Richeza of Poland, Queen of Castile: Difference between revisions
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'''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 [[ |
'''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 [[Everstein]]. |
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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> |
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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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. |
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> |
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'' ({{lang-es|Reina 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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===Countess of Provence=== |
===Countess of Provence=== |
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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. |
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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Soon after her second husband's death, plans for a new marriage for Richeza began. Apparently, she was betrothed to [[Raymond V, Count of Toulouse]] by her cousin the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa during around 1166; at the same time, the now Countess Douce II of Provence was engaged with the future [[Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse|Raymond VI]]. Count Raymond V wanted with this engagement became more closely to the [[Hohenstaufen dynasty]] and took full control over the County of Provence. However, the firm opposition of Richeza's son-in-law King Alfonso II of Aragon soon cancelled both betrothals, and with the help of the Genoese, began the war against Raymond V, who lasted eight years. |
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Some sources stated that in fact Richeza and Raymond V were married; however, this event is refuted by the majority of the modern historians. |
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===Countess of Eberstein=== |
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By 1167, Richeza married with her third and last husband, Count [[Albert III, Count of Everstein|Albert III]] of [[Everstein]] (who fight at the side of Frederick Barbarossa in his wars against the [[Guelphs]]) and moved to Germany with her new husband. Since them, she was known as ''Countess Richeza of Everstein'' ({{lang-de|Gräfin Richeza von Everstein}}). From this union were born two sons, Counts [[Albert IV, Count of Everstein|Albert IV]] and [[Konrad II, Count of Everstein|Konrad II]] of Everstein. |
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Little is known about the later life of Richeza. She died in 1185. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Castilian Queen Consorts|Queen Consort of Castile]]|years=1152-1157}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Castilian Queen Consorts|Queen Consort of Castile]]|years=1152-1157}} |
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{{s-aft |
{{s-aft|after=[[Leonora of England|Leonor of England]]}} |
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{{end }} |
{{end }} |
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Revision as of 04:26, 16 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 Everstein.
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 (Spanish: Reina 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.
Soon after her second husband's death, plans for a new marriage for Richeza began. Apparently, she was betrothed to Raymond V, Count of Toulouse by her cousin the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa during around 1166; at the same time, the now Countess Douce II of Provence was engaged with the future Raymond VI. Count Raymond V wanted with this engagement became more closely to the Hohenstaufen dynasty and took full control over the County of Provence. However, the firm opposition of Richeza's son-in-law King Alfonso II of Aragon soon cancelled both betrothals, and with the help of the Genoese, began the war against Raymond V, who lasted eight years.
Some sources stated that in fact Richeza and Raymond V were married; however, this event is refuted by the majority of the modern historians.
Countess of Eberstein
By 1167, Richeza married with her third and last husband, Count Albert III of Everstein (who fight at the side of Frederick Barbarossa in his wars against the Guelphs) and moved to Germany with her new husband. Since them, she was known as Countess Richeza of Everstein (German: Gräfin Richeza von Everstein). From this union were born two sons, Counts Albert IV and Konrad II of Everstein.
Little is known about the later life of Richeza. She died in 1185.