| Rita of Armenia | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Rita of Armenia (under the name Maria Doukaina Palaiologina) | |
| Byzantine Empress consort | |
| Tenure | 16 January 1294 – 12 October 1320 |
| Born | 10/11 January 1278 |
| Died | July 1333 (aged 55) |
| Spouse | Michael IX Palaiologos |
| Issue | |
| Dynasty | Hethumid |
| Father | Leo II of Armenia |
| Mother | Keran |
Rita of Armenia (Greek: Μαρία; 10/11 January 1278 – July 1333) was anArmenian Princess. She was a Byzantine Empress consort by marriage toMichael IX Palaiologos.[1]
She was the daughter of KingLeo II of Armenia andQueen Keran. She was the wife of Byzantine co-emperorMichael IX Palaiologos, making her a junior empress-consort of theByzantine Empire. In 1317, she became the only empress upon the death of the senior empress,Irene of Montferrat. She was known as Maria inConstantinople.
A chronicle attributed toHetoum II of Armenia is included in the collection known asRecueil des Historiens des Croisades. According to a passage recording her birth, Rita was thetwin sister of Theophane.
The history ofGeorge Pachymeres records thatAndronikos II Palaiologos began negotiations with Leo while seeking a potential wife for his son and junior co-rulerMichael IX Palaiologos. Leo offered him Rita, and the marriage took place on 16 January 1294. The bride was sixteen years old and the groom seventeen.
Rita assumed the nameMaria upon her marriage.
Rita was the junior empress consort from 1294 to 1317. The senior wasIrene of Montferrat, second wife of Andronikos II and stepmother to Michael IX. Since 1303, Andronikos II and Irene held separate courts. The senior emperor resided inConstantinople and the senior empress inThessaloniki. Rita became the only empress when Irene died in 1317.
She remained so for three years. In 1320, however, the death of her second son resulted in tragedy. Prince Andronikos maintained a mistress but suspected her of infidelity. He assigned retainers of his to wait by her house and attack whoever tried to enter. The one who approached was Manuel during night time and the retainers failed to recognize him. The second prince died by order of his older brother.
The affair seriously affected the health of Michael IX who died on 12 October 1320. Both deaths strained the relationship between Andronikos II and Andronikos III. Grandfather and grandson started acivil war that would last until the victory of the younger man in 1328. Meanwhile, the widowed Rita retired to a monastery, where she assumed the name "Xene". She died there five years following the end of the war.
Rita of Armenia Born: 1278 Died: 1333 | ||
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Byzantine Empress consort 16 January 1294 – 12 October 1320 withIrene of Montferrat (1294–1317) | Succeeded by |
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