La reina Isabel de Carintia y sus hijas: las mujeres como sujetos históricos en la Sicilia medieval

In medieval Europe queen consorts weren’t only «bearers of royal children and adornment of the court» (DUGGAN, Queens and Queenship in Medieval Europe, 1997), they also exerted power and authority as wives, mothers, widows and regents. They helped the king in government, were concerned with marriage politics, were mediators and ambassadors, founded convents and promoted art. Elisabeth of Carinthia, wife of Peter II of Sicily, was queen from 1337 until 1349 and had an influence on her daughters’ education. She was of German origin, had her own income that she managed through her officers, founded and endowed convents. In 1342 Peter II died and his brother John, head of the Catalan faction, was appointed vicar of Louis, heir to the throne, who was four years old. Elisabeth became the point of reference for the Latin faction and fought against her brother-in-law. Her daughter Eleanor was queen consort of Peter of Aragon and influenced his policy; Constance was abbess of Santa Chiara of Messina and vicar of Louis, after her mother’s death; Euphemia was vicar of her brother Frederick who became king when Louis died