Cléote of Limgoo, Duchess of Cremine

Cléote of Limgoo (9 April 902-16 January 987) was Duchess of Cremine by her marriage to Henther III di Samana. She served as regent for several times, and was one of the most crucial supporter of Madhri of Salin.

Life
Cléote was the first daughter of Dumin II, Duke of Limgoo, and his first spouse Éléolle of Yorte. After her mother's death in 914, Dumin II remarried Olympisca Manrez, and gave birth to 3 sons and 5 daughters. Cléote remained a close relationship with her half-siblings, also with her stepmother who was only 6-year older than her. On the wedding of Emperor Kanaunt II and Ceisivey of Janviera, Cléote was officially introduced to the imperial court. It was said Empress Ceisivey adored this girl and wanted to betroth Cléote to her brother Minyaung I, Duke of Janviera, but it didn't come true, nevertheless, Ceisivey herself will remarry Cléote's brother Minye of Limgoo after Kanaunt's death.

Cléote was married to Henther III di Samana, Duke of Cremine on 18 January 923, which was regarded as the sign of allience of Limgoo and Maharapura. In this marriage, she had 4 sons and 7 daughters:

1. Marie (16 September 924-5 October 973),was the elder twin sister of Anne, Duchess of Riosur and Keghal by her marriage to Giollio I de Mesarol.

2. Anne (16 September 924-February 933), the younger twin sister of Marie, died at 9.

3. Stillborn daughter (July 925)

4. Éléolle (30 March 928-22 November 953), Duchess of Donsé as first wife of Joao I, 3rd Duke of Donsé, was murdered by her husband due to adultery.

5. Stillborn son (August 929)

6. Cléote, Hereditary Prince of Cremine (2 October 930-26 April 946) died of smallpox.

7. Belfante (10 July 932-12 March 1009), later Belfante IV, Duke of Cremine

8. Mehtameine (28 December 933-10 January 974) refused to marry King Kratmaung I of Maharapura and became a nun.

9. Stillborn daughter (934)

10. Henterine (9 August 937-13 March 951) became the bride for Kratmaung I, but suddenly died before the wedding.

11. Kanaunt (27 November 941-16 February 1011), High Priest

She continuously gave birth to 4 daughters at the beginning in her marriage, then had a stillborn son, which greatly raised discontentments among nobles, and her husband also considered her not able to give a male heir. This couple's relationship became worse and they lived separately from January 926. Cléote and her husband met each other twice a month for producing an heir, however, Cléote still got pregnant frequently, therefore some rumors spread that some of Cléote's children were not her husband's.

Cléote moved into Maharapurese royal palace after not living with her husband, and soon built a circle with several nobles, confronting the circle surrounding Queen Anne of Theebo, who never got along well with Cléote. Queen Anne made a lot of efforts to depress the influence of Cléote's circle and defame Cléote, and even tried to urge King Miro V to banish Cléote, but all ended with failure. In late 926, Cléote successfully made Prince Miro (later King Miro VI) marry her younger half-sister Manice. After the death of Princess Manice, Cléote spread the rumor of Queen Anne poisoning her. Anne of Theebo in anger humiliated Cléote and slapped her in public. Feeling insulted, Cléote left the court and vowed to avenge, however, she had no chance to do this on the grounds of Anne's death a few years later.

Only after Miro VI married Madhri of Salin, Cléote can returned the court. She built a good relationship with the Queen, but due to Madhri's dominance over the court, Cléote can never re-organized her circle and rebuilt her influence like before.

When her son Belfante IV became the duke, Cléote helped him to handle some politic issues as the duke had weak health. Most of her policies following Queen Madhri's, Creminian nobles was very discontent with her, among whom Théonis Isatal di Vertelais, Belfante's chief advisor and homosexual lover, was her biggest enemy, and in 970, Belfante IV took Théonis Isatal's advice to send Cléote to Floraene Temple. She died there on 16 January 987 according to her grandson Belfante's diary.