Constance, Queen of Sicily

Constance was born in 1154, the last legitimate Hauteville and rightful heir to Sicily, but a prophecy kept her unmarried until age 30. In 1191 she became Holy Roman Empress as wife of Henry VI, then plunged into a succession war against her illegitimate nephew Tancred - during which she was captured, though released unharmed. At 40 she gave birth to her only child, Frederick, linking the bloodlines of empire and kingdom. She became queen regnant of Sicily in 1194, reigning first with her husband and then, after his death, with her infant son. She surrendered Frederick's claim to the imperial throne in favor of her brother-in-law Philip, keeping only Sicily for the boy while she retained her empress title. A year later, in 1198, she died, having placed her young son under the guardianship of Pope Innocent III.