Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen of Serbia
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth of Hungary the widow was one of younger children of King Stephen V of Hungary
and his wife Elizabeth the Cuman
. She was a member of the House of Arpad and later became Queen consort of Serbia
by her marriage to Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
.
Her brother was Ladislaus IV of Hungary. Her sister Catherine
became the Queen of Serbia, by her marriage to Stefan Uroš
's brother, Stephen Dragutin of Serbia. Another sister, Maria married Charles II of Naples
, by whom she had fourteen children. Elisabeth's third sister, Anna married Andronikos II Palaiologos
.
Elisabeth's paternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
and his wife Maria Laskarina
. Her maternal grandfather was Köten
, a Khan of the Kumans, his wife is unknown.
, Dowager Queen of Bohemia who died and left him an inheritance. Záviš also acted as regent for his stepson, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
After the wedding, the couple retired to Svojanov
. In December 1288 Elisabeth gave birth to a son, although nothing further is mentioned of the child. Záviš was still however only interested in his step-son, Wenceslaus.
Many people at the Prague
court hated Záviš, including Wenceslaus' wife, Judith of Habsburg
. Eventually, Záviš was captured and imprisoned. During this time, Elisabeth left the family home with her son and went to stay at the court of her sister, Maria and her brother-in-law, Charles II of Naples
. Záviš was executed 24 August 1290.
Elizabeth travelled to Serbia
to visit her sister Catherine
. Elizabeth was seduced there by Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
(Catherine's brother-in-law). Stefan Uroš divorced his first wife, Helena Doukaina Angelina, and married Elisabeth, though he bypassed church rules in order to marry her. They could not marry because Elizabeth's sister Catherine was married to Stefan Uroš' brother, Stephen Dragutin of Serbia. By the rules of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Stefan Uroš and Elizabeth were unable to marry because there was a union between their siblings - while the Roman Catholic Church
had (under Pope Innocentius III) specifically decreed that affinity does not produce further affinity and thus, marriages of siblings were immaterial to canonical obstacles.
Elizabeth and Stefan Uroš had one son:
The marriage did not last long; and as a result of increasing pressure from the Church, Stefan Uroš was forced to dissolve his marriage to Elizabeth, who was then sent back to her native country of Hungary
, while Stefan Uroš married Anna Terter of Bulgaria
. Elisabeth died in 1313.
Stephen V of Hungary
Stephen V , was King of Hungary from 1270 to 1272.-Early years:...
and his wife Elizabeth the Cuman
Elizabeth the Cuman
-Daughter of Kuthen:She was born in about 1239/40, a daughter of Kuthen/Kotyan/Kotony , khan of the Cumans , and his wife whose identity has not been established. The Cumans were the western tribes of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. The Cumans were a confederation of Turkic speaking peoples who...
. She was a member of the House of Arpad and later became Queen consort of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
by her marriage to Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin was a king of Serbia , and member of the House of Nemanjić.-Early:...
.
Family
Elisabeth was a younger one of six children, being born sometime in the 1260s. Elizabeth's mother had come from Cumans, who followed the Shamanist religion, and was converted to Christianity in childhood. Although her parents took baptism in 1250s, they were considered Pagans by some contemporary Christians of Europe. She had been obliged to convert to the Roman Catholic faith to marry Elizabeth's father, Stephen.Her brother was Ladislaus IV of Hungary. Her sister Catherine
Catherine of Hungary, Queen of Serbia
Catherine of Hungary was the second daughter of Stephen V of Hungary and his wife Elizabeth, a member of the Cuman tribes. Catherine became Queen consort of Serbia by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin of Serbia.-Family:...
became the Queen of Serbia, by her marriage to Stefan Uroš
Stefan Uroš
Stephen Uroš is a Serbian royal name, referring to the following members of the Nemanjić Dynasty :* King Stephen Uroš I of Serbia * King Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia...
's brother, Stephen Dragutin of Serbia. Another sister, Maria married Charles II of Naples
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
, by whom she had fourteen children. Elisabeth's third sister, Anna married 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...
.
Elisabeth's paternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
and his wife Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina was a daughter of Theodore I Laskaris and his first wife Anna Angelina.-Life:She was a younger sister of Irene Lascarina, first Empress consort of John III Doukas Vatatzes. Theodore married his eldest daughter to his designated heir in 1212...
. Her maternal grandfather was Köten
Köten
Köten was a Cuman khan and member of the Terter clan. This Köten is the same Prince Kotjan Sutoevic of the Russian annals, who forged the Russian-Cuman alliance against the Tatars...
, a Khan of the Kumans, his wife is unknown.
First marriage
Elisabeth married 4 May 1288 to Záviš, Lord of Falkenstejn. Elisabeth was an attractive bride, being an older daughter of the King of Hungary. Elisabeth's brother, Ladislaus IV of Hungary agreed to the marriage. Záviš was quite wealthy, his previous wife had been Kunigunda of SlavoniaKunigunda of Slavonia
Kunigunda Rostislavna was Queen consort of Bohemia and its Regent from 1278 until her death. She was a member of the House of Chernigov, and a daughter of the ruler of Slavonia....
, Dowager Queen of Bohemia who died and left him an inheritance. Záviš also acted as regent for his stepson, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
After the wedding, the couple retired to Svojanov
Svojanov
Svojanov is a market town in Svitavy District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 404 ....
. In December 1288 Elisabeth gave birth to a son, although nothing further is mentioned of the child. Záviš was still however only interested in his step-son, Wenceslaus.
Many people at the Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
court hated Záviš, including Wenceslaus' wife, Judith of Habsburg
Judith of Habsburg
Judith of Habsburg was the youngest daughter of Rudolph I of Germany and his wife Gertrude of Hohenburg. Judith was a member of the Habsburg family.-Biography:When Judith was five, she became the object of her father's political plans...
. Eventually, Záviš was captured and imprisoned. During this time, Elisabeth left the family home with her son and went to stay at the court of her sister, Maria and her brother-in-law, Charles II of Naples
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
. Záviš was executed 24 August 1290.
Second marriage
Soon after the death of her husband, Elisabeth became a nun but she escaped.Elizabeth travelled to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
to visit her sister Catherine
Catherine of Hungary, Queen of Serbia
Catherine of Hungary was the second daughter of Stephen V of Hungary and his wife Elizabeth, a member of the Cuman tribes. Catherine became Queen consort of Serbia by her marriage to Stephen Dragutin of Serbia.-Family:...
. Elizabeth was seduced there by Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia
Stefan Uroš II Milutin was a king of Serbia , and member of the House of Nemanjić.-Early:...
(Catherine's brother-in-law). Stefan Uroš divorced his first wife, Helena Doukaina Angelina, and married Elisabeth, though he bypassed church rules in order to marry her. They could not marry because Elizabeth's sister Catherine was married to Stefan Uroš' brother, Stephen Dragutin of Serbia. By the rules of the Serbian Orthodox Church
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...
Stefan Uroš and Elizabeth were unable to marry because there was a union between their siblings - while the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
had (under Pope Innocentius III) specifically decreed that affinity does not produce further affinity and thus, marriages of siblings were immaterial to canonical obstacles.
Elizabeth and Stefan Uroš had one son:
- Stephen Constantine, rival king of Serbia from 1321 to 1322
The marriage did not last long; and as a result of increasing pressure from the Church, Stefan Uroš was forced to dissolve his marriage to Elizabeth, who was then sent back to her native country of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, while Stefan Uroš married Anna Terter of Bulgaria
Anna Terter of Bulgaria
Anna Terter was a Bulgarian princess and Queen consort of Serbia . She was the third wife of King Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia....
. Elisabeth died in 1313.