Constance of Aragon (Catalan: Constança d'Aragó, 1179 – 23 June 1222) was an Aragonese infanta who was by marriage firstly queen of Hungary and Croatia, and secondly queen of Germany and Sicily and Holy Roman empress. She was regent of Sicily from 1212 to 1220.
She was the second child and eldest daughter of the nine children of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile.
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Queen of Hungary
Constance's marriage to King Emeric of Hungary was credited to Emeric's stepmother, Margaret of France. The wedding took place in 1196. Four years later, in 1200, the queen gave birth to a son, called Ladislaus.
When King Emeric was dying, he crowned his son Ladislaus co-ruler on 26 August 1204. The king wanted to secure his succession and had his brother Andrew promise to protect the child and help him govern the Kingdom of Hungary until reaching adulthood. Emeric died three months later, on 30 November.
Ladislaus succeeded him as king while Andrew became his regent. Andrew soon took over all regal authority while Ladislaus and Constance were little more than his prisoners. Constance managed to escape to Vienna with Ladislaus.
The two found refuge in the court of Leopold VI, Duke of Austria, but Ladislaus died 7 May 1205. The former regent and now King Andrew II of Hungary took the body of his nephew and buried him in the Royal Crypt of Székesfehérvár. Duke Leopold sent Constance back to Aragon.
