page_title: Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus
section_title: Family and childhood
hierarchical_section_title: Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus / Family and childhood
caption_attribution_description: English: Helena Palaiologina of Morea, Queen of Cyprus and her daughters Charlotte and Cleopha
context_page_description: Charlotte was Queen of Cyprus, as well as titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia and titular Princess of Antioch.
  She was the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus and Helena Palaiologina. At the age of 14, she succeeded to the Cypriot throne upon the death of her father in 1458. Her illegitimate half-brother, James, challenged her right to the crown. With the support of the Egyptians, he forced her to flee the island in 1463, and he was later crowned king. She made a military attempt to regain her throne, but was unsuccessful, and died childless in Rome.
context_section_description: Charlotte was born in Nicosia on 28 June 1444, the eldest and only surviving daughter of King John II of Cyprus and Helena Palaiologina. Her younger sister Cleopha died in June 1448, shortly before Charlotte's fourth birthday, leaving her the sole legitimate heir to the Cypriot throne and her father's titles. She had an illegitimate half-brother, James, born to her father's Greek mistress Marietta de Patras.
  She was raised in the Byzantine tradition and spoke fluent Greek, which she learned from her mother. She could write French, Italian, and possibly Latin, but throughout her life spoke mainly Greek. Due to her outspoken manner, Pope Pius II called her the "Greek torrent".
caption: family of Vasilios Hamados, detail from Arhangelos Michael church at Pedoulas
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