Simonida

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Queen Simonida of Serbia, wife of King Milutin, a fresco from Gračanica monastery
Queen Simonida of Serbia, wife of King Milutin, a fresco from Gračanica monastery

Simonida Nemanjić (Serbian Cyrillic: Симонида Немањић, born Simonis Palaiologina) (1294 - 1340) was a Queen consort of Serbian king Milutin as his fourth wife. She was a daughter of Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos and Eirene of Montferrat.

After signing peace with Serbian king Milutin in 1299, Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II gave him his daughter Simonida. She was to be a guarantee of eternal peace and friendship between two countries. Her beauty was well known, and a fresco of her in Gračanica monastery is one of the most valuable frescos in Serbian art. Unfortunately, the fresco is partly ruined, so that Simonida had no eyes. Simonida died in 1340 as a nun. In Serbian traditions, she was known as figure of purity, and beauty.

Milan Rakić wrote a lyric poem about her named Simonida, and Milutin Bojić wrote a psychological drama called Kraljeva Jesen (Eng. King's autumn) about her. Asteroid 1675 Simonida discovered by Serbian astronomer Milorad B. Protić was named after her.

[edit] See also

v • d • e
The House of Nemanjić
Main ruling members
Other ruling members
Other members
Jelena Šubić • Anna Neda Shishman • Milica Nemanjić • Saint Anastasija • Hélène d'Anjou • Saint Jelena of Dečani • Saint Sava • Saint Sava II • Simonida