Rulers and nobles
Constance
Norman empress, last heir of the kingdom of Sicily, wife of Henry VI of Swabia and mother of Frederick II; she shines in the Heaven of the Moon with a light of particular intensity.
Profile
Constance, daughter of Roger II of Hauteville and last Norman heir of the kingdom of Sicily, was married in 1186 to the emperor Henry VI of Swabia, son of Frederick Barbarossa. Through this marriage the Swabian house obtained dominion over southern Italy, making possible the dream – pursued by her son Frederick II – of a reunification of Italy under the banner of the Roman Empire. Left a widow in 1197, she wisely ruled the kingdom for about a year until her death. In Paradise, Manfred points her out as «la luce de la gran Costanza» (Par. III 118), presenting her with verses of glorious tone, and further on defines her as «la mia buona Costanza» (Par. III 143), a sign of an affection now detached from dynastic reasons. A second Constance, daughter of Manfred, is remembered as his «bella figlia» (Par. III 113), married to Peter III of Aragon and mother of the two kings James and Frederick.
In the text
Linked verses
6 verses| Cantica | Canto | Verso | Testo | Open verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purgatory | Canto III | 113 | nepote di Costanza imperadrice; | Open verse |
| Purgatory | Canto III | 143 | revelando a la mia buona Costanza | Open verse |
| Purgatory | Canto VII | 129 | Costanza di marito ancor si vanta. | Open verse |
| Paradise | Canto III | 98 | donna più sù», mi disse, «a la cui norma | Open verse |
| Paradise | Canto III | 118 | Quest’ è la luce de la gran Costanza | Open verse |
| Paradise | Canto IV | 98 | che l’affezion del vel Costanza tenne; | Open verse |