Eudoxia Lascaris
Encyclopedia
Eudoxia Laskarina Asanina ' onMouseout='HidePop("37937")' href="/topics/Iznik">Nicaea
, 1254 - Zaragoza
, 1311) was a Byzantine
princess of the Laskaris
family. In later life, she fled to Aragon
, where she was known as Irene Lascaris.
Theodore II Laskaris
and of Elena Asenina of Bulgaria. Eudoxia grew up as a princess at the court of Nicaea, where Constance II of Hohenstaufen, widow of her grandfather John III Doukas Vatatzes, also lived. After the Palaiologan
usurpation of the imperial throne, both ladies fled, travelling the same route from Constantinople
to Tende
and Sicily
respectively and, years later, both sought protection at the kingdom of Aragon under king James I
.
, until then regent and co-emperor for the infant John IV Laskaris
, had himself declared sole emperor, solidifying his position by having John IV blinded and imprisoned. John's three sisters, Euoxia among them, were hurriedly married off to foreigners, so their descendants could not claim to the imperial succession.
The young Eudoxia was married in Constantinople on 28 July 1261 to Count Pietro de Ventimiglia (1230-1278), count of Vintimiglia and Tende
, a Liguria
n region then at the service of Genoa
, allies with Michael VIII. This marriage originated the house Lascaris de Vintimille, which stood until the 19th century, then as a powerful French family.
Eudoxia and Pietro had several children: Jean I Lascaris de Ventimiglia, Lucrecia (Lascara), who married Arnau Roger I Count of Pallars, Beatrice, who married Guillem de Montcada, Vatatza
in Portugal at the service of Queen Elizabeth of Aragon
, and Violant, married to a grandson of James I.
. In 1296 she founded a monastery of clarisses and the Sanctuary of Mare de Déu de la Serra at Montblanc
, which she entered by the end of 1306. She also donated an Italian image of the Virgin, that still stands there, to the monastery. Her remains rest at the Dominican
monastery at Zaragoza.
Iznik
İznik is a city in Turkey which is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea, the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Church, the Nicene Creed, and as the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea...
, 1254 - Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, 1311) was a Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
princess of the Laskaris
Laskaris
The Laskaris or Lascaris family was a Byzantine Greek noble family whose members formed the ruling dynasty of the Empire of Nicaea from 1204 to 1261 and remained among the senior nobility up to the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, whereupon many emigrated to Italy and then to Smyrna...
family. In later life, she fled to Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, where she was known as Irene Lascaris.
Family
Eudoxia was the fourth daughter of the Nicaean emperorEmpire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris was emperor of Nicaea, 1254–1258.-Life:Theodore II Doukas Laskaris was the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and...
and of Elena Asenina of Bulgaria. Eudoxia grew up as a princess at the court of Nicaea, where Constance II of Hohenstaufen, widow of her grandfather John III Doukas Vatatzes, also lived. After the Palaiologan
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
usurpation of the imperial throne, both ladies fled, travelling the same route from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
to Tende
Tende
Tende is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Tende is located within Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The mountainous commune is bordered by Italy to the north, with the boundary determined by the watershed line between the two countries...
and Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
respectively and, years later, both sought protection at the kingdom of Aragon under king James I
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
.
Marriage and offspring
Soon after the re-conquest of Constantinople in 1261, Michael VIII PalaiologosMichael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus reigned as Byzantine Emperor 1259–1282. Michael VIII was the founder of the Palaiologan dynasty that would rule the Byzantine Empire until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453...
, until then regent and co-emperor for the infant John IV Laskaris
John IV Laskaris
John IV Doukas Laskaris was emperor of Nicaea from August 18, 1258 to December 25, 1261...
, had himself declared sole emperor, solidifying his position by having John IV blinded and imprisoned. John's three sisters, Euoxia among them, were hurriedly married off to foreigners, so their descendants could not claim to the imperial succession.
The young Eudoxia was married in Constantinople on 28 July 1261 to Count Pietro de Ventimiglia (1230-1278), count of Vintimiglia and Tende
Tende
Tende is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Tende is located within Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The mountainous commune is bordered by Italy to the north, with the boundary determined by the watershed line between the two countries...
, a Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
n region then at the service of Genoa
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....
, allies with Michael VIII. This marriage originated the house Lascaris de Vintimille, which stood until the 19th century, then as a powerful French family.
Eudoxia and Pietro had several children: Jean I Lascaris de Ventimiglia, Lucrecia (Lascara), who married Arnau Roger I Count of Pallars, Beatrice, who married Guillem de Montcada, Vatatza
Vataça Lascaris
Lady Vataça Lascaris , also referred as Vatatsa Lascaris, Vataça of Ventimiglia, Dona Betaça, Betaça de Grécia, Vatatsa or Vetacia was an Italian princess of Byzantine Greek origin....
in Portugal at the service of Queen Elizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon, also known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. , was queen consort of Portugal, a tertiary of the Franciscan Order and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.-Biography:Elizabeth was a descendant of one of the most powerful families in Europe:...
, and Violant, married to a grandson of James I.
Life
Before reaching 30 Eudoxia fled from Liguria to Aragon with her daughters Vatatza and Beatrizce. Some say it was by the time of her husband death or being refused by him. Living at Xàtiva and Zaragoza and Castella, she travelled on diplomatic missions for king James II of AragonJames II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
. In 1296 she founded a monastery of clarisses and the Sanctuary of Mare de Déu de la Serra at Montblanc
Montblanc
Montblanc may refer to:* Montblanc , a German manufacturer of writing instruments, watches and accessories* Montblanc, Hérault, a commune of the Hérault département, in France...
, which she entered by the end of 1306. She also donated an Italian image of the Virgin, that still stands there, to the monastery. Her remains rest at the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
monastery at Zaragoza.