black queen

Legend of the „Black Queen”is well known in Croatia. „Black Queen” was Barbara von Celje, daughter of Count Herman the 2nd. von Celje, who married the Croatian-Hungarian king Sigismund von Luxemburg in 1405. She was an intriguing woman, she was introduced to the state affairs by her husband, and she took over his duties in his absence. Since the Middle Ages did not offer much space to the development of science or the freedom of women, because of her temper, the controversial way of life and the uncompromisingness she was judged and rejected by the society ...

According to the records of historians and clergymen like Pope Pio the 2nd, Barbara was a beautiful woman, and her life was described as rancid and sinister, and people considered her a witch, accusing her of occultism and alchemy. According to legend, the Black Queen was always dressed in black. She had a raven that she loved and who listened to all of her commands. Behind these legends, there is a sad truth about a woman who has all the predispositions to become a superior ruler, was ambitious, educated, clever, talented for politics, but as the above mentioned, the Middle Ages did not offer room for such freedom for women.