Erina Castriota

16th century Albanian princess From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erina Castriota (Albanian: Erina Kastrioti), also known as Irina Castriota, was an Albanian princess from the House of Kastrioti. She was the 3rd Duchess of San Pietro in Galatina, 3rd Countess of Soleto and Princess of Bisignano.

Tenure1539-1565
Tenure1530-1565
Quick facts Erina Castriota, Princess consort of Bisignano ...
Erina Castriota
Erina Kastrioti
Princess of Bisignano
Duchess of San Pietro
Countess of Soleto
Portrait of Erina Castriota
Princess consort of Bisignano
Tenure1539-1565
PredecessorEleonora Todeschini Piccolomini
SuccessorIsabella della Rovere
Duchess of San Pietro
Tenure1530-1565
PredecessorFerdinand Castriota
SuccessorNicolò Bernardino Sanseverino
Countess of Soleto
Tenure1530-1565
PredecessorFerdinand Castriota
SuccessorNicolò Bernardino Sanseverino
Born1528 (1528)
DiedSeptember 15, 1565(1565-09-15) (aged 36–37)
Morano Calabro
SpousePietro Antonio Sanseverino
IssueNicolò Bernardino Sanseverino
Vittoria Sanseverino
DynastyKastrioti (by birth)
Sanseverino (by marriage)
FatherFerdinand Castriota
MotherAndreana Acquaviva d'Aragona
ReligionRoman Catholic
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Life

Erina Castriota was born into the House of Kastrioti, she was the daughter of Ferdinand Castriota and Andreana Acquaviva d'Aragona.[1][2][3] Not much is known about her early life. Erina Castriota inherited her father's confiscated fiefs, including the Duchy of San Pietro in Galatina and the County of Soleto, following Ferdinand's exclusion from amnesty by Charles V after the Peace of Cambrai in 1530. This exclusion led to the confiscation of Ferdinand's lands. As part of her dowry when marrying Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, Erina brought these fiefs, a transfer recognized by Charles V. The official donation document referred to her as the "only-begotten legitimate and natural daughter," and outlined a dowry of twenty-five thousand ducats, with a portion payable at her marriage and the remainder upon Ferdinand's death, contingent on him having no male heirs. Scholars debate whether Ferdinand had male children. Some, like Dufresne, assert that all his sons died without heirs, while others, such as Zazzera, believe Erina was the only child from his marriage to Adriana Acquaviva. Erina's inheritance was likely due to her father's felony and the supposed death of any brothers without issue.[4][1][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Coat of arms of Erina. Located in the halls of the Ducal Palace of Tricarico. It's a Modified version of her father and grandfather's coat of arms.

In 1539, Erina Castriota married Pietro Antonio Sanseverino of the House of Sanseverino, becoming his second wife and the Princess consort of Bisignano.[11][12][2][3] She brought 25,000 Ducats and the fiefs she inherited from her father as her dowry for her husband.[13]

Erina died in Morano Calabro on September 15, 1565, and was buried there.[13]

Issue

Erina married Pietro Antonio Sanseverino. The pair had two children:[14][15]

  • Nicolò Berardino Sanseverino, (1541–1606) 5th Prince of Bisignano, 10th and last Count of Tricarico married married Isabella della Rovere Princess of Urbino in 1565.[16][17][13]
  • Vittoria Sanseverino, (Before 1559–1614) married Ferrante of Capua, Duke of Termoli.[13]

Family tree

More information Ancestors of Erina Castriota ...
Ancestors of Erina Castriota
8. Gjergj Kastrioti
4. Gjon Kastrioti II
9. Donika Kastrioti
2. Ferdinand Castriota
10. Lazar Branković
5. Jerina Branković
11. Helena Palaiologina
1. Erina Castriota
12. Giulio Antonio Acquaviva
6. Belisario Acquaviva
13. Caterina Orsini del Balzo
3. Andreana Acquaviva d'Aragona
14. Gerolamo Sanseverino
7. Sveva Sanseverino
15. Vannella Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona
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See also

References

Bibliography

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