Florence Sanudo or ''Fiorenza'' (died 1371), was Duchess of the Archipelago in 1362–1371, in co-regency with her second spouse.

Life

Florence Sanudo was the daughter and successor of

John I John I may refer to: People Religious figures * John I (bishop of Jerusalem) * John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople * John I of Antioch (died 441) * Pope John I of Alexandria, Coptic Pope from 496 to 505 * Pope John I, P ...

Duke of the Archipelago The Duchy of the Archipelago (, , ), also known as Duchy of Naxos or Duchy of the Aegean, was a maritime state created by Venetian interests in the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea, in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade, centered on the i ...

. She first married

Giovanni dalle Carceri Giovanni dalle Carceri (died 1358) was a Lord of Euboea.Mihail-Dimitri Sturdza, Dictionnaire Historique et Généalogique des Grandes Familles de Grèce, d'Albanie et de Constantinople, Paris: Sturdza, 1983, p. 549 He was the son of Peter dalle C ...

, Lord of Euboea (d. 1358). She succeeded her father in 1362 as a young widow with only one son, and attracted many suitors, for which reason W. Miller labelled her "the Penelope of Frankish Greece". Her marriage was politically very crucial and the subject of much diplomatic activity. She was given a proposal from the Vignoso, Genoese Lord of Chios. This marriage was vetoed by the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

, who regarded it of the utmost importance that she married a Venetian so as to prevent any potential anti-Venetian establishment in the Duchy. Florence was openly warned by Venice not to bestow her hand to any enemy of Venice, when there were so many Venetian consorts available. Her mother assured the Venetians that her daughter had not desire to marry an enemy of Venice. Soon, however, Florence was given a proposal by Nerio I Acciajuoli, the future

Duke of Athens The Duchy of Athens (Greek language, Greek: Δουκᾶτον Ἀθηνῶν, ''Doukaton Athinon''; Catalan language, Catalan: ''Ducat d'Atenes'') was one of the Crusader states set up in Greece after the conquest of the Byzantine Empire during ...

and showed herself willing to accept it. Venice protested, but the groom was supported by the Kingdom of Naples through

Robert of Taranto Robert II of Taranto (1319 or early winter 1326 – 10 September 1364), of the Capetian House of Anjou, Angevin family, Principality of Taranto, Prince of Taranto (1331–1346), Kingdom of Albania (medieval), King of Albania (1331–1332), ...

, who, as Prince of Achaia, was the suzerain of Athens. Naples warned Venice from interfering in the marriage, but Venice replied that Florence was a daughter of the republic and that her duchy owed its existence to the diplomacy and fleet of Venice, and ordered its fleet in Greece to prevent the marriage and the landing of Nerio in the Cyclades.Miller, William. The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566). London: 1908. Duchess Florence was kidnapped and brought via a Venetian galley to Venetian

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

. There, she was treated with respect due to her rank but informed that she would never be allowed to leave unless she agreed to marry the Venetian candidate, her cousin Nicholas Spezzabanda. Reportedly, she was not displeased with the person of Nicholas, who was described as attractive, but whatever the reason, she did consent to marry him, and the wedding took place in 1364. The Venetians entitled her spouse eight Consort Duke, and Nicholas II were described as an able co-regent and loyal to Venice. Florence died in 1371 and was succeeded by her son by Giovanni,

Nicholas III dalle Carceri Nicholas III dalle Carceri (or ''Nicolò''; died 1383), ninth Duke of the Archipelago and Lord of Euboea, was the only son of the first marriage of eighth Duchess Florence Sanudo, whom he succeeded in 1371, to Giovanni dalle Carceri, Lord of Eu ...

, under the regency of his stepfather during his minority.

Issue

: #

By Nicholas Spezzabanda: # Maria Sanudo, Lady of Andros # Elisabetta Sanudo da Candia, Lady of Candia

References

Sources

External links

Ancestry of Sultana Nur-Banu (Cecilia Venier-Baffo)
1371 deaths

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

Year of birth unknown 14th-century women rulers 14th-century Venetian people 14th-century Greek people 14th-century Greek women 14th-century Italian women Duchesses of the Archipelago {{Italy-noble-stub