The tragic death of Maria of Montferrat, Queen of Jerusalem, in 1212 is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of childbirth in the Middle Ages. Maria was the wife of John of Brienne, King of Jerusalem, and the mother of Isabella, who would later become Queen of Jerusalem.
Maria and John had been married for three years when Maria became pregnant with their first child. Maria gave birth to Isabella in the spring of 1212, but sadly, Maria did not survive the birth. She died shortly after Isabella was born, leaving John to raise their daughter alone.
The death of Maria was a devastating blow to the kingdom of Jerusalem. Maria had been a beloved queen, and her death was mourned throughout the kingdom. Her death was also a reminder of the dangers of childbirth in the Middle Ages. Women of the time often faced a high risk of death during childbirth, and Maria was just one of many who did not survive the process.
Isabella, Maria’s daughter, would later become Queen of Jerusalem in her own right. Isabella was only two years old when her mother died, and she was raised by her father and his second wife, Marie de Montpellier. Isabella would go on to become a powerful and influential queen, ruling Jerusalem for more than two decades.
The death of Maria of Montferrat is a reminder of the risks of childbirth in the Middle Ages. Maria was a beloved queen, and her death was mourned throughout the kingdom. Her daughter Isabella would go on to become a powerful and influential queen, ruling Jerusalem for more than two decades. Maria’s legacy lives on in her daughter, and in the memory of the people of Jerusalem.
—
