Maria of Bosnia

Maria of Bosnia (; ; 27 April 1403) was a member of the House of Kotromanić who married into the House of Helfenstein.

Parentage Maria's parentage and connection to the House of Kotromanić is uncertain. King Louis I of Hungary, husband of Ban Stephen II of Bosnia's daughter Elizabeth, apparently mentions her in a charter as Stephen's II sister. This, however, is very unlikely: it would mean that she married a (never-married and childless) nobleman in her forties, had her youngest children in her fifties, and lived to be over 90 years old.

Countess of Helfenstein

Maria's marriage to Ulrich V, Count of Helfenstein, was most likely arranged by his overlord, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. Maria probably resided for some time at the Hungarian court along with Elizabeth of Bosnia, then fiancée and later wife of the King. On 26 April 1352, the Hungarian noblemen escorted Maria to Passau in the Holy Roman Empire. By the time King Louis mentioned her again, in a charter dated 25 March 1353, Maria was already a married woman. The marriage brought considerable prestige to Ulrich. Maria too was aware of her higher status and, in addition to the title Countess of Helfenstein, often referred to herself as Duchess of Bosnia. From 1365 until 1399, she signed her donations as "Maria Herzogin von Bosnien". As a compensation for marrying below her status, Maria enjoyed influence and autonomy highly unusual for a married woman. Early in their marriage, Maria pushed her husband to divide the county he had jointly ruled with his cousin and namesake, Ulrich the Younger. The couple were noted benefactors and also enjoyed imperial favour. They had six sons – Frederick (born in 1357), Louis, William, Conrad, Ulrich and John, and three daughters – Agnes, Beatrix and Maria. Also, a street in Geislingen bears the name Maria-von-Bosnien-Weg. There is also a musical titled Maria von Bosnien – eine Hochzeit und ein Todesfall ("Maria of Bosnia – a Wedding and a Funeral").

In her native country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, little is known of this medieval noblewoman.