- Constance of Antioch
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Constance of Antioch Princess of Antioch Tenure 1131–1160 Spouse Raymond of Poitiers
Raynald of ChâtillonIssue Bohemund III of Antioch
Maria, Byzantine Empress
Philippa of Antioch
Agnes, Queen of Hungary
Jeanne?House House of Hauteville Father Bohemund II of Antioch Mother Alice of Antioch Born 1127 Died 1163 (aged 35–36) Constance of Antioch (1127–1163) was the only daughter of Bohemund II of Antioch by his wife Alice, princess of Jerusalem.[1] She was also Princess regnant of the Principality of Antioch (a crusader state) from 1130 to her death.
Contents
Life
Early life
She became princess of Antioch when she was only four-years-old, under the regency of Baldwin II of Jerusalem (1130–1131) and Fulk of Jerusalem (1131–1136).
Her mother Alice did not want the principality to pass to Constance, preferring to rule in her own name. Alice attempted to ally with the Muslim atabeg of Mosul, Zengi, offering to marry Constance to a Muslim prince, but the plan was foiled by Alice's father Baldwin, who exiled her from Antioch. In 1135 Alice attempted once again to take control of the principality, and sought a husband for Constance in Manuel Comnenus, at that time the heir to the Byzantine throne. Fulk exiled her again and re-established the regency for Constance.
First Marriage
In 1135 Alice offered Emperor Manuel the hand of her seven-year daughter Constance, which was a concern for the French barons. Fulk of Jerusalem then chose Raymond of Poitiers, a younger son of William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, as future husband for Constance, Alice nor Roger II of Sicily were to learn of this. To get to Antioch, Raymond had to dress up as pilgrims and servants, dodging the Scouts of the Normans to prevent them from learning of the agreement with Fulk. In 1136 Raymond arrived in Antioch. Alice was tricked into believing Raymond was going to marry her. With the help of Patriarch Radulph, the rumor was spread, Raymond wanted not to marry Alice but kidnap Constance. While Alice was waiting in the Palace to the applicant, Constance and Raymond were married hastily. Alice retreated back to Latakia, humiliated.
In 1149 Raymond was killed in the Battle of Inab during an expedition against Nur ad-Din Zangi. He was beheaded by Shirkuh, the uncle of Saladin, and his head was placed in a silver box and sent to the Caliph of Baghdad as a gift. Raymond left Constance a 22-year-old widow.
Constance and Raymond had four children (three surviving). Her son Bohemund was just five years old when his father died. Therefore, the Patriarch Aimery took over power in Antioch. Baldwin III of Jerusalem was appointed Regent and proposed Constance marry an ally but with no success. Ives Nesle, Count of Soissons (House of Nesle), Walter of Falkenberg (Saint-Omer) and Ralph Merle, Baron from Tripoli were proposed as candidates however, no decision was made, so they asked emperor Manuel I to determine her a spouse. Probably, to counterbalance the power of Jerusalem should be formed which could guarantee the more independence of Antioch. Manuel sent John Roger, who had been married with his late sister Maria. Constance refused him and he had to return to Constantinople. In 1152 Baldwin and Constance ordered to Tripoli with help from Baldwin's mother, Melisende of Jerusalem to encourage a new marriage. But again the success remained.
Raymond and Constance had three surviving children:
- Bohemund III of Antioch, who succeeded her in 1163
- Maria of Antioch (1145–1182), married (rechristened as "Xena") to Manuel I Comnenus
- Philippa of Antioch, mistress to Andronicus I Comnenus
Second Marriage
In 1149, Raymond died in the Battle of Inab and Constance remarried in 1153 to Raynald of Châtillon, who also became co-ruler of Antioch. Raynald had been in the service of Baldwin III of Jerusalem. The marriage was however unpopular because Raynald was considered upstart.
Raynald was captured on a rampage in the anti Taurus by Madsch-ed-Din, the Governor of Aleppo, in 1160. Constance then claimed her independent rule over Antioch. The popular party supported her son from her first marriage, the 15-year-old Bohemond however, Constance did not wish to hand over the Principality to her son, who was now legally old enough to rule. King Baldwin stepped in and had Bohemond made Prince and appointed an old opponent of Raynald's rich and wordly Patriarch Aimery of Limoges as regent. Constance protested against this decision to the Court of Constantinople.
In 1159 Bertha of Sulzbach, wife of Manuel I died, the Emperor married the following year in 1160 to Maria, the daughter of Constance and Raymond. The marriage strengthened the position of Constance, who now held the Regency of Antioch. Raynald was released only 1176.
In 1163 Constance asked the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia for aid in order to maintain her rule; the citizens of Antioch then rioted and exiled her. She died later that year, allowing Bohemond to take full control.
Constance had one daughter from Raynald:
- Agnes of Antioch (1154–1184), married king Bela III of Hungary
Some sources [2] believe that Constance and Raynald had another daughter, Joan, possibly the second wife of Boniface I of Montferrat.
Ancestors
Ancestors of Constance of AntiochSources
- Runciman, Steven: Geschichte der Kreuzzüge. dtv, August 2003, ISBN 3-423-30175-9
- This article incorporates information from the revision as of 30 October 2010 of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.
References
Preceded by
Bohemund IIPrincess of Antioch
1131–1160
(with Raymond and Raynald)Succeeded by
Bohemund IIIPrinces of the Principality of Antioch Reigning Princes
(1098–1268)Bohemond I · Tancred (regent) · Bohemond II · Roger (regent) · Baldwin (regent) · Constance · Fulk (regent) · Raymond I (by marriage) · Raynald (by marriage) · Bohemond III · Raymond II (regent) · Bohemond IV · Raymond-Roupen · Bohemond IV (restored) · Bohemond V · Bohemond VI
Titular Princes
(1268–1457)Categories:- 1127 births
- 1163 deaths
- Female regents
- Princes of Antioch
- 12th-century female rulers
- Women of the Crusader states
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