Henry II of Champagne

Henry II of Champagne (July 29, 1166-September 10, 1197), was count of Champagne from 1181 to 1197, and king of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197.

Related Topics:
July 29 - 1166 - September 10 - 1197 - Count of Champagne - 1181 - King of Jerusalem - 1192

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry was the eldest son of Count Henry I of Champagne and Marie de Champagne, a daughter of King Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine. His father died in 1181, and his mother ruled as regent until 1187.

Related Topics:
Henry I of Champagne - Marie de Champagne - Louis VII of France - Eleanor of Aquitaine - 1181 - 1187

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1190 Henry left for the East, after having his barons swear to recognize his younger brother Thibaut as his successor should he fail to return. He joined the Third Crusade alongside both his uncles, King Philip II of France and King Richard I of England. In April 1192, King Richard sent Henry as his representative from Acre to Tyre, to inform Conrad of Montferrat of his election as King of Jerusalem. Henry then returned to Acre. A few days later, Conrad was murdered by two Hashshashin. Henry came back to Tyre two days later, ostensibly to help organise Conrad's coronation, but found that a funeral was being prepared instead. He was immediately betrothed to the newly-widowed Queen Isabella of Jerusalem. They were married just a week after Conrad's death.

Related Topics:
1190 - Thibaut - Philip II of France - Richard I of England - 1192 - Acre - Tyre - Conrad of Montferrat - King of Jerusalem - Hashshashin - Isabella of Jerusalem

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The marriage was glossed romantically by some of the chroniclers: that Isabella was so taken with Henry's youth (he was 20 years younger than her previous husband) and handsomeness that she asked him to marry her. Since she was pregnant with Conrad's child (Maria of Montferrat), the marriage was considered scandalous by some, but it was politically vital for her to acquire another husband to defend the kingdom. Henry asked for permission from his uncle Richard, who gave it promptly: however, since Richard was suspected of Conrad's murder, this raises further questions about the whole episode. The couple had two daughters, Alice and Philippa.

Related Topics:
Maria of Montferrat - Alice - Philippa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry, who was known to the Arabs as "al-kond Herri", sought an alliance with the Hashshashin, who had murdered his predecessor, and was invited to visit their fortress stronghold, al-Kahf. To demonstrate his authority, the grand master of the Hashshashin beckoned to two adherents, who immediately flung themselves from the ramparts to their deaths. The Hashshashin then offered to commit a murder for Henry, as an honour to their guest. Henry demured, concluded the treaty, and departed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry died in 1197, falling from a low-set window at his palace in Acre. He had been watching a parade from the window, when a party of visiting envoys entered the room. Turning to greet them, he stepped backwards and began to overbalance. His dwarf, Scarlet, tried to save him by catching hold of his hanging sleeve, but he weighed too little to pull the king (who was tall and strongly-built) back. Both men fell to their deaths.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He left behind several difficulties for Champagne. He had borrowed a great deal of money to finance his expedition to Jerusalem, and for his marriage; and the succession to the county of Champagne would later be contested by his daughters. His heir-general was his eldest daughter Alice who was soon married to her stepbrother King Hugh I of Cyprus and whose heirs represent the senior line of Counts of Champagne.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His widow Isabella continued to reign as Queen of Jerusalem, and was soon compelled to marry the Lusignan magnate Amalric I of Cyprus who thus succeeded Henry as King Consort of Jerusalem.

Related Topics:
Lusignan - Amalric I of Cyprus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~