Philippa of Antioch

Philippa of Antioch (1148–1178) was the younger daughter of Constance, Princess of Antioch and her first husband Raymond of Poitiers. She was Lady of Toron by her marriage to Humphrey II of Toron and she was a mistress of Andronikos I Komnenos,^[1] who had seduced her while he was a guest at her stepfather's court.

Early Life and Family

Philippa was the younger daughter of Constance's first marriage. Philippa's siblings were Bohemond III of Antioch and Maria of Antioch, who married Manuel I Komnenos.

In 1149, Philippa's father died in the Battle of Inab and her mother remarried in 1153 to Raynald of Châtillon. From this marriage at least one daughter was born, Agnes who married Bela III of Hungary. It is believed that another half-sister was born to Philippa from this marriage, believe to be called Jeanne who supposedly married Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat.

Philippa's maternal grandparents were Bohemund II of Antioch and Alice of Antioch. Her paternal grandparents were William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and his second wife Philippa, Countess of Toulouse.

Life

Andronikos I Komnenos lived under the rule of Manuel I Komnenos. He was always faithful to the emperor, but he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the future king Béla III of Hungary, whom Manuel desired to become his successor. He was removed from court, but received the province of Cilicia. Andronikos had even taken Manuel's niece, Eudokia Komnene as a mistress.

Being still under the displeasure of the emperor, Andronikos fled to the court of Raymond, prince of Antioch. While residing here he captivated and seduced Philippa. Philippa has been described as beautiful.^[2] According to John Kinnamos, her sister Maria was a beautiful, tall, blonde-haired princess, clearly showing her Norman ancestry, and no doubt Philippa had similar physical characteristics. The anger of the emperor was again roused by this dishonour, and Andronikos was compelled to flee Antioch. Philippa was his mistress for up to two years in 1166-1167.^[3]

After she was abandoned by Andronikos, she married Humphrey II of Toron after 1166. Humphrey's first wife is unknown but she bore his son Humphrey III of Toron. Philippa however did not give birth to any children to Humphrey or to Andronikos.

Philippa died in 1178 around aged thirty. She was buried at the church of St. Mary in the Valley of Josaphat.^[4] Her husband died the following year.

Andronikos went on to invade Constantinople and arrest Philippa's sister Maria. He had her strangled and her son, Philippa's nephew Alexios II Komnenos, later died, aged only fourteen. Andronikos was brutally murdered on September 12, 1185 by the inhabitants of Constantinople.

References