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| Mary of Enghien | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Mary of Enghien, Queen of Naples, first half of 15th century, fresco in Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria inGalatina (Lecce) | |
| Countess of Lecce | |
| Reign | 1384–1446 |
| Predecessor | Peter of Enghien |
| Successor | Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo |
| Queen consort of Naples | |
| Tenure | 1406 – 6 August 1414 |
| Born | 1367 or 1370 |
| Died | 9 May 1446 |
| Spouse | Raimondo Orsini Del Balzo Ladislaus of Naples |
| Issue More | Caterina del Balzo Orsini Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo |
| House | Enghien |
| Father | John of Enghien |
| Mother | Sancia Del Balzo |
Mary of Enghien, also known asMaria d'Enghien (1367 or 1370 – 9 May 1446), was rulingCountess of Lecce from 1384 to 1446 and Queen ofNaples and titular Queen ofSicily,Jerusalem andHungary from 1406 to 1414 by marriage toLadislaus of Naples.[1][2]
Probably born in Lecce, Mary was the daughter of John of Enghien, Count of Castro, andSancia Del Balzo.
Her paternal grandmother Isabella survived her brotherWalter VI of Brienne, titular Duke of Athens etc., who died without issue at theBattle of Poitiers in 1356. As his heir, she became Countess of Lecce and Brienne etc. and titular Duchess of Athens. As her eldest son, Walter, had died before her brother, her second son,Sohier of Enghien, became her heir. She allowed her inherited lands to be divided among her numerous children during her lifetime. Mary's father, the third (but second surviving) son, had received the County of Lecce and the Lordship of Castro.
Mary's father, John, died in 1380, leaving minor children. Mary's brotherPeter of Enghien, also known as Pyrrhus (Pyrro or Pirro), became Count of Lecce. However, Peter died childless in 1384 and was succeeded by Mary and her husband,Raimondo del Balzo Orsini di Nola, whom she married inTaranto the same year.[3]
Chroniclers describe her as beautiful, fearless and adventurous: adored by her children, loved by her first husband, besieged by KingLadislaus of Naples and treated cruelly by the king's sister.
She stayed in her castles of Lecce and Copertino when Raimondo travelled and served the king against the papal troops and the supporters of the junior Angevin line. She was occupied by her children, Marias, Caterina, Giovanni Antonio and Gabriele.
Raimondo becamePrince of Taranto (in her hereditary rights) and died in 1406.
After her husband's death, she was besieged in Taranto (1406) and resisted the troops of Ladislaus for months, until he triumphed and imprisoned her and her children, demanding she marry him.[4] Thus forced to marry Ladislaus, the wedding took place in the chapel of the Castle of Taranto.[5] Her second marriage remained childless. Ladislaus died on 6 August 1414; his sister and successor,Joanna II of Naples, described as cruel, hated Mary and imprisoned her. However, Joanna's husband,James II, Count of La Marche, soon allowed her to leave. She returned to Lecce after Joanna had expelled her and her children from the royal estates to Tarentine lands.
Mary lived a long life and died inLecce at the age of 78. In 1444 she witnessed the marriage of her granddaughterIsabella of Clermont, daughter of Tristan and Catherine and heiress to considerable feudal estates inSouthern Italy, toFerdinand of Aragon. He was the illegitimate son of KingAlfonso V of Aragon, who had conquered Southern Italy in 1441.
Mary and Raimondo had:
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| Preceded by | Queen consort of Naples 1406 – 6 August 1414 | Succeeded byasking consort |
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| Preceded by | Countess of Lecce 1384–1446 withRaimondo Orsini Del Balzo andLadislaus of Naples | Succeeded by |
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