Elisenda of Montcada

Elisenda of Montcada
Queen consort of Aragon
Tenure 1322–1327
Spouse James II of Aragon
House House of Montcada
Father Pedro I of Montcada, Lord of Aitona and Soses
Mother Elisenda de Pinos
Born 1272
Died 19 June 1364
Clarisas de Pedralbes
Religion Roman Catholicism

Elisenda de Montcada (c. 1272 – 19 June 1364) was a daughter of Pere de Montcada and his wife Elisenda de Pinos.[1] She was Queen consort of Aragon by her marriage.

Elisenda's great-grandmother was Constance, Lady of Aitona, an illegitimate daughter of Peter II of Aragon, making her and her husband second cousins once removed.

In 1322 Elisenda became the fourth and last wife of James II of Aragon, thirty years her senior. Elisenda became stepmother to James' ten children by his second marriage to Blanche of Naples. The marriage lasted for only five years before James died in November 1327, they had no children.

In 1326, James and Elisenda had founded the Monastery of Pedralbes. A year after she was widowed, she retired to the monastery of Pedralbes palace immediately. Although she was never a nun, she was endowed with wide powers over the internal workings of the monastery. Elisenda remained there for the rest of her life.

Elisenda died in 1364. Her tomb is a magnificent work of Catalan Gothic, showing the side of the church and Queen Elisenda dressed along the cloister as a penitent.

References

Elisenda of Montcada
House of Montcada
Born: circa 1272 Died: 19 June 1364
Royal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Marie of Lusignan
Queen consort of Aragon
1322–1327
Succeeded by
Teresa d'Entença
Countess consort of Barcelona, Girona, Osona and Besalú
1322–1327
Queen consort of Valencia
1322–1327
Queen consort of Sardinia and Corsica
1322–1327