John II or III of Cyprus or Jean II or III de Lusignan (Nicosia, May 16, 1418 – Nicosia, July 28, 1458) ruled Cyprus from 1432 to 1458. He was previously a Titular Prince of Antioch. In May, 1435/1440 he married Aimee or Amadea Palaeologus of Montferrat (August 3, 1429 – Nicosia, September 13, 1440), Queen of Cyprus, Titular Queen of Jerusalem and Armenia, daughter of John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat, without issue. His second wife, a distant relative of his first one, married in Nicosia, 1441 or February 3, 1442 was Helena Palaeologus or Helene Palaiologina (1428 – April 11, 1458), only child and daughter of Theodore II Palaeologus, Despot of Morea and his wife Cleope or Cleofa Malatesta. Theodore was a son of Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus and Helena Dragas and the brother of the last two Eastern Roman Emperor, John VIII Palaeologus and Constantine XI Palaeologus. By his second marriage he had two daughters:
- Charlotte de Lusignan
- Cleopha de Lusignan, died young
Upon the death of John II, his only surviving legitimate child Charlotte succeeded to the throne. John had an illegitimate son by Marietta de Patras, James, whom he appointed Archbishopic of Nicosia at the young age of 16. James did not prove ideal Archbishop material, and was stripped of his title after murdering the Royal Chamberlain. His father eventually forgave him and restored the Archbishopric. James and Helena were enemies, vying for influence over John. After Helena died in 1458, it appeared that John would appoint James as his successor, but John died before he could make it so. He was the last direct legitimate male descendant of Raymond of Antioch, younger and bastard son of William IX of Aquitaine.
| Preceded by Janus |
King of Cyprus 1432–1458 |
Succeeded by Charlotte |
| Titular King of Jerusalem 1432–1458 |
||
| King of Armenia 1432–1458 |
