The beautiful Princess Maria d'Enghien 
At the end of the fourteenth century, in an Italy plagued by the new humanistic vision, a historical event fascinates and inspires more than any other, that of the beautiful Maria d'Enghien. In the fourteenth century, the South became a land of conquest of the most powerful European dynasties. Ion in the city "Bimare" Taranto, for centuries the cradle of Greek civilization, is the capital of a tiny principality in Norman, at the time of the Angevin and Aragonese in part, is considered almost a "reign in the kingdom" (as has been described by historians), a vast territory that stretched from the Ionian Sea until the Adriatic. Fascinating how few women of her time, combative and energetic ruler, Maria d'Enghien, became part of one of the most beautiful pages, often with implications romance, history-medieval. Political double fiery, compelling military battles, daring negotiations court. "Women from the wonderful qualities of mind," Mary, female model par excellence, is now the subject of numerous events in his honor: major awards, historical and debates. The expert on the history of Salento Sanasi Alfredo wrote: "boldly anticipating the heroism of Joan of Arc in a few decades, inflamed the minds of his subjects, boldly wearing heavy armor and urged them to defend the homeland." Just seventeen became Countess of Lecce in 1385 married the noble Apulian Raimondo Orsini Del Dodge Prince of Taranto with the forerunner of which was the most enlightened principles of the Italian Renaissance. At the premature death of Raymond, her husband, Mary thought it well to conceal the news to better prepare the military principality of increasingly violent attacks by Ladislaus, a descendant of King Charles III of Naples, intent to push the boundaries of his kingdom. Women's talented, intelligent, beautiful (to see her in some depictions), in his long life lived in full entertainment, leisure and cultural stimuli of all time. Medieval society, inspired by love for the game, for the party, for court dances, never missed an opportunity to show off the artistic, managing and creating moments of games, engage in animation giullaresca. Among the many activities pro populo the Countess-Queen issued the code "Statuta florentissimae civitatis et capitula Disputes" (preserved in the archives of the state of Lecce) because: "done all the capacity in bone soles if living with the statutes in order boni et done all causes. " He was concerned because of the cleanliness of the city, to provide rules to be followed in case of fire and appealed to citizens to have a decent and respectful behavior of persons and property of others. Meanwhile, Ladislaus, eager to expand his holdings, was en route to Puglia. Unaware of the death of his opponent go towards the Ionian city by setting up camp a few miles away. Against overwhelming forces in defense of the Neapolitan Taranto incited by a handful of men dressed in armor princess herself. The war dragged on for months and Taranto, despite the inequality of arms in the field, they managed to cope with enemy forces. Eager to end the siege he ordered his soldiers to attack the troops quartered Ladislao that the violence of the attack, were forced overboard drowned by the weight of their armor. But the most powerful ruler of the time did not give up and came back with a powerful army of from "seven thousand soldiers and horses without number" began a long siege that would end with the expedient marriage. After three days of negotiations, in fact, came in Taranto and Ladislao received the keys to the city by the princess. At the wedding, celebrated in the chapel of St. Leonard April 23, 1407, followed by lavish celebrations that lasted more than a month. The last years of his life as ruler of seeds were imprisoned in the rooms of Castelnuovo. The price to pay to have become regina.Successi military, legislative developments, architectural achievements unmatched in the history of southern Italy did not save a tragic end made of loneliness and frustration that would have a more benign history had to save.
At the end of the fourteenth century, in an Italy plagued by the new humanistic vision, a historical event fascinates and inspires more than any other, that of the beautiful Maria d'Enghien. In the fourteenth century, the South became a land of conquest of the most powerful European dynasties. Ion in the city "Bimare" Taranto, for centuries the cradle of Greek civilization, is the capital of a tiny principality in Norman, at the time of the Angevin and Aragonese in part, is considered almost a "reign in the kingdom" (as has been described by historians), a vast territory that stretched from the Ionian Sea until the Adriatic. Fascinating how few women of her time, combative and energetic ruler, Maria d'Enghien, became part of one of the most beautiful pages, often with implications romance, history-medieval. Political double fiery, compelling military battles, daring negotiations court. "Women from the wonderful qualities of mind," Mary, female model par excellence, is now the subject of numerous events in his honor: major awards, historical and debates. The expert on the history of Salento Sanasi Alfredo wrote: "boldly anticipating the heroism of Joan of Arc in a few decades, inflamed the minds of his subjects, boldly wearing heavy armor and urged them to defend the homeland." Just seventeen became Countess of Lecce in 1385 married the noble Apulian Raimondo Orsini Del Dodge Prince of Taranto with the forerunner of which was the most enlightened principles of the Italian Renaissance. At the premature death of Raymond, her husband, Mary thought it well to conceal the news to better prepare the military principality of increasingly violent attacks by Ladislaus, a descendant of King Charles III of Naples, intent to push the boundaries of his kingdom. Women's talented, intelligent, beautiful (to see her in some depictions), in his long life lived in full entertainment, leisure and cultural stimuli of all time. Medieval society, inspired by love for the game, for the party, for court dances, never missed an opportunity to show off the artistic, managing and creating moments of games, engage in animation giullaresca. Among the many activities pro populo the Countess-Queen issued the code "Statuta florentissimae civitatis et capitula Disputes" (preserved in the archives of the state of Lecce) because: "done all the capacity in bone soles if living with the statutes in order boni et done all causes. " He was concerned because of the cleanliness of the city, to provide rules to be followed in case of fire and appealed to citizens to have a decent and respectful behavior of persons and property of others. Meanwhile, Ladislaus, eager to expand his holdings, was en route to Puglia. Unaware of the death of his opponent go towards the Ionian city by setting up camp a few miles away. Against overwhelming forces in defense of the Neapolitan Taranto incited by a handful of men dressed in armor princess herself. The war dragged on for months and Taranto, despite the inequality of arms in the field, they managed to cope with enemy forces. Eager to end the siege he ordered his soldiers to attack the troops quartered Ladislao that the violence of the attack, were forced overboard drowned by the weight of their armor. But the most powerful ruler of the time did not give up and came back with a powerful army of from "seven thousand soldiers and horses without number" began a long siege that would end with the expedient marriage. After three days of negotiations, in fact, came in Taranto and Ladislao received the keys to the city by the princess. At the wedding, celebrated in the chapel of St. Leonard April 23, 1407, followed by lavish celebrations that lasted more than a month. The last years of his life as ruler of seeds were imprisoned in the rooms of Castelnuovo. The price to pay to have become regina.Successi military, legislative developments, architectural achievements unmatched in the history of southern Italy did not save a tragic end made of loneliness and frustration that would have a more benign history had to save. 
