Constance of Sicily (1324–1355)

Constance of Sicily (Italian: Costanza or Constanca; 1324 – 22 October 1355) was a Sicilian princess regent. She ruled the Kingdom of Sicily as regent in the name of her brother, King Louis. She was the daughter of King Peter II and his wife, Elisabeth of Carinthia. Constance was the second-born child of Peter II and Elisabeth of Carinthia, but the first to survive to adulthood. She had nine siblings in total, including Louis the Child and Frederick IV of Sicily, who ascended to the throne of Sicily.^[1]

Her father King Peter II died in 1342 and her brother Louis succeeded him under the regency of their uncle, John of Aragon until 1348. After the death of their uncle, their mother took over as regent. When their mother died in 1352, Constance succeeded her mother as regent during the minority of her brother. Her regency was marked by conflicts between noble factions as well as the black plague.^[2]

In 1355, Louis died of the black death, shortly followed by her. Her regency had made marriage difficult for her position as regent, and she died unmarried. Her position as regent of Sicily was taken over by her sister Euphemia, who kept it until 1357.^[2]