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{{Short description|Wife of Orhan Ghazi (c. 1330 – c. 1396)}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
|name = '''Theodora Kantakouzene'''
| name = Theodora Kantakouzene
|title =
| title =
|image =
| image =
|caption =
| caption =
|spouse = [[Orhan Gazi]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Orhan Gazi]]|1346|1362|end=his death}}
|issue = [[Şehzade Halil]]
| issue = [[Halil Bey (son of Orhan)|Halil Bey]]
|full name = Theodora Kantakouzene<br />{{lang-el|Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή}}
| full name = Theodora Kantakouzene<br />{{lang-el|Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή}}
|house = [[Kantakouzenos|House of Kantakouzenos]] ''(by birth)''<br />[[House of Osman]] ''(by marriage)''
| house = [[Kantakouzenos]] ''(by birth)''<br />[[Ottoman dynasty|Ottoman]] ''(by marriage)''
|father = [[John VI Kantakouzenos]]
| father = [[John VI Kantakouzenos]]
|mother = [[Irene Asanina]]
| mother = [[Irene Asanina]]
|birth_date = {{circa}} 1332
| birth_date = {{circa|1330}}
|birth_place = [[Byzantine Empire]]
| birth_place = [[Byzantine Empire]]
|death_date = after 1381
| death_date = {{circa}} {{death date and age|1396|1330|df=yes}}
|death_place = [[Constantinople]], [[Byzantine Empire]]
| death_place = [[Constantinople]], [[Byzantine Empire]] <br> (present day [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]])
|place of burial =
| burial_plaec =
⚫
| religion = [[Greek Orthodox Christian]]<!-- Please do not change it, it is for religion, not for sects -->
|Ethnicity = [[Greek people|Greek]]
⚫
|religion = [[Greek Orthodox Christian]]<!-- Please do not change it, it is for religion, not for sects -->
}}
}}


'''Theodora Kantakouzene''' ({{lang-el|Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή}}; died after 1381) was a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] princess, the daughter of Emperor [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] and the fifth wife of the [[Ottoman Sultan]] [[Orhan Gazi]].{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}
'''Theodora Kantakouzene''' ({{lang-el|Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή}}; {{Circa|1330}} - {{Circa|1396}}, called also '''Theodora Hatun''') was a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] princess, the daughter of Emperor [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] and the second legal wife of the [[Ottoman Sultan]] [[Orhan Gazi]].{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}

After her marriage to Orhan, she became known among the Turks as ''"Maria Hatun"'' (Turkish for "Lady Maria").{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}


== Life ==
== Life ==
Theodora was one of the three daughters of Emperor [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] by his wife [[Irene Asanina]]. The historian [[Nikephoros Gregoras]] erroneously calls her "Maria" in one passage.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}} In January 1346, to cement her father's alliance with the rising [[Ottoman emirate]] and to prevent the Ottomans from giving their aid to the Empress-regent [[Anna of Savoy]] during the [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–47|ongoing civil war]], she was betrothed to the Ottoman ruler, [[Orhan Gazi]].{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=76–77}} The marriage took place in the summer of the same year. Her parents and sisters escorted her to [[Selymbria]], where Orhan's representatives, including grandees of his court and a cavalry regiment, arrived on a fleet of 30 ships. A ceremony was held at Selymbria, where Orhan's envoys received her and escorted her to the Ottoman lands in [[Bithynia]], across the [[Marmara Sea]], where the actual wedding took place.{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=77–78}}
Theodora was one of the three daughters of Emperor [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] by his wife [[Irene Asanina]]. The historian [[Nikephoros Gregoras]] erroneously calls her "Maria" in one passage.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}} In January 1346, to cement her father's alliance with the rising [[Ottoman emirate]] and to prevent the Ottomans from giving their aid to the Empress-regent [[Anna of Savoy]] during the [[Byzantine civil war of 1341–47|ongoing civil war]], she was betrothed to the Ottoman ruler, [[Orhan Gazi]].{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=76–77}}


The marriage took place in the summer of the same year and it was an unprecedented event, since it saw a legitimate Christian princess united in a regular marriage to a Muslim sovereign, however the union was not contested by any religious authority, neither Christian nor Islamic. Her parents and sisters escorted her to [[Selymbria]], where Orhan's representatives, including grandees of his court and a cavalry regiment, arrived on a fleet of 30 ships. A ceremony was held at Selymbria, where Orhan's envoys received her and escorted her to the Ottoman lands in [[Bithynia]], across the [[Marmara Sea]], where the actual wedding took place.{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=77–78}}
[[File:Orhan Gazi.jpg|thumb|222px|The husband of "Maria Hatun", [[Orhan|Orhan Gazi]].]]


Theodora remained a Christian after her marriage, and was active in supporting the Christians living under Ottoman rule.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}{{sfn|Nicol|1996|p=78}} In 1347 she gave birth to her only son, [[Şehzade Halil]], who was captured by Genoese pirates for ransom while still only a child. The Byzantine emperor [[John V Palaiologos]] was instrumental in his eventual release. Later, Halil married Irene, a daughter of John V Palaiologos and Theodora's sister, [[Helena Kantakouzene]].
Theodora remained a Christian after her marriage, and was active in supporting the Christians living under Ottoman rule, as well as working to ensure that Christian apostates who converted to Islam returned to their original religion.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}{{sfn|Nicol|1996|p=78}} In 1347, she gave birth to her only son, [[Şehzade Halil|Halil Bey]], the last Orhan's child, who was captured by Genoese pirates for ransom while still only a child. The Byzantine emperor [[John V Palaiologos]] was instrumental in his eventual release. Later, Halil married Irene, a daughter of John V Palaiologos and Theodora's sister, [[Helena Kantakouzene]].


Except for a three-day sojourn in Constantinople in February 1347, in the aftermath of her father's victory in the civil war,{{sfn|Nicol|1996|p=89}} Theodora remained at the Ottoman court until Orhan's death in 1362. After that, she apparently returned to Constantinople, where she lived with her sister, the Empress [[Helena Kantakouzene|Helena]], in the palace.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=146, 179}} She is last known to have been held imprisoned at [[Galata]] during the brief reign of [[Andronikos IV Palaiologos]] there in 1379–81.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}
Except for a three-day sojourn in Constantinople in February 1347, in the aftermath of her father's victory in the civil war,{{sfn|Nicol|1996|p=89}} Theodora remained at the Ottoman court until Orhan's death in 1362. At that point, [[Murad I]], son of Orhan and his concubine [[Nilüfer Hatun]], ascended the throne and ordered Theodora's son to be executed. After that, she apparently returned to Constantinople, where she lived with her sister, the Empress [[Helena Kantakouzene|Helena]], in the palace.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}{{sfn|Nicol|1996|pp=146, 179}} She is last known to have been held imprisoned at [[Galata]] during the brief reign of [[Andronikos IV Palaiologos]] there in 1379–81.{{sfn|PLP|loc=10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα}}

== Issue ==
By Orhan, she had a son:

* [[Halil Bey (son of Orhan)|Halil Bey]] (1347 - 1362). Orhan's last child, he married his maternal cousin, the byzantine princess Irene Palaiologina, and had two son. He was executed by his half-brother Murad I.

==Depictions in fiction==

A fictionalised form of her character is the subject of [[Bertrice Small]]'s novel ''[[Adora (novel)|Adora]]'', published in 1980.


== References ==
== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


=== Sources ===
== Sources ==
* {{cite book |title = The Reluctant Emperor: A Biography of John Cantacuzene, Byzantine Emperor and Monk, c. 1295–1383 |first = Donald MacGillivray |last = Nicol |authorlink = Donald Nicol |publisher = Cambridge University Press |year = 1996 |ISBN = 978-0-521-52201-4 |url = http://books.google.com/?id=7bXGTfK_ogAC |ref = harv}}
* {{cite book |title = The Reluctant Emperor: A Biography of John Cantacuzene, Byzantine Emperor and Monk, c. 1295–1383 |first = Donald MacGillivray |last = Nicol |author-link = Donald Nicol |publisher = Cambridge University Press |year = 1996 |isbn = 978-0-521-52201-4 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7bXGTfK_ogAC }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |author = Trapp, Erich |author2 = Walther, Rainer |author3 = Beyer, Hans-Veit |author4 = Sturm-Schnabl, Katja |encyclopedia = [[Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit]] |volume = 5 |pages = |publisher = Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften |location=Vienna |year = 1981 |language = German |ref = {{harvid|PLP}}}}
* {{Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit |volume = 5 |ref = {{harvid|PLP}}}}


{{Persondata
|NAME = Theodora Kantakouzene
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Wife of Ottoman Sultan
|DATE OF BIRTH = circa 1332
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Byzantine Empire]]
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH = [[Bursa]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kantakouzene, Theodora}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kantakouzene, Theodora}}
[[Category:1332 births]]
[[Category:1332 births]]
[[Category:14th-century Byzantine people]]
[[Category:14th-century Byzantine women]]
[[Category:14th-century Ottoman people]]
[[Category:14th-century consorts of Ottoman sultans]]
[[Category:Kantakouzenos family|Theodora]]
[[Category:Kantakouzenos family|Theodora]]
[[Category:Wives of Ottoman Sultans]]
[[Category:Daughters of Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:Daughters of Byzantine emperors]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Byzantine Empire–Ottoman Empire relations]]

Latest revision as of 15:57, 5 August 2024

Theodora Kantakouzene
Bornc. 1330
Byzantine Empire
Diedc. 1396(1396-00-00) (aged 65–66)
Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
(present day Istanbul, Turkey)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1346; died 1362)​
IssueHalil Bey
Names
Theodora Kantakouzene
Greek: Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή
HouseKantakouzenos (by birth)
Ottoman (by marriage)
FatherJohn VI Kantakouzenos
MotherIrene Asanina
ReligionGreek Orthodox Christian

Theodora Kantakouzene (Greek: Θεοδώρα Καντακουζηνή; c. 1330 - c. 1396, called also Theodora Hatun) was a Byzantine princess, the daughter of Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos and the second legal wife of the Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi.[1]

Life

[edit]

Theodora was one of the three daughters of Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos by his wife Irene Asanina. The historian Nikephoros Gregoras erroneously calls her "Maria" in one passage.[1] In January 1346, to cement her father's alliance with the rising Ottoman emirate and to prevent the Ottomans from giving their aid to the Empress-regent Anna of Savoy during the ongoing civil war, she was betrothed to the Ottoman ruler, Orhan Gazi.[2]

The marriage took place in the summer of the same year and it was an unprecedented event, since it saw a legitimate Christian princess united in a regular marriage to a Muslim sovereign, however the union was not contested by any religious authority, neither Christian nor Islamic. Her parents and sisters escorted her to Selymbria, where Orhan's representatives, including grandees of his court and a cavalry regiment, arrived on a fleet of 30 ships. A ceremony was held at Selymbria, where Orhan's envoys received her and escorted her to the Ottoman lands in Bithynia, across the Marmara Sea, where the actual wedding took place.[3]

Theodora remained a Christian after her marriage, and was active in supporting the Christians living under Ottoman rule, as well as working to ensure that Christian apostates who converted to Islam returned to their original religion.[1][4] In 1347, she gave birth to her only son, Halil Bey, the last Orhan's child, who was captured by Genoese pirates for ransom while still only a child. The Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos was instrumental in his eventual release. Later, Halil married Irene, a daughter of John V Palaiologos and Theodora's sister, Helena Kantakouzene.

Except for a three-day sojourn in Constantinople in February 1347, in the aftermath of her father's victory in the civil war,[5] Theodora remained at the Ottoman court until Orhan's death in 1362. At that point, Murad I, son of Orhan and his concubine Nilüfer Hatun, ascended the throne and ordered Theodora's son to be executed. After that, she apparently returned to Constantinople, where she lived with her sister, the Empress Helena, in the palace.[1][6] She is last known to have been held imprisoned at Galata during the brief reign of Andronikos IV Palaiologos there in 1379–81.[1]

Issue

[edit]

By Orhan, she had a son:

  • Halil Bey (1347 - 1362). Orhan's last child, he married his maternal cousin, the byzantine princess Irene Palaiologina, and had two son. He was executed by his half-brother Murad I.

Depictions in fiction

[edit]

A fictionalised form of her character is the subject of Bertrice Small's novel Adora, published in 1980.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e PLP, 10940. <Καντακουζηνὴ> Θεοδώρα.
  2. ^ Nicol 1996, pp. 76–77.
  3. ^ Nicol 1996, pp. 77–78.
  4. ^ Nicol 1996, p. 78.
  5. ^ Nicol 1996, p. 89.
  6. ^ Nicol 1996, pp. 146, 179.

Sources

[edit]
  • Nicol, Donald MacGillivray (1996). The Reluctant Emperor: A Biography of John Cantacuzene, Byzantine Emperor and Monk, c. 1295–1383. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52201-4.
  • Trapp, Erich; Walther, Rainer; Beyer, Hans-Veit; Sturm-Schnabl, Katja (1981). Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit (in German). Vol. 5. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 3-7001-3003-1.
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