Richard Orsini

Richard Orsini
Seal of Richard Orsini
Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
Reign1238/ca. 1260 – 1303/4
PredecessorMatthew Orsini (?)
SuccessorJohn I Orsini
Count of Gravina
Reign1284–1291
Predecessorunknown
SuccessorPeter Tempesta
Died1303 or 1304
Spousesunknown first wife
Margaret of Villehardouin
IssueJohn I Orsini
Four daughters
ItalianRiccardo Orsini
DynastyOrsini ('apostolic' branch [it])
FatherMatthew Orsini (?)

Richard Orsini (Italian: Riccardo Orsini) was the count palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos from before 1260 to his death in 1303/4, and also Count of Gravina in 1284–91. He also served on behalf of the Angevin Kingdom of Naples as captain-general of Corfu in 1286–90 and as the bailli in the Principality of Achaea from 1297 to 1300.[1] He assisted the Despot of Epirus in battle against the Byzantine Empire, and secured the marriage of his son, John I, to the Epirote ruler's daughter, which would lead in 1318 to the Orsini takeover of Epirus.

  1. ^ PLP, 24307. Ῥιτσάρδος.