Maria of Enghien, also known as Marie of Enghien or d'Enghien (after 1363–1392/1393), was the Lady of Argos and Nauplia in

Frankish Greece The ''Frankokratia'' ( el, Φραγκοκρατία, la, Francocratia, sometimes anglicized as Francocracy, "rule of the Franks"), also known as ''Latinokratia'' ( el, Λατινοκρατία, la, Latinocratia, "rule of the Latins") and ...

from 1376 or 1377 to 1388. Because she was a minor when she inherited the lordship from her father,

Guy of Enghien Guy of Enghien ( French: ''Guy de Enghien''; died 1376) was the lord of Argos and Nauplia from 1356 to 1377 as vassal of the Principality of Achaea and titular duke of Athens as Guy III. He was son of Walter III of Enghien and Isabella of Brienne. ...

, his brother,

Louis of Enghien Louis of Enghien (died March 17, 1394) titular Duke of Athens, Count of Brienne and Lord of Enghien in 1381–1394, Count of Conversano in 1356–1394. His coat-of-arms was "Enghien (gyronny of eight argent and sable crusilly or), a label gules bez ...

, was appointed to be her guardian. Louis gave Maria in marriage to a Venetian patrician,

Pietro Cornaro Pietro Cornaro, also known as Peter Cornaro or Corner (died in 1387 or 1388), was Lord of Argos and Nauplia in Frankish Greece from 1377. Early life Pietro was the son of Federico Cornaro of the Santa Lucia branch. He was born before 1363. Being ...

, in 1377. Maria moved to Venice, but she was involved in the administration of her lordship. After her husband died, she sold the lordship to the Republic of Venice for a regular income in 1388.

Early life

Maria was born after 1363 to Guy of Enghien, Lord of Argos and Nauplia, and Bonne de Foucherolles. Being her parents' only child, she was the heiress apparent to her father's lordship when she was engaged to

Joan de Lluria Joan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters *:Joan of Arc, a French military heroine * Joan (surname) Weather events *Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multip ...

, the Catalan lord of

Stiris Stiris ( gr, Στῖρις) or Steiris (Στείρις) was a town of ancient Phocis situated 120 '' stadia'' from Chaeroneia, the road between the two places running across the mountains. The inhabitants of Stiris claimed descent from an Atheni ...

in the

Duchy of Athens The Duchy of Athens (Greek: Δουκᾶτον Ἀθηνῶν, ''Doukaton Athinon''; Catalan: ''Ducat d'Atenes'') was one of the Crusader states set up in Greece after the conquest of the Byzantine Empire during the Fourth Crusade as part of the ...

in 1371. Although the marriage project was confirmed in the last months of the year, it was never concluded.

Lady of Argos and Nauplia

Maria inherited Argos and Nauplia when her father died shortly after October 1376. She was still a minor and her uncle,

Count of Conversano Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

, administered her lordship as her guardian. He married off Maria to Pietro Cornaro, the son of a wealthy Venetian patrician, Federigo Cornaro. The treaty about the marriage was signed in Venice on 17 May 1377. About two months later, the

Senate of Venice The Senate ( vec, Senato), formally the ''Consiglio dei Pregadi'' or ''Rogati'' (, la, Consilium Rogatorum), was the main deliberative and legislative body of the Republic of Venice. Establishment The Venetian Senate was founded in 1229, or le ...

authorized Federigo Cornaro to bring Maria to Venice. Thereafter, Federigo Cornaro looked after the defence of Argos and Nauplia against the Turks and other pirates. Maria and her husband administered the lordship together. For instance, they jointly confirmed Louis of Enghien's previous land grant to a local nobleman. Pietro died before 1388 and Marie started negotiations about the sale of her lordship to Venice, because she could not defend it. Both Argos and Nauplia were located at strategically important places and the Senate accepted the offer. On 12 December 1388, Maria sold her lordship in return for an annual income payable to her and her descendants as long as Venice held Argos and Nauplia.

Later life

Maria married Pascale Zane in 1388, but she died in Venice in or before 1393, leaving no children from either marriage. Her uncle Engelbert of Enghien approached the Venetian senate, demanding the lordship of Argos and Nauplia, but he was soon informed about the sale of the lordship.

References

Sources

* * * * {{s-end 14th-century women rulers 1390s deaths Lords of Argos and Nauplia House of Cornaro