Catherine Cornaro

Catherine Cornaro
Portrait by Gentile Bellini, c. 1500
Queen of Cyprus
Reign26 August 1474 – 26 February 1489
PredecessorJames III
SuccessorMonarchy abolished
Queen regent of Cyprus
Regency10 July 1473 – 26 August 1474
MonarchJames III
Queen consort of Cyprus
TenureNovember 1472 – 10 July 1473
Born(1454-11-25)25 November 1454
Venice, Republic of Venice
Died10 July 1510(1510-07-10) (aged 55)
Venice, Republic of Venice
Burial
SpouseJames II of Cyprus
IssueJames III of Cyprus
HouseCornaro
FatherMarco Cornaro
MotherFiorenza Crispo [hu]

Catherine Cornaro (Venetian: Catarina Corner; Italian: Caterina Cornaro or Corner; Greek: Αικατερίνη Κορνάρο, romanizedAikateríni Kornáro; 25 November 1454 – 10 July 1510) was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus, also holding the titles of Queen of Jerusalem and Queen of Armenia. She became queen consort of Cyprus by marriage to James II of Cyprus, and then regent of Cyprus during the minority of her son James III of Cyprus in 1473–1474, and finally queen regnant of Cyprus upon his death. She reigned from 26 August 1474 to 26 February 1489 and was declared a "Daughter of Saint Mark" in order that the Republic of Venice could claim control of Cyprus after the death of her husband.[1]

  1. ^ Wills, Garry. Venice, Lion City (New York, Simon and Schuster, 2001), 136.