Maria of Courtenay
Marie de Courtenay (c. 1204 - September, 1228) was a daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders.
Her parents were successive rulers of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. Her father was chosen as an Emperor in 1216. In 1217, while attempting to reach Constantinople by land, Peter was taken captive by Theodore Komnenos Doukas, ruler of Epirus. He spend the rest of his life in captivity. Yolanda reached Constantinople instead and took over the Empire.
Yolanda was de jure a Regent in name of her husband but ruled alone from 1217 to 1219. Among the alliances negotiated by her was one with Theodore I Lascaris of the Empire of Nicaea. The alliance was sealed with the marriage of Theodore and Marie.
Marie stayed Empress of Nicaea from 1219 to November, 1221 when Theodore died. They had no known children. Her stepdaughter Irene Lascarina was married to John III Doukas Vatatzes who took over the throne. However, Marie briefly served as a Regent in 1222.
Meanwhile her brother Robert of Courtenay had succeeded their mother in 1219. In late January, 1228, Robert himself died. Their younger brother Baldwin II of Courtenay succeeded to the throne. He was only eleven-years-old and thus underage. The barons of Constantinople elected Marie as Regent. According to "Les Capétiens" (2000) by Patrick van Kerrebrouck she styled herself Empress. Her Regency only lasted until her own death eight months later.
Sources
- Kerrebrouck, Patrick van, "Les Capétiens" (2000).