Erina Castriota

Erina Castriota (Albanian: Erina Kastrioti), also known as Irina Castriota, was an Albanian princess from the House of Kastrioti. She was the 3rd Duchess of San Pietro in Galatina, 3rd Countess of Soleto and Princess of Bisignano.

Erina Castriota Erina Kastrioti
Princess of Bisignano Duchess of San Pietro Countess of Soleto
Portrait of Erina Castriota
Princess consort of Bisignano
Tenure	1539-1565
Predecessor	Eleonora Todeschini Piccolomini
Successor	Isabella della Rovere
Duchess of San Pietro
Tenure	1530-1565
Predecessor	Ferdinand Castriota
Successor	Nicolò Bernardino Sanseverino
Countess of Soleto
Tenure	1530-1565
Predecessor	Ferdinand Castriota
Successor	Nicolò Bernardino Sanseverino
Born	1528
Died	September 15th, 1565 Morano Calabro
Spouse	Pietro Antonio Sanseverino
Issue	Nicolò Bernardino Sanseverino Vittoria Sanseverino
Dynasty	Kastrioti (by birth) Sanseverino (by marriage)
Father	Ferdinand Castriota
Mother	Andreana Acquaviva d'Aragona
Religion	Roman Catholic

Life

Erina Castriota was born into the House of Kastrioti, she was the daughter of Ferdinand Castriota and Andreana Acquaviva d'Aragona.^[1][2][3] Not much is known about her early life. Erina Castriota inherited her father's confiscated fiefs, including the Duchy of San Pietro in Galatina and the County of Soleto, following Ferdinand's exclusion from amnesty by Charles V after the Peace of Cambrai in 1530. This exclusion led to the confiscation of Ferdinand's lands. As part of her dowry when marrying Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, Erina brought these fiefs, a transfer recognized by Charles V. The official donation document referred to her as the "only-begotten legitimate and natural daughter," and outlined a dowry of twenty-five thousand ducats, with a portion payable at her marriage and the remainder upon Ferdinand's death, contingent on him having no male heirs. Scholars debate whether Ferdinand had male children. Some, like Dufresne, assert that all his sons died without heirs, while others, such as Zazzera, believe Erina was the only child from his marriage to Adriana Acquaviva. Erina's inheritance was likely due to her father's felony and the supposed death of any brothers without issue.^{[4][1][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Coat of arms of Erina. Located in the halls of the Ducal Palace of Tricarico. It's a Modified version of her father and grandfather's coat of arms.

In 1539, Erina Castriota married Pietro Antonio Sanseverino of the House of Sanseverino, becoming his second wife and the Princess consort of Bisignano.^{[11][12][2][3]} She brought 25,000 Ducats and the fiefs she inherited from her father as her dowry for her husband.^[13]

Erina died in Morano Calabro on September 15, 1565, and was buried there.^[13]

Issue

Erina married Pietro Antonio Sanseverino. The pair had two children:^[14][15]

• Nicolò Berardino Sanseverino, (1541–1606) 5th Prince of Bisignano, 10th and last Count of Tricarico married married Isabella della Rovere Princess of Urbino in 1565.^[16][17][13]
• Vittoria Sanseverino, (Before 1559–1614) married Ferrante of Capua, Duke of Termoli.^[13]

Family tree

Ancestors of Erina Castriota
8. Gjergj Kastrioti 4. Gjon Kastrioti II 9. Donika Kastrioti 2. Ferdinand Castriota 10. Lazar Branković 5. Jerina Branković 11. Helena Palaiologina 1. Erina Castriota 12. Giulio Antonio Acquaviva 6. Belisario Acquaviva 13. Caterina Orsini del Balzo 3. Andreana Acquaviva d'Aragona 14. Gerolamo Sanseverino 7. Sveva Sanseverino 15. Vannella Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona

See also

• House of Kastrioti