Constance was a 12-century Sicilian queen, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Like her fellow nun Piccarda dei Donati, Constance left the religious life she preferred on the urging of family members and married; as a result, she spends eternity in the heavenly sphere of the Moon, which is associated with inconstancy. Nevertheless, like Piccarda, she is radiantly happy there.
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Empress Constance Character Timeline in Paradiso
The timeline below shows where the character Empress Constance appears in Paradiso. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Canto 3
Piccarda points out the soul of another former nun, Empress Constance. Constance was also pulled from the cloister, but “she never let the veil fall from...
(full context)
Canto 4
...still held responsible for yielding, however slightly, to the pressure exerted upon it. Piccarda and Constance, after all, could have chosen to flee when pressed. They could have been as steadfast...
(full context)
