Helena Angelina Doukaina
Helena Dukaina Angelina ( probably * 1242, † July 1271 in prison in Nocera ) was Queen of Sicily and wife of Hohenstaufen Manfred. She was a daughter of Michael II Angelos, Archon of Epirus and Aetolia.
The marriage between herself and Manfred was closed in Trani on June 2, 1259. The couple had five children:
- Beatrice, 12? -1307 Testified ∞ Manfred IV; † 1340 1279 Margrave of Saluzzo
- Friedrich; † after June 2, 1312
- Heinrich, * probably in 1262; † October 31, 1318 in prison
- Enzio; † before 1301
- Flordelis; † after February 27, 1297
Manfred fell on February 26, 1266 at the battle of Benevento against Charles of Anjou in an attempt to preserve the rule of the Hohenstaufen in southern Italy. His widow, Helen received the news of his death at the castle of Lucera, fled in the direction of her home, but was imprisoned in Trani with their children by the local castellan and delivered on March 6, 1266 to Charles of Anjou.
Helena was separated from her children, who never saw her again, brought the beginning of April to Lago Pesole and Karl presented. Charles wanted the mediation of the Pope to marry Helena with a brother of King Alfonso the Wise of Castile and León, but this did not connect when this Conradin of Swabia joined.
In March 1267 Helena is in captivity - accompanied by their servants - in the castle Nocera, such as a letter of Charles occupied. In a further letter from the year 1271 Karl dismisses the servants, which can only mean the death of the previous mistress.