Keratsa of Bulgaria
| Keratsa-Maria | |
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| Byzantine Empress consort | |
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| Manuscript miniature of Keratsa (Tetraevangelia of Ivan Alexander). | |
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| Tenure | 12 August 1376 – 1 July 1379 |
| Predecessor | Helena Kantakouzene |
| Successor | Helena Kantakouzene |
| Spouse | Andronikos IV Palaiologos |
| Issue | |
| John VII Palaiologos | |
| House | House of Shishman House of Palaiologus |
| Father | Ivan Alexander |
| Mother | Sarah-Theodora |
| Born | 1348 Bulgaria |
| Died | 1390 Byzantine Empire |
Keratsa-Maria of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Кераца-Мария) (1348–1390) was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and his second wife, a converted Jewess, Theodora.
Marriage [edit]
On 17 August 1355 Keratsa was betrothed to the future Emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos. 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)".
In 1373, while still co-emperor with his father, her husband led a failed rebellion against the Ottoman Sultan, Murad I. As a result, Keratsa (along with her husband and son) were imprisoned for three years, until they were liberated by the Genoese. 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.
Children [edit]
Keratsa and Andronikos IV Palaiologos had three children, a son and two daughters. Their son became Emperor John VII Palaiologos, reigning for five months in 1390.
External links [edit]
- 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."
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Keratsa of Bulgaria
Born: 1348 Died: 1390 |
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| Royal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Helena Kantakouzene |
Byzantine Empress consort 1376–1379 |
Succeeded by Helena Kantakouzene |
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