Anne of Savoy (c. 1320–1353)

Empress of Byzantium. Name variations: Anna; Anne of Byzantium. Born around 1320 in Savoy, Italy (modern-day southeastern France); died in 1353 in Byzantium; daughter of Count Amadeus V of Savoy; became second wife of Andronikos also spelled Andronicus III Paleologus (d. 1341), emperor of Byzantium (r. 1328–1341), in 1326; children: John V Paleologus (b. 1331), Byzantine or Nicaean emperor (r. 1341–1347, 1355–1391); Michael; Maria (who married Francesco Gattilusio). Andronicus III's first wife was Irene of Brunswick .

Born into an important Italian noble family, Anne was the daughter of Count Amadeus V of Savoy, a region in what is now southeastern France, bordering on Italy. She was betrothed and married to Emperor Andronicus III of Byzantium at the age of six, a not-uncommon age for royal brides. She grew up in the imperial castles and palaces, where she was educated in Greek language and tradition. About age 16, she became empress of Byzantium. When Andronicus died in 1341, Anne was named regent for her nine-year-old son John, who succeeded his father as John V Paleologus.

However, as was common during a long royal minority, enemies of the imperial family saw an opportunity to increase their own power and wealth by rebelling against the emperor and his regent-mother. Thus, Anne of Savoy was forced to struggle to keep herself and her son in power, even appealing to Pope Clement VI for aid against her enemies. She faced opposition from her husband's chief minister, John Cantacuzene (John VI), who claimed the regency as well. When this John became involved in a foreign war, Anne took advantage of his absence to arrest his supporters and consolidate her own power.

The seven years of her regency were marked by a constant civil war against John Cantacuzene, who even declared himself emperor in 1346. Anne faced increasing unpopularity with the Byzantine people during her years of rule due to the civil unrest and her efforts to reunite the Eastern and Western Christian churches. Her lack of popular support led to her gradual loss of power, and she surrendered the throne in 1347. John Cantacuzene ruled as regent-emperor with Anne's son until he came of age. Anne died in 1353.

Laura York , Anza, California