Career

She was the wife of Byzantine co-emperor Michael IX Palaiologos, making her a junior empress-consort of the Byzantine Empire. In 1317, she became the only empress upon the death of the senior empress, Irene of Montferrat. She was known as Maria in Constantinople.

Rita was the junior consort from 1294 to 1317.

Since 1303, Andronikos II and Irene held separate courts. The senior emperor resided in Constantinople and the senior Augusta in Thessaloniki.

Rita became the only when Irene died in 1317. She remained so for three years.

Prince Andronikos maintained a mistress but suspected her of infidelity.

He assigned retainers of his to wait by her house and attack whoever tries to enter. The one who approached was Manuel during night time and the retainers failed to recognize him. The affair seriously affected the health of Michael IX who died on 12 October 1320.

Both deaths strained the relationship between Andronikos II and Andronikos III. Meanwhile, the widowed Rita retired to a monastery, where she assumed the name "Xene".

She would die there five years following the end of the war.