Simonida

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Queen consort of Serbia

Simonida

Queen Simonida of Serbia, a fresco from Gračanica monastery

Queen consort of Serbia
Tenure| 1299–1321

Born| c. 1294
Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Died| after 1345
Constantinople
Spouse| King Stefan Milutin
Dynasty| Nemanjić (by marriage)
Palaiologos
Father| Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos
Mother| Irene of Montferrat

Simonida Nemanjić (Serbian Cyrillic: Симонида Немањић; c. 1294 – after 1336), born Simonis Palaiologina (Greek: Σιμωνίς Παλαιολογίνα, sr. Симонида Палеолог, Simonida Paleolog), was a Byzantine princess and queen consort of the Kingdom of Serbia as the fifth wife of Serbian king Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321). She was a daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328) and Irene of Montferrat. In Medieval Serbia Simonida is best remembered as a patron of the Arts, Music and Literature.[1]

## Life[edit]

Simonida was born in Constantinople c. 1294. In 1298, as a result of a Byzantine defeat, Emperor Andronikos II promised a marriage alliance to the Serbian ruler Milutin. Initially, Andronikos II intended to wed his sister Eudokia, the empress-dowager of Trebizond, but after she refused, Simonida was proposed instead.[2] Church circles in Constantinople opposed the marriage, but the emperor was determined to push the deal through, and in late 1298 he sent his trusted minister Theodore Metochites to Serbia to conduct the negotiations. On his part, Milutin too was eager to accept, and even divorced his third wife, Ana Terter, the daughter of the Bulgarian tsar George Terter.[2] Simonida was five years old, and Milutin was almost 50, was married three times, with adult children.[3] The marriage was celebrated in Thessalonica in spring 1299, and the couple departed for Serbia in April.[2] As a wedding present, Byzantines recognized Serbian rule north of the line Ohrid—Prilep—Štip.[3]

According to some Byzantine sources Milutin did not wait until Simonida reached maturity before consummating their relationship, causing damage to her uterus and preventing her from ever carrying children.[4] When this became known, Empress Irene, who was Andronikos II's second wife and had hoped to use the Serbian marriage to advance her own progeny, then offered Milutin to adopt one of her own sons as his heir.[2]

Simonida showed great interest in theology at a rather young age and wanted to become a nun.[3] After her mother Irene died in 1317, Simonida attended her funeral in Constantinople and decided not to return to Serbia after nearly a decade and a half of discussion.[3] When Milutin's men came for her, she came to them in monastic habit. They were shocked, but her own half-brother Constantine Palaiologos took off her monastic habit and ordered her to take the civil dress. He then sent her to Serbia with Milutin's men, although she was reluctant to go.[3] After Milutin threatened to start a war, Simonida came back to him.[3] She was 22 years old.[3] When Milutin fell ill, she was beside him all the time, much to the surprise of the rest of the court.[3] Milutin died on 19 October 1321, and already on 29 October, Simonida returned to Constantinople, where she entered the monastery of Saint Andrew in Krisei as a nun.[3]

There is very little information about her later life. It is known that she ordered a funeral song for her father's funeral. Simonida was last mentioned in historical documents in 1336 as an attendee at an assembly of civil and religious dignitaries, who prosecuted the conspirators against the government.[3] She died some time after 1345.[3]

## Legacy[edit]

Her beauty was well known, and she was known as a figure of purity and beauty in Serbian tradition. A fresco of her in Gračanica monastery is regarded as one of the most valuable frescoes in Serbian art.[3] Unfortunately, the fresco is partly ruined, so that Simonida has no eyes.

She brought a large entourage to Serbia, and with her arrival, Serbia received a massive injection of Byzantine culture. Byzantine-style court ceremonials and dress were adopted, Byzantine functional and honorary titles appeared, court offices were renamed, and Byzantine administrative, fiscal and legal institutions were copied. Byzantinization was further expanded by Serbia's newly won populous Greek-speaking regions, in which Milutin retained all former Byzantine political, social and cultural activities. Strangely enough, none of this would have happened due to a near-death experience in 1303 during a small festival being held in Ras. A maid had nearly killed her by jumping off a known balcony but had failed to do so.[5]

Milan Rakić wrote a lyric poem about her named Simonida,[3] and Milutin Bojić wrote a psychological drama called Kraljeva Jesen ("King's autumn") about her.[3][6] Asteroid 1675 Simonida discovered by Serbian astronomer Milorad B. Protić was named after her.[3]

## Ancestry[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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Ancestors of Simonis Palaiologina[citation needed]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16\. Alexius Doukas Palaiologos

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|
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| 8\. Andronikos Doukas Komnenos Palaiologos|

|  |  |
| 17\. Eirene Komnene

| 4\. Michael VIII Palaiologos|

|  |  |  |  |
| 18\. Alexius Komnenos Palaiologos

| 9\. Theodora Angelina Palaiologina|

|  |  |
| 19\. Eirene Komnene Angelina

| 2\. Andronikos II Palaiologos|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 20\. Isaac Doukas Vatatzes

| 10\. John Doukas Vatatzes|

|  |  |

| 5\. Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina|

|  |  |  |  |
| 22\. John Komnenos Angelos

| 11\. Eudokia Angelina|

|  |  |

| 1\.  Simonis Palaiologina|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 24\. William VI, Marquess of Montferrat

| 12\. Boniface II, Marquess of Montferrat|

|  |  |
| 25\. Berta of Clavesana

| 6\. William VII, Marquess of Montferrat|

|  |  |  |  |
| 26\. Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy

| 13\. Margaret of Savoy|

|  |  |
| 27\. Anne of Burgundy

| 3\. Irene of Montferrat|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 28\. Ferdinand III of Castile and León

| 14\. Alfonso X of Castile and León|

|  |  |
| 29\. Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen

| 7\. Beatrice of Castile and León|

|  |  |  |  |
| 30\. James I of Aragon

| 15\. Violant of Aragon|

|  |  |
| 31\. Violant of Hungary

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## See also[edit]

* Kassia
* Anna Komnene
* Jefimija
* Princess Milica of Serbia
* Saint Angelina of Serbia
* Mara Branković
* Olivera Despina
* Jelena Balšić
* Helen of Anjou
* Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina
* Nicodemus of Tismana

## References[edit]

1. ^ Fine, John V. A.; Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. ISBN 0472082604.
2. ^ a b c d Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press. p. 1901\. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lopušina, Marko (4 December 2014). "Simonida Nemanjić, najmlađa srpska kraljica" [Simonida Nemanjić, Youngest Serbian Queen] (in Serbian). Večernje novosti. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
4. ^ Lascaratos, John; Poulakou-Rebelakou, Effie (August 2000). "Child sexual abuse: historical cases in the Byzantine Empire (324–1453 A.D.)". Child Abuse & Neglect. 24 (8): 1085–1090. doi:10.1016/S0145-2134(00)00156-3. PMID 10983818.
5. ^ The Balkans: From Constantinople to Communism by D. Hupchick, page 89
6. ^ "Nema podele literature za decu i odrasle". Glas Javnosti. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2009.

## Further reading[edit]

* Đorđević, A. (2010). "The frescos Simonida in the Serbian poetry of the 20th century" (PDF). Baština (28): 65–74.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simonida Palaiologina.

Royal titles

Preceded by

Ana Terter

|  Queen consort of Serbia
1299–1321  | Succeeded by

Theodora Smilets

* v
* t
* e

The Palaiologoi of the Byzantine Empire

* Michael VIII (1259–1282)
* Andronikos II (1282–1328)
* Michael IX (1295–1320)
* Andronikos III (1328–1341)
* John V (1341–1391)
* John VI (1347–1354)
* Matthew (1353–1357)
* Andronikos IV (1376–1379)
* John VII (1390; 1403–1408)
* Andronikos V (1403–1407)
* Manuel II (1391–1425)
* John VIII (1425–1448)
* Constantine XI (1449–1453)

1st generation|

* Nikephoros Palaiologos

2nd generation|

* George Palaiologos

3rd generation|

* Andronikos Doukas Palaiologos

4th generation|

* George Palaiologos

5th generation|

* Alexios Palaiologos

6th generation|

* Andronikos Palaiologos
* Theodora Angelina Palaiologina

7th generation|

* Irene Komnene Palaiologina
* Michael VIII Palaiologos
* John Doukas Palaiologos

8th generation|

* Irene Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria
* Andronikos II Palaiologos
* Constantine Palaiologos
* Theodore Palaiologos
* Eudokia Palaiologina
* Maria Palaiologina, Khatun of the Ilkhanate

9th generation|

* Michael IX Palaiologos
* Constantine Palaiologos
* John Palaiologos
* Theodore Palaiologos (Palaeologus-Montferrat)
* Demetrios Palaiologos
* Simonis Palaiologina, Queen of Serbia
* John Palaiologos

10th generation|

* Andronikos III Palaiologos
* Anna Palaiologina, Despotess of Epirus
* Theodora Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria
* Irene Palaiologina, Byzantine Empress
* Maria Palaiologina, Queen of Serbia

11th generation|

* Irene Palaiologina, Empress of Trebizond
* John V Palaiologos
* Michael Palaiologos
* Irene Palaiologina, Empress of Bulgaria

12th generation|

* Andronikos IV Palaiologos
* Manuel II Palaiologos
* Theodore I Palaiologos
* Michael Palaiologos
* Zampia Palaiologina

13th generation|

* John VII Palaiologos
* John VIII Palaiologos
* Theodore II Palaiologos
* Andronikos Palaiologos
* Constantine XI Palaiologos
* Demetrios Palaiologos
* Thomas Palaiologos

14th generation|

* Andronikos V Palaiologos
* Helena Palaiologina, Queen of Cyprus
* Helena Palaiologina
* Helena Palaiologina, Despotess of Serbia
* Sophia Palaiologina, Grand Princess of Moscow
* Andreas Palaiologos
* Manuel Palaiologos
* Hass Murad Pasha
* Mesih Pasha

15th generation|

* Maria Palaiologina, Princess of Vereya (?)
* Constantine Palaiologos (?)
* Fernando Palaiologos (?)
* Andreas Palaiologos

Cadet branches|

* Palaeologus-Montferrat
* Asen Palaiologos
* Paleologus-Pesaro (?)

Only male-line descendants who are independently notable are shown.

* v
* t
* e

Nemanjić dynasty

Main ruling members|

* see family tree
* Stefan Nemanja
* Stefan the First-Crowned
* Vukan
* Radoslav
* Vladislav
* Uroš I
* Dragutin
* (Uroš II) Milutin
* (Uroš III) Dečanski
* (Uroš IV) Dušan
* Uroš V

Other ruling members|

* Đorđe
* Konstantin Tih
* Vladislav of Syrmia
* Stefan Konstantin
* John Uroš
* Simeon Uroš

Archbishops|

* Sava
* Sava II

Minor members|

* Vratislav
* Vratko
* Urošica
* Dmitar
* Stefan Vukanović
* Stefan Uroš of Pharsalos
* Desa

Female members|

* Komnena, Duchess of Kruja and Elbasan
* Brnjača
* Zorica
* Jelena, Princess of Bribir
* Elizabeth, Baness of Bosnia
* Ana-Neda, Empress of Bulgaria
* Teodora-Evdokija, Despotess
* Milica, Princess of Serbia
* Maria Angelina, Empress of Epirus
* Jelena Lazarević

Consorts|

* Anastasia
* Eudokia of Byzantium
* Anna Dandolo
* Anna Doukaina
* Beloslava of Bulgaria
* Helena of Anjou
* Catherine of Hungary
* Helena Doukaina Angelina
* Elizabeth of Hungary
* Anna Terter of Bulgaria
* Simonida of Byzantium
* Theodora Smilets of Bulgaria
* Maria Palaiologina
* Helena of Bulgaria
* Anna of Wallachia

* v
* t
* e

Royal consorts of Serbia

Serbian Principality of Duklja, 998-1101|

* Kosara
* Monomachina
* Jaquinta of Bari
* Raška re-emerging as seat (Grand Principality)

Grand Principality of Serbia, 1101-1217|

* Anna Diogenissa
* Anastasia
* Eudokia Angelina
* Proclamation of Kingdom

Kingdom of Serbia, 1217-1346
Serbian Empire, 1346-1371|

* Anna Dandolo
* Anna Angelina Komnene Doukaina
* Beloslava of Bulgaria
* Helen of Anjou
* Catherine of Hungary
* Helena Doukaina Angelina
* Elizabeth of Hungary
* Ana Terter
* Simonida
* Teodora of Bulgaria
* Maria Palaiologina
* Helena of Bulgaria
* Proclamation of Empire
* Helena of Bulgaria
* Anna of Wallachia
* Fall of the Serbian Empire

Moravian Serbia, 1371-1402
Serbian Despotate, 1402-1537|

* Milica of Serbia
* Proclamation of Despotate
* Helena Gattilusio
* Irene Kantakouzene
* Helena Palaiologina
* Maria of Serbia
* Ottoman annexation, titular:
* Angelina Arianiti
* Barbara Frankopan
* Isabella del Balzo
* Jelena Jakšić
* Catherine Batthyány
* Theodora
* Ottoman annexation

Revolutionary Serbia, 1804-1837|

* Jelena Jovanović
* Ljubica Vukomanović

Principality of Serbia, 1837-1882|

* Ljubica Vukomanović
* Persida Nenadović
* Júlia Hunyady de Kéthely
* Natalija Obrenović
* Proclamation of Kingdom

Kingdom of Serbia, 1882-1918|

* Natalija Obrenović
* Draga Mašin
* Proclamation of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

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