Mary of Enghien
Encyclopedia
Mary of Enghien, also Maria d'Enghien, (1367 or 1370 – 9 May 1446) was Countess of Lecce from 1384 to 1446, and, by her second marriage, Queen of Naples and titular Queen of Sicily
, Jerusalem, and Hungary (1406–1414).
(who died in 1360) and her husband Walter of Enghien (who had died in 1345).
Her paternal grandmother Isabella survived her brother Walter VI of Brienne
, titular Duke of Athens etc, who died without surviving issue in 1356 at the Battle of Poitiers
. As his heir, she became Countess of Lecce and Brienne etc, as well as titular Duchess of Athens. Since her eldest son Walter had died before her brother, her heir was her second son Sohier of Enghien
. She allowed her inherited lands to be divided between her numerous children during her own lifetime. Mary's father, the third (but second surviving) son, had received the County of Lecce and the lordship of Castro.
, also called Pyrrhus (Pyrro or Pirro), became the Count of Lecce. However, Peter died childless in 1384 and was succeeded by Mary and her husband Raimondo del Balzo Orsini
di Nola, whom she married also in 1384.
Chroniclers describe her as beautiful, intrepid and adventurous: adored by her children, loved by her first husband, besieged by King Ladislaus of Naples, and treated cruelly by the king's sister.
She stayed in her castles of Lecce and Copertino when Raimondo travelled, and gave his services to the king against the papal troops and supporters of the junior Angevin line. She was occupied by their children, Marias, Caterina, Giovanni Antonio, and Gabriele.
Raimondo was created Prince of Taranto
(in her hereditary rights) and died in 1405 or 1406.
, described as cruel, hated Mary and imprisoned her. Joan's husband James II, Count of La Marche
, however, soon allowed her to go. She returned to Lecce, Joan having driven her and her children from the royal domains, back to Tarentine lands.
Her children were:
Mary lived a long life, dying at the age of 78. She witnessed the marriage of her granddaughter Isabella of Taranto
, daughter of Tristan and Catherine and an heiress of remarkable feudal possessions in Southern Italy, to Ferdinand of Aragon
in 1444. He was the bastard son of King Alfonso V of Aragon
, who had conquered Southern Italy in 1441.
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,...
, Jerusalem, and Hungary (1406–1414).
Family
She was the daughter of John of Enghien, Count of Castro, and Sancia Del Balzo. Her father was the third son of Isabella of BrienneIsabella of Brienne
Isabella of Brienne was suo jure Countess of Lecce and Conversano, claimant to the Duchy of Athens and Kingdom of Jerusalem, etc.-Family and early years:...
(who died in 1360) and her husband Walter of Enghien (who had died in 1345).
Her paternal grandmother Isabella survived her brother Walter VI of Brienne
Walter VI of Brienne
Walter VI of Brienne was Count of Brienne, Conversano, and Lecce, and titular Duke of Athens. Walter was the son of Walter V, Duke of Athens, and Jeanne de Châtillon , the daughter of the Count of Porcien, a constable to King Philip IV of France.As grandson of Hugh of Brienne Walter VI of Brienne...
, titular Duke of Athens etc, who died without surviving issue in 1356 at the Battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
. As his heir, she became Countess of Lecce and Brienne etc, as well as titular Duchess of Athens. Since her eldest son Walter had died before her brother, her heir was her second son Sohier of Enghien
Sohier of Enghien
Sohier of Enghien was the titular Duke of Athens, and Count of Brienne and Lord of Enghien from 1356 to 1364.The second, but eldest surviving son of Walter of Enghien and Isabella of Brienne, when his mother divided the inheritance of his uncle Walter VI of Brienne among her sons, he received the...
. She allowed her inherited lands to be divided between her numerous children during her own lifetime. Mary's father, the third (but second surviving) son, had received the County of Lecce and the lordship of Castro.
Countess of Lecce
Mary's father John died in 1380, leaving minor children. Mary's brother Peter of EnghienPeter of Enghien
Peter of Enghien was Count of Lecce from 1380 to 1384.He inherited the County of Lecce on the death of his father, John of Enghien, in 1380. He married Margaret, daughter of Guy of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny. However, the marriage was childless, and he was succeeded in Lecce by his sister, Mary...
, also called Pyrrhus (Pyrro or Pirro), became the Count of Lecce. However, Peter died childless in 1384 and was succeeded by Mary and her husband Raimondo del Balzo Orsini
Raimondo del Balzo Orsini
Raimondo Del Balzo Orsini , also known as Raimondello was a nobleman of the Kingdom of Naples. He was Count of Soleto , Duke of Benevento , Prince of Taranto , Count of Lecce , Duke of Bari, Grand Constable of the Kingdom of Naples, Gonfalonier of the Holy Roman Church Raimondo Del Balzo Orsini...
di Nola, whom she married also in 1384.
Chroniclers describe her as beautiful, intrepid and adventurous: adored by her children, loved by her first husband, besieged by King Ladislaus of Naples, and treated cruelly by the king's sister.
She stayed in her castles of Lecce and Copertino when Raimondo travelled, and gave his services to the king against the papal troops and supporters of the junior Angevin line. She was occupied by their children, Marias, Caterina, Giovanni Antonio, and Gabriele.
Raimondo was created Prince of Taranto
Principality of Taranto
The Principality of Taranto was a state in southern Italy created in 1088 for Bohemond I, eldest son of Robert Guiscard, as part of the peace between him and his younger brother Roger Borsa after a dispute over the succession to the Duchy of Apulia....
(in her hereditary rights) and died in 1405 or 1406.
Queen of Naples
After his death, she was forced to marry Ladislaus in 1406. Her second marriage was childless. Ladislaus died on 6 August 1414; his sister and successor Joan II of NaplesJoan II of Naples
Joan II was Queen of Naples from 1414 to her death, upon which the senior Angevin line of Naples became extinct. As a mere formality, she used the title of Queen of Jerusalem, Sicily, and Hungary....
, described as cruel, hated Mary and imprisoned her. Joan's husband James II, Count of La Marche
James II, Count of La Marche
James II of Bourbon-La Marche was the son of John I, Count of La Marche and Catherine of Vendôme.-Early life:...
, however, soon allowed her to go. She returned to Lecce, Joan having driven her and her children from the royal domains, back to Tarentine lands.
Children
- Maria del Balzo Orsini (died after 1410), married Antonio di Acquaviva, Duke of Atri, etc. Childless.
- Caterina del Balzo Orsini, also known as Catherine of TarantoCatherine of TarantoCaterina d'Enghien Orsini was a daughter of Mary of Enghien and Raimondo del Balzo Orsini di Nola.She was married to Tristan, Count of Copertino , a knight of the French family of de Clermont-Lodeve....
. Married with Bartholomew Tristan of Clermont, a knight of the French family of de Clermont-Lodeve. Bartolomeo Tristano di Chiaramonte or Chiaromonte. Tristan became Count of Capertino by the dowry of his wife. (That Catherine del Balzo Orsini who lived almost in the same period and married Giulio Antonio di Aragona di Acquaviva, Duke of Atri, etc, bringing him the dowry of Casamassima and Conversano, apparently was not this Catherine but a kinswoman, perhaps daughter of Giovanni Antonio or daughter of Gabriel, Duke of Venosa.) - Giovanni Antonio del Balzo OrsiniGiovanni Antonio del Balzo OrsiniGiovanni Antonio Del Balzo Orsini was Prince of Taranto, Duke of Bari, Count of Lecce, Acerra, Soleto and Conversano, as well as Count of Matera and of Ugento ....
, John, Prince of Taranto. Died childless in 1463, when his niece Isabella brought the fiefs to her husband King Ferrante. - (possibly natural son of her husband) Gabriele del Balzo Orsini (d. 1453), Count of Ugento, etc, Duke of Venosa. Married Giovanna Caracciolo del Sole dei Duchi di Melfi.
Mary lived a long life, dying at the age of 78. She witnessed the marriage of her granddaughter Isabella of Taranto
Isabella of Taranto
Isabella of Taranto , born Isabella of Clermont, was a Princess of Taranto in her own right and first Queen consort of Ferdinand I of Naples.-Family:...
, daughter of Tristan and Catherine and an heiress of remarkable feudal possessions in Southern Italy, to Ferdinand of Aragon
Ferdinand I of Naples
Ferdinand I , also called Don Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon by Giraldona Carlino.-Biography:...
in 1444. He was the bastard son of King Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, who had conquered Southern Italy in 1441.