Birth of Maria, Queen of Sicily, Duchess of Athens & Neopatria

 

 On this day ~ 2nd July 1363 
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 Birth of Maria, Queen of Sicily, Duchess of Athens & Neopatria 

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 Maria of Sicily was born on 2nd July 1363.
She was the daughter of Frederick the Simple and Constance of Aragon.
Maria's mother died shortly after her birth.

When Maria was nine, her father remarried to Antonia of Baux, but that marriage remained childless, and Antonia died the following year.
A third marriage never materialised, and Maria remained his only child and heiress.

 Maria's father died shortly after her 14th birthday.
After her father's death, Maria ascended the Sicilian throne.
Besides the Kingdom of Sicily, Maria also inherited the duchies of Athens and Neopatria.

Maria ruled with a regency assumed by a group of four barons known as the “vicars”, who effectively took over Maria's rule.

 In 1379 Maria was kidnapped by Raymond of Montcada, a Sicilian nobleman.
She was imprisoned for two years at Licata.

Maria was eventually rescued by the Aragonese, and taken to Aragon.

 In 1384, Maria married Martin the Younger, the son of King Martin of Aragon and Maria de Luna.
Maria gave birth to a son in 1394, who was named Peter, sadly he died at 6 years old.
Maria and Martin never had another child.

 In 1392, Maria returned to Sicily with an army, and successfully defeated the opposing barons.
Maria and Martin ruled Sicily jointly, until Maria’s death on 25th May 1401, aged 37.
Maria is buried in Catania Cathedral, where her sarcophagus can still be seen.

The Tudor Intruders (and more)

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 Source - historyofroyalwomen/maria-of-sicily/MoniekBloks.
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 Maria I, Queen of Sicily.
Di Benedetto.
Storia della Sicilia.