Maria Komnene Doukaina

Maria Komnene Doukaina (Greek: Μαρία Κομνηνή Δούκαινα) was an Epiriot princess, daughter of Nicephorus I, and countess palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos as wife of John I Orsini.

Maria was the only child of Nicephorus I Komnenos Doukas, despot of Epirus, and his first wife, Maria Laskaris Vatatzaina, daughter of the emperor of Nicea Theodore II Laskaris.

[1] In 1283/1284, arrangements were made to marry one of Nikephoros' daughters, Maria or her younger half-sister Thamar, to their cousin Michael, son of John I Doukas of Thessaly, but the groom was captured by the Byzantines while traveling to 'Epirus and imprisoned in Constantinople, where he died.

[2] In 1291, Epirus was invaded by the Byzantines in retaliation for the alliance made by Nicephorus with Charles II of Anjou.

To fight them, Nicephorus appealed to Charles' Latin vassals, but in exchange he had to send Mary hostage to Richard II Orsini, Count of Cephalonia and Zakynthos.