Alice of Montferrat
Queen consort of Cyprus
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Alice of Montferrat (French: Alix, Italian: Alasia; died c. 1232) was a Lombard noblewoman who was the queen of Cyprus by marriage to King Henry I from 1229 until her death.
| Alice of Montferrat | |
|---|---|
| Queen consort of Cyprus | |
| Reign | 1229–1232 |
| Died | c. 1232 |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Henry I of Cyprus |
| House | Aleramici |
| Father | William VI, Marquis of Montferrat |
| Mother | Berta of Clavesana |
Alice was the daughter of William VI of Montferrat and Berta of Clavesana, from Piedmont in the Holy Roman Empire. It is not known when she was born.[1] Her father was one of the most loyal vassals of Emperor Frederick II,[2] and the House of Montferrat was closely associated with both the Hohenstaufen emperors and the Lusignan kings of Cyprus.[3]
Emperor Frederick chose Alice to be the bride of the young King Henry.[4] Alice's royal match was a sign of the reconciliation of Frederick and her brother, Boniface II of Montferrat.[3] Alice and Henry were married by proxy in 1229,[5] and she was escorted to Cyprus by Frederick's supporters.[4] Frederick regarded himself as the suzerain of the Kingdom of Cyprus but was opposed by the nobility headed by the House of Ibelin. The War of the Lombards ensued.[6] Once in Cyprus, Alice was crowned queen. Henry, then aged 12, was too young for the marriage to be consummated.[7]
Alice was in Kyrenia with the Lombard faction when the Ibelins laid a 10-month-long siege, while Henry joined the besiegers.[8] Loyal to Frederick's cause, Alice was in Kyrenia voluntarily. She became ill during the siege and died between 1231 and early 1232.[9] Fighting was interrupted so that her corpse could be ceremoniously handed over to Henry for royal burial.[4] She was interred in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia by the archbishop of Nicosia, Eustorgius of Montaigu.[9] Henry had never seen her alive,[4] and the diplomatic relations between the houses of Montferrat and Lusignan lapsed.[9]