Margaret of Hungary
Encyclopedia
Margaret of Hungary (born 1175, living 1223) was the Empress consort of Isaac II Angelos
, Byzantine Emperor.
and his first wife Agnes of Antioch
. She was a younger sister of Emeric, King of Hungary. Her younger siblings were Andrew II of Hungary
and Constance of Hungary
. Two other siblings, Solomon and Stephen, are mentioned in the "Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten" (1878) by Detlev Schwennicke. They reportedly died young.
Her paternal grandparents were Géza II of Hungary
and Euphrosyne of Kiev
. Her maternal grandparents were Raynald of Châtillon
and Constance of Antioch
(joint princes of Antioch
).
, who wanted a politically strategic alliance with Hungary in order to strengthen his claim to the throne. Upon this marriage, Margaret took the baptismal name "Maria".
With Isaac, she had two sons:
Isaac had been deposed and blinded in 1195 by his brother Alexios III Angelos
who then assumed the throne. Isaac was imprisoned, but it's not yet clear if Margaret was also. Her step-son Alexios IV Angelos
had escaped and went to join the military discussions which were shortly to launch the Fourth Crusade
. There, he and others convinced the Crusaders to attack Constantinople
in order to depose this false uncle and restore his imprisoned father and himself to the throne. This was done, but this restored reign was short-lived.
, commander of the land forces at the taken of Constantinople, took the palace Vukoleon, it was found that Margaret had taken refuge there. Boniface was one of only two contenders put forth to be elected the next Emperor, but he lost to Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders
. As compensation, he was granted "all the territories on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus as well as the Ille de Griesse [the Peloponnese]." The coronation of the new Emperor took place in the church of St Sophia on 16 May 1204. Later that year, in Constantinople the widowed Margaret, dowager Empress, married Boniface of Montferrat, and returned to the rites of the Latin church.
Boniface had just conquered that city in the Fourth Crusade, and was soon to become king of Thessalonica
. Evidently in this same year of 1204, but after his new marriage, Boniface requested that he be allowed to exchange his lands in Asia for the Kingdom of Thessalonica which he considered to be better suited for a political alignment with his new brother-in-law Andrew, then Regent of Hungary
who would then be his neighbor, and the new Emperor agreed to this exchange. Boniface however did not enjoy his domains in peace, being engaged in almost constant warfare until his death. Margaret's step-daughter Agnes of Montferrat
was married to the new Emperor Henry of Flanders
in Feb 1207. That same year, Boniface was returning to Thessalonica when attacked by a Bulgarian ambush. He was taken alive and decapitated, his head being sent to Kaloyan of Bulgaria
.
With Boniface, Margaret had a son:
Boniface left a will in which, he had designated Demetrius as his successor in Thessalonica, under the regency of his mother. His son William, by an earlier marriage, succeeded to the Marquisate of Montferrat. The barons however, knowing that a strong government was necessary, constituted themselves a council of regency for the infant.
Biandrate fled, but conspiring at a distance, returned once more in 1216 to claim the Regency. "In response to Queen Margaret's appeal the Emperor hurried to her assistance, but arrived on the scene only to die with mysterious suddenness in the flower of his age." About 1216 Margaret fled to Hungary apparently leaving her son Demetrius in Thessalonica. She married thirdly Nicholas de St Omer, who had accompanied his uncle on the Crusade and was granted a fief in Doris. He is also called "Lord of Boetia". The Santameri hills in this area owe their name to a corruption of "St Omer".
With Nicholas, Margaret is apparently the mother of his two known sons:
Margaret was still living in 1223. Her exact death date and place, and burial location are apparently unknown.
Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
, Byzantine Emperor.
Family
Margaret was the eldest daughter of Béla III of HungaryBéla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
and his first wife Agnes of Antioch
Agnes of Antioch
Agnes of Antioch, , Queen Consort of Hungary.Agnes was the daughter of Raynald of Châtillon, Prince of Antioch by right of his wife, and his first wife, Constance of Antioch...
. She was a younger sister of Emeric, King of Hungary. Her younger siblings were Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...
and Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary was the second Queen consort of Ottokar I of Bohemia.-Family:Constance was a daughter of Béla III of Hungary and his first wife Agnes of Antioch. Her older siblings included Emeric, King of Hungary, Margaret of Hungary and Andrew II of Hungary...
. Two other siblings, Solomon and Stephen, are mentioned in the "Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten" (1878) by Detlev Schwennicke. They reportedly died young.
Her paternal grandparents were Géza II of Hungary
Géza II of Hungary
Géza II , , King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Dalmatia and Rama . He ascended the throne as a child and during his minority the kingdom was governed by his mother and uncle...
and Euphrosyne of Kiev
Euphrosyne of Kiev
Euphrosyne of Kiev was Queen consort of Hungary.Euphrosyne was the first daughter of Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev and his second wife, Liubava Dmitrievna...
. Her maternal grandparents were Raynald of Châtillon
Raynald of Chatillon
Raynald of Châtillon was a knight who served in the Second Crusade and remained in the Holy Land after its defeat...
and Constance of Antioch
Constance of Antioch
Constance of Antioch was the only daughter of Bohemund II of Antioch by his wife Alice, princess of Jerusalem. She was also Princess regnant of the Principality of Antioch from 1130 to her death.-Early life:...
(joint princes of Antioch
Principality of Antioch
The Principality of Antioch, including parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria, was one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade.-Foundation:...
).
First Marriage
In Jan 1185, Margaret married the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II AngelosIsaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
, who wanted a politically strategic alliance with Hungary in order to strengthen his claim to the throne. Upon this marriage, Margaret took the baptismal name "Maria".
With Isaac, she had two sons:
- Manuel Angelos ( – d. 1212), he was evidently the elder son, being contemplated in 1205 to ascend the Byzantine throne
- John Angelos (b. ca. 1193 – d. 1259). He migrated to Hungary and ruled over Syrmia and Bacs (1227–42) as a vassal of king Béla IV of Hungary.
Isaac had been deposed and blinded in 1195 by his brother Alexios III Angelos
Alexios III Angelos
Alexios III Angelos was Byzantine Emperor from 1195 to 1203.- Early life:Alexios III Angelos was the second son of Andronikos Angelos and Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa. Andronicus was himself a son of Theodora Komnene, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. Thus...
who then assumed the throne. Isaac was imprisoned, but it's not yet clear if Margaret was also. Her step-son Alexios IV Angelos
Alexios IV Angelos
Alexios IV Angelos was Byzantine Emperor from August 1203 to January 1204. He was the son of emperor Isaac II Angelus and his first wife Irene. His paternal uncle was Emperor Alexius III Angelus....
had escaped and went to join the military discussions which were shortly to launch the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
. There, he and others convinced the Crusaders to attack Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in order to depose this false uncle and restore his imprisoned father and himself to the throne. This was done, but this restored reign was short-lived.
Second Marriage
Margaret's husband died in February, 1204, "whose end was accelerated by the fate of his son" "strangled in his dungeon after poison had failed to do its work". When Boniface of MontferratBoniface of Montferrat
Boniface of Montferrat was Marquess of Montferrat and the leader of the Fourth Crusade. He was the third son of William V of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg, born after his father's return from the Second Crusade...
, commander of the land forces at the taken of Constantinople, took the palace Vukoleon, it was found that Margaret had taken refuge there. Boniface was one of only two contenders put forth to be elected the next Emperor, but he lost to Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders
Baldwin I of Constantinople
Baldwin I , the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, as Baldwin IX Count of Flanders and as Baldwin VI Count of Hainaut, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the capture of Constantinople, the conquest of the greater part of the Byzantine...
. As compensation, he was granted "all the territories on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus as well as the Ille de Griesse [the Peloponnese]." The coronation of the new Emperor took place in the church of St Sophia on 16 May 1204. Later that year, in Constantinople the widowed Margaret, dowager Empress, married Boniface of Montferrat, and returned to the rites of the Latin church.
Boniface had just conquered that city in the Fourth Crusade, and was soon to become king of Thessalonica
Kingdom of Thessalonica
The Kingdom of Thessalonica was a short-lived Crusader State founded after the Fourth Crusade over the conquered Byzantine lands.- Background :...
. Evidently in this same year of 1204, but after his new marriage, Boniface requested that he be allowed to exchange his lands in Asia for the Kingdom of Thessalonica which he considered to be better suited for a political alignment with his new brother-in-law Andrew, then Regent of Hungary
Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...
who would then be his neighbor, and the new Emperor agreed to this exchange. Boniface however did not enjoy his domains in peace, being engaged in almost constant warfare until his death. Margaret's step-daughter Agnes of Montferrat
Agnes of Montferrat
Agnes of Montferrat was the first Empress consort of Henry of Flanders, Latin Emperor of Constantinople.- Family :She was a daughter of Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat, founder of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, and his first wife Helena del Bosco...
was married to the new Emperor Henry of Flanders
Henry of Flanders
Henry was the second emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. He was a younger son of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut , and Margaret I of Flanders, sister of Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders....
in Feb 1207. That same year, Boniface was returning to Thessalonica when attacked by a Bulgarian ambush. He was taken alive and decapitated, his head being sent to Kaloyan of Bulgaria
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
Kaloyan the Romanslayer , Ivan II , ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1197-1207. He is the third and youngest brother of Peter IV and Ivan Asen I who managed to restore the Bulgarian Empire...
.
With Boniface, Margaret had a son:
- Demetrius of MontferratDemetrius of MontferratDemetrius or Demetrios of Montferrat , , king of Thessalonica from 1207 to 1224.Demetrius was the son of Marquis Boniface of Montferrat by Margaret of Hungary, the widow of Emperor Isaac II Angelos. In the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade Boniface had secured for himself the kingdom of Thessalonica...
in 1207, he wed a sister of the Lord of Athens but they had no children
Boniface left a will in which, he had designated Demetrius as his successor in Thessalonica, under the regency of his mother. His son William, by an earlier marriage, succeeded to the Marquisate of Montferrat. The barons however, knowing that a strong government was necessary, constituted themselves a council of regency for the infant.
Third marriage
In 1207, on his father's death, Demetrius became king of Thessalonica, at least in title. The Emperor visited Thessalonica to receive the homage, in the infant's name but was barred from the city by the bailiff Biandrate until he would agree to outrageous demands. Margaret, now in the Emperor's presence, put herself in his hands and revealed the plot against the infant. At this time the Emperor crowned the new infant King of Thessalonica.Biandrate fled, but conspiring at a distance, returned once more in 1216 to claim the Regency. "In response to Queen Margaret's appeal the Emperor hurried to her assistance, but arrived on the scene only to die with mysterious suddenness in the flower of his age." About 1216 Margaret fled to Hungary apparently leaving her son Demetrius in Thessalonica. She married thirdly Nicholas de St Omer, who had accompanied his uncle on the Crusade and was granted a fief in Doris. He is also called "Lord of Boetia". The Santameri hills in this area owe their name to a corruption of "St Omer".
With Nicholas, Margaret is apparently the mother of his two known sons:
- Bela de St Omer
- Guillaume de St Omer, who married but died childless.
Margaret was still living in 1223. Her exact death date and place, and burial location are apparently unknown.