Keratsa of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Keratsa-Maria of Bulgaria (1348–1390) was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
and his second wife, a converted Jewess, Theodora.
. The marital document issued by the Patriarchate stated that "it would be beneficial to the Christians: Byzantines and Bulgarians, and pernicious to the infidels (the Turks)".
On 12 August 1376, Andronikos IV deposed his father John V Palaiologos
and replaced him as Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
, with Keratsa as his Empress consort. The new imperial couple remained in control of Constantinople
until 1 July 1379. John V was then restored to his throne. Andronikos IV was declared co-emperor but conflict between father and son lasted until the death of the latter in 1385.
Keratsa spent the later part of her life as a nun under the name Mathissa. She died in 1390.
had three children, a son and two daughters. Their son became Emperor John VII Palaiologos
, reigning for five months in 1390.
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander , also known as John Alexander, ruled as Emperor of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The date of his birth is unknown. He died on February 17, 1371. The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history...
and his second wife, a converted Jewess, Theodora.
Marriage
On 17 August 1355 Keratsa was betrothed to the future Emperor Andronikos IV PalaiologosAndronikos IV Palaiologos
Andronikos IV Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor from 1376 to 1379.-Life:...
. The marital document issued by the Patriarchate stated that "it would be beneficial to the Christians: Byzantines and Bulgarians, and pernicious to the infidels (the Turks)".
On 12 August 1376, Andronikos IV deposed his father John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
and replaced him as Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
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...
, with Keratsa as his Empress consort. The new imperial couple remained in control of 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:...
until 1 July 1379. John V was then restored to his throne. Andronikos IV was declared co-emperor but conflict between father and son lasted until the death of the latter in 1385.
Keratsa spent the later part of her life as a nun under the name Mathissa. She died in 1390.
Children
Keratsa and Andronikos IV PalaiologosAndronikos IV Palaiologos
Andronikos IV Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor from 1376 to 1379.-Life:...
had three children, a son and two daughters. Their son became Emperor John VII Palaiologos
John VII Palaiologos
John VII Palaiologos was Byzantine Emperor for five months in 1390.-Life:...
, reigning for five months in 1390.
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."