Richeza of Poland, Queen of Castile: Difference between revisions
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'''Richeza of Poland''' ( |
'''Richeza of Poland''' also known as '''of Silesia''' ({{lang-pl|'''Ryksa Polska''' or '''Śląska'''}}; b. ca. 1140 - d. [[16 June]] [[1185]]), was a Polish princess member of the [[House of Piast]] in the [[Silesia]]n branch and by her marriages Queen of [[León]] and [[Castile]], Countess of [[Provence]] and Countess of [[Eberstein]]. |
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She was the third child and only daughter of King [[Władysław II the Exile]], High Duke of Poland anr ruler of Silesia, by his wife [[Agnes of Babenberg]], daughter of Margrave [[Leopold III of Austria]] and half-sister of King [[Conrad III of Germany]].<ref>Allstrom, Carl Magnus. ''Dictionary of Royal Lineage (Poland)'', 1902.</ref> |
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She married King [[Alfonso VII of Castile|Alfonso VII of Castile and León]] in 1152. Their only surviving child, Infanta [[Sancha of Castile]], was born 1155. In Spain she was known as "Queen Riquilda". |
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==Life== |
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When Alphonso died in 1157, Richeza remarried to [[Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence]], in 1162. Their daughter was [[Douce II, Countess of Provence|Douce]] (died 1172). Ramon Berengar died in 1166, and she remarried once more to Count Albert of [[Eberstein]]. |
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===Queen of Castile and León=== |
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Born and raised during her first years of life in Poland, Richeza accompanied her parents and brothers into exile in 1146. They established firstly in [[Bohemia]] and later in [[Germany]], under the care of King Conrad III, who give his deposed brother-in-law the Saxon district of [[Altenburg]] as his residence. |
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In 1151 came the news that the King [[Alfonso VII of León and Castile]] wanted to made an alliance with the Kingdom of Germany through a wedding. Richenza, niece of King Conrad III, was the most appropriate candidate to be the wife of the Iberian ruler. Between October and December 1152 Richeza and King Alfonso VII were married. In Castile she was known as ''Queen Riquilda''. Her first child, Infante Ferdinand of Castile, was born in the city of [[Toledo]] one year later, in 1153. Two years later, in 1155, Richeza gave birth her second child, Infanta [[Sancha of Castile]]. King Alfonso VII died suddenly in the middle of the war against the [[Moors]] in [[Sierra Morena]] on [[21 August]] [[1157]]. Apparently, Infante Ferdinand died soon before his father.<ref>[http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/CASTILE.htm#_ALFONSO_VII_1112-1157, CASTILE]</ref> |
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Her daughter, Sancha of Castile, married King [[Alfonso II of Aragon]] in 1174. Sancha's daughter, Eleanor married Count [[Raymond VI of Toulouse]] in 1202. |
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===Countess of Provence=== |
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==Sources== |
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The late King divided his domains between his two surviving son born from his first marriage with [[Berenguela of Barcelona]]: [[Sancho III of Castile|Sancho III]] obtained [[Castile]] and [[Ferdinand II of León|Ferdinand II]] received [[León]]. The relationship between Richeza and her stepsons wasn't good, moreover after King Sancho III declared the war to [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona]], father of [[Alfonso II of Aragon|Alfonso]] (later King of Aragon), who was betrothed with Richeza's daughter Sancha. The unstable relations of King Ferdinand II with the Emperor [[Frederick I Barbarossa]] (cousin of Richeza) and the [[Antipope Victor IV (1138)|Antipope Victor IV]] added further difficulties to the Dowager Queen, who finally decided moved to the Kingdom of Aragon in 1159. |
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*Allstrom, Carl Magnus. ''Dictionary of Royal Lineage (Poland)'', 1902 |
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In the Aragonese court, Richeza met [[Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence]], nephew of Count of Barcelona. Although they soon fell in love, their union would be clearly political. Ramon Berenguer II supported Victor IV against [[Pope Alexander III]], which, in turn, supported King [[Louis VII of France]]. The county of Provence was in a strategic location, between France and the [[Italian Peninsula]]. Frederick Barbarossa I also wanted to win at his side to Count Ramon Berenguer IV, who entered in an an alliance with the Kings of France, Castile and León. In contrast, Ramon Berenguer II, soon cousin by marriage of the Emperor gained prestige and could faced to the petentions of Count Hugh of [[Baux]], which has just received the Imperial Provence as a fief. |
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Premarital negotiations lasting almost a year and a half. Between January and October 1161 Richeza and Count Ramon Berenguer II were finally married. They had only one daughter, [[Douce II, Countess of Provence|Douce]], born ca. 1162. Ramon Berenguer II was killed during the siege of [[Nice]] in 1166. |
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==References== |
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Revision as of 22:32, 15 June 2009
Richeza of Poland also known as of Silesia (Polish: Ryksa Polska or Śląska; b. ca. 1140 - d. 16 June 1185), was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast in the Silesian branch and by her marriages Queen of León and Castile, Countess of Provence and Countess of Eberstein.
She was the third child and only daughter of King Władysław II the Exile, High Duke of Poland anr ruler of Silesia, by his wife Agnes of Babenberg, daughter of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and half-sister of King Conrad III of Germany.[1]
Life
Queen of Castile and León
Born and raised during her first years of life in Poland, Richeza accompanied her parents and brothers into exile in 1146. They established firstly in Bohemia and later in Germany, under the care of King Conrad III, who give his deposed brother-in-law the Saxon district of Altenburg as his residence.
In 1151 came the news that the King Alfonso VII of León and Castile wanted to made an alliance with the Kingdom of Germany through a wedding. Richenza, niece of King Conrad III, was the most appropriate candidate to be the wife of the Iberian ruler. Between October and December 1152 Richeza and King Alfonso VII were married. In Castile she was known as Queen Riquilda. Her first child, Infante Ferdinand of Castile, was born in the city of Toledo one year later, in 1153. Two years later, in 1155, Richeza gave birth her second child, Infanta Sancha of Castile. King Alfonso VII died suddenly in the middle of the war against the Moors in Sierra Morena on 21 August 1157. Apparently, Infante Ferdinand died soon before his father.[2]
Countess of Provence
The late King divided his domains between his two surviving son born from his first marriage with Berenguela of Barcelona: Sancho III obtained Castile and Ferdinand II received León. The relationship between Richeza and her stepsons wasn't good, moreover after King Sancho III declared the war to Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, father of Alfonso (later King of Aragon), who was betrothed with Richeza's daughter Sancha. The unstable relations of King Ferdinand II with the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa (cousin of Richeza) and the Antipope Victor IV added further difficulties to the Dowager Queen, who finally decided moved to the Kingdom of Aragon in 1159.
In the Aragonese court, Richeza met Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence, nephew of Count of Barcelona. Although they soon fell in love, their union would be clearly political. Ramon Berenguer II supported Victor IV against Pope Alexander III, which, in turn, supported King Louis VII of France. The county of Provence was in a strategic location, between France and the Italian Peninsula. Frederick Barbarossa I also wanted to win at his side to Count Ramon Berenguer IV, who entered in an an alliance with the Kings of France, Castile and León. In contrast, Ramon Berenguer II, soon cousin by marriage of the Emperor gained prestige and could faced to the petentions of Count Hugh of Baux, which has just received the Imperial Provence as a fief.
Premarital negotiations lasting almost a year and a half. Between January and October 1161 Richeza and Count Ramon Berenguer II were finally married. They had only one daughter, Douce, born ca. 1162. Ramon Berenguer II was killed during the siege of Nice in 1166.