Catherine I, Latin Empress

## Catherine of Courtenay

Latin Empress

(Later moved in 1478 to Geneva)

Yolande of Tripoli

Constantina

Xiena

Sybilla

Charles

Drussela

**Catherine of Courtenay** (C. 1172 - 1226) was Latin Empress succeeding her childless older-brother Phillip I, Latin Emperor, she was the eldest and only daughter of Baldwin II, Latin Emperor and Eleanor of Castile, she had an older brother named Phillip and a younger brother named Charles. Catherine was never expected to inherit anything and was betrothed and married to Louis II, Count of Tripoli, but when her older brother was murdered and her younger brother was already dead, Catherine became the first woman to become Latin Empress of the Latin Empire, Catherine inherited Athens, Balcon, and Mortargis, her empire extended from part's of Turkey to part's of Greece, but Catherine was a weak ruler and mostly controlled by her husband, but in 1217, after only 9 years as Latin Empress, the Ottoman Empire invaded the Latin Empire, and Catherine was deposed, Catherine and her children and husband were forced into hiding, the Duchy of Athens was the last of Catherine's empire and she had to seek the help of Phillip II of France who protected Catherine and her husband, but soon the Duchy of Athens was invaded, Catherine was captured along with her 3 daughters and the Ottoman Emperor sentenced them to death, Catherine and her 3 daughters were ripped into peaces by horses, at a private Ottoman Exquisite court yard, except for 1 of the daughter's who was beheaded.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Catherine of Courtenay was born in 1172 to Baldwin II, Latin Emperor and Eleanor of Castile, Catherine was born with an older brother named Phillip of Courtenay who was heir apparent to the Latin Empire. 1 year later her younger brother Charles of Courtenay was born. Catherine was born in Athens but raised in Balcon which was the capital of the Latin Empire, Catherine's father did not give Catherine a proper education as he was way to busy educating his son's. From her mother, she is the Great-Grand-daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom Catherine never met because she died early on, but she inherited Eleanor of Aquitaine's will which her father admired about her.

### Betrothal and Marriage

Catherine was only a sought after bride in what was known as the "**Empire Zone's**." The Empire Zone's only included the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire of Constantinople, the Latin Empire of Nicaea, and the Armenian Empire of Cilli. The rest of Europe was to rich to have Catherine as there bride, Catherine was betrothed to Martin, Latin Emperor of Nicaea, but he was killed on Crusade and many men lined up again for Catherine's hand, one man in the Empire Zone's was Louis II, Count of Tripoli, Louis was a French born Count, who inherited Tripoli from his father, Catherine fell in-love with Louis at once, Louis was 17, and Catherine was 15, the 2 were wed in Athens and then Catherine moved to Tripoli, and was named Countess. 1 year later, in 1185, she gave birth to a daughter Marie of Tripoli. Louis was an manipulitive husband, who craved power, Louis also did not love his wife, he loved his Catherine's mother Eleanor who was known for her glamor and beauty, Catherine's mother was not flattered and tried to convince Louis to be more with Catherine, but Louis fell even harder for Eleanor of Castile, which earned jealousy from Catherine.

### Sister of the Emperor

1 month after her marriage, her father died on Crusade, Catherine was devastated and cried for hours, her mentally ill brother Phillip of Courtenay became Latin Emperor, she was named "Αυτοκρατορική αδελφή του αυτοκράτορα" which was Greek for "Imperial sister of the Emperor." Catherine that year gave birth to 3 more children, Robert who died in infancy, Yolande and Constantina, and a year later Xiena. Catherine served as regent alongside her mother, but her brother was murdered by her sister-in-law who wanted to marry the Lord of Zog, Catherine was next in line and she was named Latin Empress straight away.

## Latin Empress

Catherine was a weak ruler, she had been a weak regent before-hand and she was generally disliked the the people of the Latin Empire, Catherine clung onto her disaproving mother who wanted Catherine to be independent, but Louis proclaimed himself co-Emperor and did the real ruling, Catherine's husband soon refused Catherine to have power, so he could take the throne for himself, which Catherine did not stop him, Catherine's mother Eleanor died in 1210, which made Catherine devastated, when she was forced on crusade, she acted poorly and was eventually sent home.

### Exile

While Catherine was living comfortably in the Latin Castle, the Ottoman's were looking foward into expanding there empire into the "Empire Zone's." Sultan Mehmed of the Ottoman Empire already Invaded Kazakstan which was a territory that the Kievan Rus' owned, he was now wanted to go into the area's like Turkey and Greece. Catherine's husband was horrified and prepared an army to go defend the Latin Empire, when Catherine was alerted, she freaked out and screamed to move to France where she would be safe, Louis refused to send Catherine and her children to France and instead he put them in more danger by moving them to the capital. Catherine was imprisoned in Balcon Castle and Louis killed there son and daughter Charles and Drussela as revenge on Catherine for her poor behavior. The Ottoman forces however managed to invade the Latin Empire, and Catherine and Louis and there children were driven to Athens. Athens was also at risk as it was the second most dangerous city other then Balcon. Catherine tried to calm her crying daughter's down but it did not work. Catherine's last word's in Balcon were "*Our Empire has fallen, the my will and strength as well, take care of the empire, please!*" Catherine thought she was safe, but the Ottoman warriors managed to invade Athens, Catherine's husband and 2 of there daughter's fled to France, but Catherine and her 3 daughters were captured, they were then taken to the Ottoman Empire.

## Execution

Catherine and her teenage daughter's were tried for treason and crimes they did not commit, they were not allowed defense nor attorney's and they were found guilty, they were sent to a prison and Catherine and her daughter's Constantina and Xiena were privately ripped apart by horses, Catherine's daughter Sybilla was instead privately beheaded there remain's were brought to Tripoli Cathedral but were later moved to Geneva by the Holy Roman Emperor.