirdağ Province, felt by the local people to be a quieter and more pleasant town than the industrial centre of Çorlu, which it administers. The city population as of 2009 was...
during the civil war
Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328
The Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328 was a series of conflicts fought in the 1320s between the Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos and his grandson Andronikos III Palaiologos over control of the Byzantine Empire.-Prelude to the civil war:...
between Andronikos II and Andronikos III from 1321 to 1328. Her husband claimed the throne for its duration. Making her the empress to a rival emperor. Her husband proceeded to marry Anna of Savoy
Anna of Savoy
Anna of Savoy, born Giovanna, was a Byzantine Empress consort, as the second wife of Andronikos III Palaiologos.-Family:She was a daughter of Amadeus V, Count of Savoy and his second wife Maria of Brabant. Her maternal grandparents were John I, Duke of Brabant and Margaret of Flanders...
.
Ancestry
External links
- Her listing in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley. The project "involves extracting and analysing detailed information from primary sources, including contemporary chronicles, cartularies, necrologies and testaments."