Antonia of Balzo

Death and burial

In the winter of 1375, rebellious vassals led by Enrico II Rosso, Count of Aidone, did not allow the royal galley with King Frederick III and his wife on board to enter the port of Messina. The royal couple stopped at the port of Reggio di Calabria, where on 19 January of the same year, the same rebels attacked their ship, threatening them with death. Shocked by the assault, Queen Antonia threw herself into the sea. She managed to escape, but was struck by a severe fever and a few days later, on 23 January, died in either Reggio di Calabria or Messina. She was buried in Messina Cathedral.