Constance IV of Genovia

Constance IV of Genovia, Alissa Engletine the Elder based off a 1468 original c. 1492

## Queen of Genovia

### Successor

Richard V of Genovia & Charlotte I of Sicily

## Information

### Spouse

John, Prince of Portugal(m. 1468; died 1480)

### Issue

Mary Elisabeth, Queen of France;
Constance, Holy Roman Empress;
Joanna Catherine, Duchess of Estherian Veneria;
Richard V of Genovia;
Isabella Anna, Queen of Genovia and Duchess of Burgundy

### Mother

Cordelia of Aragon

**Constance IV** (Genovianese: *Constalisse;* 25 May 1450 - 10 July 1490) was **Queen of Genovia** from 1451 to her death and as the wife of John of Portugal, she was also **Princess of Portugal** from 1468 to John's death in 1480. She was also the mistress of Louis XI of France between 1472 and 1475.

## Early Life

Constance was the third, but first surviving daughter of Edward IX of Genovia, the King of Genovia, and his wife Cordelia of Aragon, an Aragonese Infanta and the daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Patronella of Genovia. Her other surviving sister was Catherine of Genovia. She was born in Relante in 1450. She remained in the custody of her mother whilst her father was away at the French Court.

## Accession

Constance was only an infant when Edward contracted a fever and died. Cordelia was quick to step in as Constance's regent, and Constance herself was proclaimed Constance IV of Genovia an hour later. She was crowned on 24 January 1452, when she was only one years old. Genovia would be run by Cordelia until 1465 when Constance assumed the government and started ruling alone. Constance's mother proved to be a popular regent, however in her later years Constance would prefer her younger sister Catherine, Duchess of Lorraine, as regent.

Since Cordelia of Aragon was regent for the young queen, she had her daughter educated at the *Royal Relante Cathedral School* on the grounds of the palace. Constance was placed in Lilia House and graduated in 1464 with Top and Royal Honours.

## Marriage

Constance married John of Portugal in 1468 to help foreign relations between Genovia and Portugal. The marriage proved to be a happy one and Constance and John had 3 children together:

* Mary (1464 - 1504), married firstly George, Duke of Clarence and secondly Louis XII of France. Was the mother of Claude of France, Queen of France
* Constance (1473 - 1493), married in 1485 the widowed Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor but had no issue.
* Richard (1475 - 1530), succeeded Constance as King of Genovia and married Charlotte I of Sicily and had issue.
* Isabella (1478 - 1496), married Philip IV of Burgundy (Philip I of Castile) in 1491 and succeeded her brother Richard as Queen of Genovia in 1493. She died of tuberculosis in 1496, to which Genovia was given back to Richard.

## Foreign Relations

Constance tried to uphold the same foreign relations as her father. Genovia's alliance with England was deteriorating rapidly, and Constance had to do something about it. She travelled to England in 1470, but her trip was disturbed by the ongoing Wars of the Roses. Constance then travelled to England again in 1476, where she negotiated alliance terms with Edward IV. Constance took her eldest daughter Mary, to which a marriage was proposed between the then 12 year-old Mary and the 26 year-old widowed Duke of Clarence, George. Constance agreed to this marriage surprisingly, and the two were married quickly. George died 2 years later, leaving the 14 year-old Mary widowed.

## Cotton Trade

Constance had discovered the Cotton Trade in 1465, and had tried to establish Genovia as one of the leading countries for trading cotton, but she ultimately failed. She taught her children about the trade, and Richard V of Genovia was apparently inspired by his mother to continue trying to establish Genovia in the industry, which he did successfully in 1495. Constance was still given the name 'The Cotton Queen' because she inspired future Genovian monarchs to continue the trade.

## Death of John

John of Portugal had caught a fever in 1480 and died shortly afterwards. Constance was heartbroken and only wore black for the rest of her reign in memory of John. There were rumours that Constance had poisoned John in order to marry the now widowed Philip, Holy Roman Emperor. However these rumours were cleared by Constance and Philip himself. Constance was considered a bride for Philip, however she declined.