Anna Dandolo
Encyclopedia
Anna Dandolo was a Venetian
noblewoman who became Queen consort of Serbia as the second wife of King Stephen Nemanjić, founder of the Serbian kingdom. She was crowned Serbia's first Queen consort at Stefan's coronation in 1217, and held this title until his death on 24 September 1228. She was the granddaughter of Enrico Dandolo
, Doge of Venice
. King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia
was her son.
on an unknown date, the daughter of Rainero Dandolo, Vice-Doge of Venice, and Procurator of San Marco
. Although her mother's name was not recorded, it is known that her paternal grandfather was Enrico Dandolo
, Doge of Venice.
In 1209, her father was killed in battle against the Genoese
during the conquest of Candia
.
. Anna was his second wife; his first, Eudokia Angelina
, from whom he had separated for alleged adultery, had died in 1211. The marriage of Stefan to a woman from the powerful maritime republic of Venice was politically advantageous to Serbia; the alliance also strengthened Orthodox Serbia
's ties to the west and brought a strong Latin influence to the country through the Venetian artisans who followed in Anna's wake. In 1217, Stefan was crowned the first King of Serbia by Archbishop Sava
, and Anna became the first Queen consort.
Shortly before his death on 24 September 1228, King Stefan had taken monastic vows. Anna lived until 1264, long enough to see her only son, Stephen Uros succeed to the Serbian throne in 1243 following the deposition of his half-brother, Stefan Vladislav I. Stephen Uroš I married Helen of Anjou
, by whom he had issue. Anna's descendants continued to rule in Serbia for many generations until 1371 when the Nemanjic dynasty came to an end.
Anna was buried in the Sopoćani
monastery, and the depiction of her death is "one of the most important historical compositions painted on the walls of Serbian medieval churches".
Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio
immortalised Anna in his 1914 Ode alla nazione serba with the line:
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Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
noblewoman who became Queen consort of Serbia as the second wife of King Stephen Nemanjić, founder of the Serbian kingdom. She was crowned Serbia's first Queen consort at Stefan's coronation in 1217, and held this title until his death on 24 September 1228. She was the granddaughter of Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo — anglicised as Henry Dandolo and Latinized as Henricus Dandulus — was the 41st Doge of Venice from 1195 until his death...
, Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
. King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia
Stefan Uroš I of Serbia
Stefan Uroš I was the King of Serbia from 1243 to 1276, succeeding his brother Stefan Vladislav.-Life:Stephen Uroš was the youngest son of Stefan the First-Crowned and Anna, the granddaughter of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice....
was her son.
Origin
Anna was born in VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on an unknown date, the daughter of Rainero Dandolo, Vice-Doge of Venice, and Procurator of San Marco
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore...
. Although her mother's name was not recorded, it is known that her paternal grandfather was Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo
Enrico Dandolo — anglicised as Henry Dandolo and Latinized as Henricus Dandulus — was the 41st Doge of Venice from 1195 until his death...
, Doge of Venice.
In 1209, her father was killed in battle against the Genoese
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
during the conquest of Candia
Candia
-Places:* The old Venetian name for Heraklion, Crete* Kingdom of Candia, colony of the Republic of Venice * Candia Canavese, Italy* Candia Lomellina, Italy...
.
Queen of Serbia
In about 1216 or 1217, she married Stephen Nemanjić, the Grand Prince of Serbia, in a magnificent ceremony which was celebrated in Venice and attended by all the patrician families in the republic. Following the splendid festivities held in their honour, the bridal couple were then transported with much fanfare by galley to DalmatiaDalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. Anna was his second wife; his first, Eudokia Angelina
Eudokia Angelina
Eudokia Angelina was the queen consort of Stephen II Nemanjić of Serbia from 1196 to 1198. She later became the mistress of Alexios V Doukas, the future Emperor...
, from whom he had separated for alleged adultery, had died in 1211. The marriage of Stefan to a woman from the powerful maritime republic of Venice was politically advantageous to Serbia; the alliance also strengthened Orthodox Serbia
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
's ties to the west and brought a strong Latin influence to the country through the Venetian artisans who followed in Anna's wake. In 1217, Stefan was crowned the first King of Serbia by Archbishop Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
, and Anna became the first Queen consort.
Shortly before his death on 24 September 1228, King Stefan had taken monastic vows. Anna lived until 1264, long enough to see her only son, Stephen Uros succeed to the Serbian throne in 1243 following the deposition of his half-brother, Stefan Vladislav I. Stephen Uroš I married Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou or Hélène d'Anjou was the queen consort of the Serbian Kingdom, wife of Stephen Uroš I and mother of kings Dragutin and Milutin.-Life:Helen was a Catholic and was born in ca 1236. Her origins are not known for certain...
, by whom he had issue. Anna's descendants continued to rule in Serbia for many generations until 1371 when the Nemanjic dynasty came to an end.
Anna was buried in the Sopoćani
Sopocani
The Sopoćani monastery , an endowment of King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia, was built in the second half of the 13th century, near the source of the Raška River in the region of Ras, the centre of the Serbian medieval state. It is World Heritage Site, added in 1979 with Stari Ras...
monastery, and the depiction of her death is "one of the most important historical compositions painted on the walls of Serbian medieval churches".
Family and legacy
Together they had one son, Stephen Uroš I, born in about 1223, and a daughter, whose name is not recorded. She also had three stepsons from her husband's former marriage.Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
immortalised Anna in his 1914 Ode alla nazione serba with the line:
See also
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