Mary of Antioch
Encyclopedia
Maria of Antioch daughter of Prince Bohemond IV of Antioch and his second wife Melisende de Lusignan, was the pretender to the throne of Jerusalem from 1269 to 1277. By her mother, she was the granddaughter of Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem, and her fourth husband, King Amalric II of Jerusalem
.
Prior to 1268, the principal Pretender to the throne of Jerusalem was Conradin
, a great-grandson of Isabella I of Jerusalem. He was executed in 1268 by Charles of Anjou
, who had by papal authority seized Conradin's rightful Kingdom of Sicily. At the time of his death, Mary was the only living grandchild of Queen Isabella; this allowed her to claim the throne of Jerusalem on the basis of proximity in blood to the Kings of Jerusalem (in feudal successions, proximity - a form of seniority
- was a strong claim). The Haute Cour
of Jerusalem ignored her claims, however.
Maria then went to Rome and proposed the sale of her rights to Charles of Anjou; with papal blessing and confirmation, these were sold to Charles in 1277. Charles then took the title King of Jerusalem, and conquered Acre, holding it until 1285. Thereafter, the claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem
frequently changed hands, being passed down by testament or conquest rather than by direct inheritance.
Maria died, childless, in Castello de Canosa, Apulia, after 10 December 1307.
Amalric II of Jerusalem
Amalric II of Jerusalem or Amalric I of Cyprus, born Amalric of Lusignan , King of Jerusalem 1197–1205, was an older brother of Guy of Lusignan....
.
Prior to 1268, the principal Pretender to the throne of Jerusalem was Conradin
Conradin
Conrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...
, a great-grandson of Isabella I of Jerusalem. He was executed in 1268 by Charles of Anjou
Charles I of Sicily
Charles I , known also as Charles of Anjou, was the King of Sicily by conquest from 1266, though he had received it as a papal grant in 1262 and was expelled from the island in the aftermath of the Sicilian Vespers of 1282...
, who had by papal authority seized Conradin's rightful Kingdom of Sicily. At the time of his death, Mary was the only living grandchild of Queen Isabella; this allowed her to claim the throne of Jerusalem on the basis of proximity in blood to the Kings of Jerusalem (in feudal successions, proximity - a form of seniority
Seniority
Seniority is the concept of a person or group of people being in charge or in command of another person or group. This control is often granted to the senior person due to experience or length of service in a given position, but it is not uncommon for a senior person to have less experience or...
- was a strong claim). The Haute Cour
Haute Cour of Jerusalem
The Haute Cour was the feudal council of the kingdom of Jerusalem. It was sometimes also called the curia generalis, the curia regis, or, rarely, the parlement.-Composition of the court:...
of Jerusalem ignored her claims, however.
Maria then went to Rome and proposed the sale of her rights to Charles of Anjou; with papal blessing and confirmation, these were sold to Charles in 1277. Charles then took the title King of Jerusalem, and conquered Acre, holding it until 1285. Thereafter, the claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
frequently changed hands, being passed down by testament or conquest rather than by direct inheritance.
Maria died, childless, in Castello de Canosa, Apulia, after 10 December 1307.