Individual Details
Bianca Lancia
(Est 1212 - )
Bianca is believed to have been the daughter of Manfredo Lancia of a noble Piedmontese family long associated with the House of Hohenstaufen. Because of her brother Manfredo's friendship with Emperor Friedrich II, the whole Lancia family had moved by 1230 to Sicily where her brother Manfredo remained constantly at court. At this time Friedrich was forty-seven and a widower. In 1232 he fathered a son by Bianca Lancia. Nothing is known about Bianca except that she also gave birth to a daughter Constance, and was involved with the emperor for sixteen years.
It is not certain that Manfredo the elder was Bianca's father; it is possible that there were two Biancas, mother and daughter, the first being Manfredo the elder's daughter. This would explain the difference in age to Manfredo the younger who would then be her uncle and not an elder brother.
Many historians are convinced that, after the death of his third wife Isabella of England, Friedrich II then married Bianca. It is significant that their son Manfredo is the only one of his illegitimate children mentioned in his will. Apart from Friedrich's third wife there had been other mistresses, as well as the famous odalisques of his harem, given the influence of Islam in Sicily at the time. Yet nothing affected their relationship. Manfredo was not only the nearest and most favoured of the emperor's children but was present when the emperor died. The emperor also remained a close friend of Manfredo Lancia the younger. It is not known when Bianca died.
Source: Leo van de Pas
It is not certain that Manfredo the elder was Bianca's father; it is possible that there were two Biancas, mother and daughter, the first being Manfredo the elder's daughter. This would explain the difference in age to Manfredo the younger who would then be her uncle and not an elder brother.
Many historians are convinced that, after the death of his third wife Isabella of England, Friedrich II then married Bianca. It is significant that their son Manfredo is the only one of his illegitimate children mentioned in his will. Apart from Friedrich's third wife there had been other mistresses, as well as the famous odalisques of his harem, given the influence of Islam in Sicily at the time. Yet nothing affected their relationship. Manfredo was not only the nearest and most favoured of the emperor's children but was present when the emperor died. The emperor also remained a close friend of Manfredo Lancia the younger. It is not known when Bianca died.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | Est 1212 | ||||
| Marriage | Friedrich II Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire |
Families
| Spouse | Friedrich II Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1194 - 1250) |
| Child | Manfredo King of Sicily (1232 - 1266) |