Anna Maria of Hungary

Who was Anna Maria of Hungary?

Anna Maria of Hungary was a daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania. She was sister of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

In January 1221 she married Tsar Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria as his second wife. Her father was forced to agree her marriage to effect his release from Bulgaria, where he had been captured on his return from Crusade in late 1218. Her dowry included the cities of Beograd and Braničevo.

Anna Maria and Ivan Asen II had several children, including:

⁕Elena, who married Theodore II Doukas Laskaris of the Nicaea.

⁕Thamar, at one point alleged to be engaged to the future Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.

⁕Kaliman Asen I, who succeeded as emperor of Bulgaria 1241–1246.

⁕Peter, who died in 1237.

She died of the plague in 1237 and was buried at SS. Forty Martyrs Church in Tarnovo.