Peter II of Courtenay (; died 1219), was emperor of the

Latin Empire of Constantinople The Latin Empire, also referred to as the Latin Empire of Constantinople, was a feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. The Latin Empire was intended to replace the Byzanti ...

from 1216 to 1217.

Biography

Peter II was a son of

Peter I of Courtenay Peter I of Courtenay (c. 1126 – 10 April 1183) was the sixth son of Louis VI of France and his second wife, Adélaide de Maurienne. He was the father of the Latin Emperor Peter II of Courtenay. Peter was born in France and died in Palestine. ...

(died 1183), a younger son of

Louis VI of France Louis VI (1 December 1081 – 1 August 1137), called the Fat () or the Fighter (), was List of French monarchs, King of the Franks from 1108 to 1137. Like his father Philip I of France, Philip I, Louis made a lasting contribution to centralizing ...

and his second wife,

Adélaide de Maurienne Adelaide of Maurienne, also called Alix or Adele (1092 – 18 November 1154) was Queen of France as the second wife of King Louis VI (1115–1137). Family Adelaide was the daughter of Count Humbert II of Savoy and Gisela of Burgundy. Adelaide' ...

. His mother was Elisabeth de Courtenay, daughter of

Renaud de Courtenay Renaud de Courtenay, (d. 1164) was seigneur of Courtenay and fought in the Second Crusade with Louis VII of France. His fate is unknown, either losing his lands from an argument with Louis VII or dying on crusade and his lands going to his daughte ...

(died 1194) and Hawise du Donjon. Peter first married Agnes I, via whom he obtained the three counties of

Nevers Nevers ( , ; , later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is a city and the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Nièvre Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in central France. It was the pr ...

Auxerre Auxerre ( , , Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Auchoirre'') is the capital (Prefectures in France, prefecture) of the Yonne Departments of France, department and the fourth-largest city in the Burgundy historical region southeast of Par ...

, and

Tonnerre Tonnerre (English: Thunder) is a French word meaning "thunder". It may refer to: Places Canada * Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Quebec, a municipality of the Minganie Regional County Municipality *Tonnerre River (Normandin River), a tributary of the Norman ...

. In 1193 he married secondly to

Yolanda Yolanda or Yolonda may refer to: * Yolanda (name), a given name derived from the Greek ''Iolanthe'' Places * Yolanda, California * Yolanda Shrine, monument located at Barangay Anibong, Tacloban, Leyte Film * ''Yolanda'' (film), a 1924 film ...

, a sister of

Baldwin Baldwin may refer to: People * Baldwin (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname Places Canada * Baldwin, York Regional Municipality, Ontario * Baldwin, Ontario, in Sudbury District * Baldwin's Mills, ...

and

Henry of Flanders Henry of Flanders (1178? – 11 June 1216) was Latin emperor of Constantinople from 1205 until his death in 1216. He was one of the leaders of the Fourth Crusade in which the Byzantine Empire was conquered and Latin Empire formed. Life Henry wa ...

, who were afterwards the first and second emperors of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. Peter accompanied his cousin, King

Philip Augustus Philip II (21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223), also known as Philip Augustus (), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks (Latin: ''rex Francorum''), but from 1190 onward, Philip became the firs ...

, on the

third Crusade The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. F ...

in 1190, returning to France in 1193. He fought (alongside his brother Robert) in the

Albigensian Crusade The Albigensian Crusade (), also known as the Cathar Crusade (1209–1229), was a military and ideological campaign initiated by Pope Innocent III to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc, what is now southern France. The Crusade was prosecuted pri ...

in 1209 and 1211, when he took part in the siege of Lavaur. He was present at the

Battle of Bouvines The Battle of Bouvines took place on 27 July 1214 near the town of Bouvines in the County of Flanders. It was the concluding battle of the Anglo-French War (1213–14), Anglo-French War of 1213–1214. Although estimates on the number of troo ...

in 1214. When his brother-in-law, the emperor

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

, died without issue in 1216, Peter was chosen as his successor, and with a small army he left his residence of

château de Druyes Château de Druyes () is a medieval castle located in Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines in Yonne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It was built in the 12th century by the Counts of Nevers, and remained in their possession until the 18th century. It was as m ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

to take possession of his throne. He was consecrated emperor at the

Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls The (Papal Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) is a Roman Catholic papal minor basilica and parish church, located in churches of Rome, Rome, Italy. The Basilica is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and one of the five papal b ...

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Pope Honorius III Pope Honorius III (c. 1150 – 18 March 1227), born Cencio Savelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 18 July 1216 to his death. A canon at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, he came to hold a number of importa ...

on 9 April 1217. He then borrowed some ships from the Venetians, promising in return to conquer Durazzo for them, but he failed in this enterprise and sought to make his way to Constantinople by land. On the journey he was seized by the

despot of Epirus The Despot of Epirus was the ruler of the Despotate of Epirus, one of the rump states of the Byzantine Empire in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade. The name "Despotate of Epirus" and the title "despot of Epirus" are modern historiographical name ...

Theodore Komnenos Doukas Theodore Komnenos Doukas (, ''Theodōros Komnēnos Doukas;'' Latinized as Theodore Comnenus Ducas; died 1253) or Theodore Angelos Komnenos was the ruler of Epirus and Thessaly from 1215 to 1230 and of Thessalonica and most of Macedonia and we ...

, and, after an imprisonment of two years, died, probably by foul means. Peter thus never governed his empire, which, however, was ruled for a time by his wife, Yolanda, who had succeeded in reaching Constantinople. Two of his sons,

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

and

, reigned in turn as emperors of the Latin Empire of Constantinople.

Family

By his first wife

Agnes I, Countess of Nevers Agnes I (1170 – in 1192 or 1193 in Mailly), was the reigning Countess of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre between 1185 and 1192. She was the daughter of Guy, Count of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre, and Mathilde de Burgundy, dame of Montpensier. Bi ...

he had: *

Matilda I, Countess of Nevers Matilda I, Countess of Nevers or Mathilde de Courtenay, or Mahaut de Courtenay, (1188–1257), was a ruling countess of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre. She was the only daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and of Agnes of Nevers, born from the Capetia ...

By his second wife

Yolanda of Flanders Yolanda of Hainault (; 1175 – August 1219), often called Yolanda of Flanders, was Empress of the Latin Empire in Constantinople, first as the wife of Peter II of Courtenay, Emperor Peter from 1216 to 1217 and thereafter as regent until her de ...

, of the

House of Flanders The House of Flanders, also called the Baldwins (, , ), was a medieval ruling family of Franks, Frankish origin that was founded by Baldwin I, Count of Flanders, Baldwin Iron Arm, son-in-law of Charles the Bald. The House of Flanders was the firs ...

he had: *

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominen ...

(died 1226), Marquis of Namur, who declined the offer of the crown of the Latin Empire *

Robert of Courtenay Robert I (died 1228), also known as Robert of Courtenay, was Latin Emperor of Constantinople from 1221 until his death in 1228. He was a younger son of the emperor Peter II of Courtenay, and Yolanda of Flanders. When it became known in France tha ...

(died 1228),

Latin Emperor The Latin Emperor was the ruler of the Latin Empire, the historiographical convention for the Crusader realm, established in Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade (1204) and lasting until the city was reconquered by the Byzantine Greeks in 12 ...

of the Latin Empire of Constantinople *

(died 1229), Marquis of Namur *

Baldwin II of Constantinople Baldwin II, also known as Baldwin of Courtenay (; ; late 1217 – October 1273), was the last Latin Emperor ruling from Constantinople. He was the only Latin Emperor born in Constantinople. Biography Baldwin II was born in Constantinople, a yo ...

(died 1273),

of the Latin Empire of Constantinople *

Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...

(died 1270), Marchioness of Namur, who first married Raoul, Lord of

Issoudun Issoudun () is a commune in the Indre department, administrative region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is also referred to as ''Issoundun'', which is the ancient name. Geography Location Issoudun is a sub-prefecture, located in the eas ...

, and then Henry I, Count of Vianden *

Elizabeth of Courtenay Elisabeth of Courtenay ) (c. 1199–1269 or later) was an Empress consort of Bulgaria, the daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders. Elisabeth married tsar Boril of Bulgaria (died 1218), Walter of Bar-sur-Seine (died 1219) and t ...

who married Walter, count of Bar and then Eudes sire of Montagu *

Yolanda de Courtenay Yolanda of Courtenay ( 1200 – June 1233), was a queen of Hungary as the second wife of King Andrew II of Hungary. Yolanda was the daughter of Count Peter II of Courtenay and his second wife, Yolanda of Flanders, the sister of Baldwin I an ...

, who married

Andrew II of Hungary Andrew II (, , , ; 117721 September 1235), also known as Andrew of Jerusalem, was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia between 1205 and 1235. He ruled the Principality of Halych from 1188 until 1189/1190, and again between 1208/1209 and ...

King of Hungary The King of Hungary () was the Monarchy, ruling head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 (or 1001) to 1918. The style of title "Apostolic King of Hungary" (''Magyarország apostoli királya'') was endorsed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 ...

and

King of Croatia This is a complete list of dukes and kings of Croatia () under domestic ethnic and elected Dynasty, dynasties during the Duchy of Croatia (until 925), the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102), the Croatia in personal union with Hungary, Kingdom of Croa ...

* Eleanor, who married

Philip of Montfort, Lord of Tyre Philip Ι of Montfort (died 17 March 1270, Tyre) was Lord of La Ferté-Alais and Castres-en-Albigeois 1228–1270, Lord of Tyre 1246–1270, and Lord of Toron aft. 1240–1270. He was the son of Guy de Montfort and Helvis of Ibelin (daughter o ...

* Marie de Courtenay, who married

Theodore I Lascaris Theodore I Laskaris or Lascaris (; 1175November 1221) was the first emperor of Nicaea—a successor state of the Byzantine Empire—from 1205 to his death. Although he was born to an obscure aristocratic family, his mother was related to ...

Emperor of Nicaea The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are i ...

* Agnes, who married

Geoffrey II Villehardouin Geoffrey II of Villehardouin () (''c.'' 1195- after May 6, 1246) was the third prince of Achaea (''c.'' 1229-1246).Longnon 1969, p. 242. He battled in the imperial capital three times. Early years Geoffrey was born as the eldest son of Geoffre ...

Prince of Achaea The Prince of Achaea was the ruler of the Principality of Achaea, one of the crusader states Frankokratia, founded in Greece in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204). The principality witnessed various overlords during its more than tw ...

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Peter 02 Of Courtenay 1219 deaths 13th-century Latin emperors of Constantinople Christians of the Third Crusade People of the Albigensian Crusade Capetian House of Courtenay Year of birth unknown Prisoners and detainees of the Despotate of Epirus People who died in prison custody Jure uxoris counts Remarried jure uxoris officeholders