Philip of Courtenay

Philip of Courtenay (* 1243 in Constantinople Opel, † December 15, 1283 in Viterbo) was from 1273 to 1283 Titularkaiser of Constantinople Opel. He was the son of Baldwin II of Courtenay, the last actually reigning Latin Emperor of Constantinople Opel, and of Mary of Brienne.

In his youth his father pledged him to Venetian merchants to get money for his empire that was lost to the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos in 1261.

1267 Philip was as part of the Treaty of Viterbo with Beatrix of Anjou ( 1252-1275 ) engaged, a daughter of Charles I of Anjou, King of Naples and Sicily, and of Beatrice of Provence. The marriage was closed October 15, 1273 in Foggia. A short time later, his father died and Philip took over the rights to the Latin Empire. Although Philip was recognized by the Latin principalities in Greece, based most of his reputation to his association with Charles of Anjou. This forged on July 3 1281 in Orvieto an alliance with Venice, to prepare for a large-scale campaign against Constantinople Opel. The plans of Charles and therefore the significance of Philip found in March 1282 with the outbreak of the Sicilian Vespers to an abrupt end.

Philip and Beatrix had a daughter, Catherine de Courtenay (c. 1275-1307/1308 ), who married in 1301 the French prince Charles of Valois ( 1270-1325 ).