Theodora Tocco
Encyclopedia
Theodora Tocco (died November 1429) was the first wife of Constantine Palaiologos
while he was Despot of Morea
. Her husband would become the last Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
.
, Count of Cephalonia and Leukas. Carlo would serve Ruler of Epirus
from 1411 to 1429.
Leonardo seems to have died early. In 1424, Carlo I adopted
Maddalena and her brother Carlo II Tocco
.
by John VIII Palaiologos
in 1427. He had to withdraw from the parts of Elis
under his control and relinquish his hereditary claims to Corinth and Megara
. The agreement was sealed with the marriage of Maddalena to Constantine Palaiologos
, younger brother of John VIII.
The marriage occurred in July 1428. She was converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church
and took the name "Theodora". During their life together, Constantine held various territories of the Peloponnese
under his control though still subordinate to both John VIII and Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
. Maddalena was thus consort to a minor ruler.
while giving birth to a stillborn daughter. She was buried in Mystras
.
Constantine XI
Constantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus , Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty...
while he was Despot of Morea
Despotate of Morea
The Despotate of the Morea or Despotate of Mystras was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. Its territory varied in size during its 100 years of existence but eventually grew to take in almost all the southern Greek peninsula, the...
. Her husband would become the last 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...
.
Family
She was a daughter of Leonardo II Tocco, Lord of Zante. Her father was a younger brother of Carlo I ToccoCarlo I Tocco
Carlo I Tocco was the ruler of Epirus from 1411 until his death on July 4, 1429.-Life:Carlo I was the son of Count Leonardo I Tocco of Cephalonia and Leukas by Maddalena de' Buondelmonti, sister of Esau de' Buondelmonti of Epirus...
, Count of Cephalonia and Leukas. Carlo would serve Ruler of Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
from 1411 to 1429.
Leonardo seems to have died early. In 1424, Carlo I adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
Maddalena and her brother Carlo II Tocco
Carlo II Tocco
Carlo II Tocco was the ruler of Epirus from 1429 until his death.-Life:Carlo II was the son of Count Leonardo II Tocco, the younger brother and co-ruler of Carlo I Tocco, count of Cephalonia and Zante, duke of Leukas, and ruler of Epirus. In 1424 Carlo II and his sisters were adopted by their...
.
Marriage
Carlo I was defeated at the Battle of the EchinadesBattle of the Echinades (1427)
The Battle of the Echinades was fought in 1427 among the Echinades islands off western Greece between the fleets of Carlo I Tocco and the Byzantine Empire...
by John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos
John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus , was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448.-Life:John VIII Palaiologos was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš...
in 1427. He had to withdraw from the parts of Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
under his control and relinquish his hereditary claims to Corinth and Megara
Megara
Megara is an ancient city in Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. Megara was one of the four districts of Attica, embodied in the four mythic sons of King...
. The agreement was sealed with the marriage of Maddalena to Constantine Palaiologos
Constantine XI
Constantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus , Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty...
, younger brother of John VIII.
The marriage occurred in July 1428. She was converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and took the name "Theodora". During their life together, Constantine held various territories of the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
under his control though still subordinate to both John VIII and Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea
Theodore II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Despot in Morea from 1407 to 1443.-Life:...
. Maddalena was thus consort to a minor ruler.
Death
Theodora died in November, 1429 in SantomeriSantomeri
Santomeri is a Greek village located about approximately south-southeast of Kato Achaia, south of Alissos, south-southwest of Patras and northeast of Pyrgos. The GR-9 Santomeri (Greek: Σαντομέρι) is a Greek village located about approximately south-southeast of Kato Achaia, south of Alissos,...
while giving birth to a stillborn daughter. She was buried in Mystras
Mystras
Mystras is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sparti, of which it is a municipal unit. Situated on Mt...
.