Constantia of Sicily
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Constantia or Constance (1249 - 9 April 1302) was the Queen consort of Peter III of Aragon.
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[edit] Family
She was the only daughter of Manfred of Sicily and his first wife Beatrice of Savoy.
Her paternal grandparents were Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and his mistress Bianca Lancia. Her maternal grandparents were Amadeus IV of Savoy and his first wife Anne of Burgundy.
Anne was a daughter of Eudes III, Duke of Burgundy and his second wife Alice of Vergy.
[edit] Marriage
On 13 June 1262, Constantia married Prince Peter of Aragon, eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife Violant of Hungary.
Manfred was killed in the Battle of Benevento (26 February 1266) while fighting against his rival Charles of Anjou, posthumous son of Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile. As his eldest daughter she could be considered his heiress but did not pursue her claim at this time.
James I died on 27 July 1276 and Peter succeeded to the throne. Constance became his Queen consort. With the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282 - 1302), at first Peter and then their sons claimed the throne of Sicily in her right. The War resulted in the partition of the Kingdom of Sicily to the "Kingdom of Trinacria" (the island of Sicily) under her descendants and the Kingdom of Naples under the descedants of Charles of Anjou.
Peter III died on 2 November 1285 and Constantia remained a widow. She ended her days as a nun in Barcelona.
[edit] Children
Constantia and Peter III of Aragon had six children:
- Alfonso III of Aragon (1265 - 18 June 1291).
- James II of Aragon (10 August 1267 - 2 November 1327).
- Elizabeth of Aragon (1271 - 4 July 1336). Married Denis of Portugal.
- Frederick III of Sicily (13 December 1272 - 25 June 1337).
- Yolanda of Aragon (1273 - August, 1302). Married Robert of Naples.
- Infante Pedro of Aragon (1275 - 25 August 1296). Married Guillemette of Béarn, daughter of Gaston VI of Montcada, Viscount of Béarn.
| Preceded by Violant of Hungary |
Queen consort of Aragon 1276–1285 |
Succeeded by Isabella of Castile |
| Countess consort of Barcelona 1276–1285 |
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| Queen consort of Valencia 1276–1285 |
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| Preceded by Margaret of Burgundy |
Queen consort of Sicily 1282–1285 |
Succeeded by Isabella of Castile |
