Henry II De Brabant Duke of Brabant
Alias:<ALIA> The /Courageous/
Frederich II Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Emperor
King of Sicily
Frederick II (Holy Roman Empire) (1194-1250), Holy Roman emperor
(1215-50) and as Frederick I, king of Sicily (1198-1212). Born in Lesi,
Italy, on December 26, 1194, Frederick was the son of Henry VI and
grandson ofFrederick I, Holy Roman emperor. He wasmade German king in
1196 and on the death of his father twoyears later became king of Sicily.
When his mother, Constance ofSicily (1146-98), acting as regent, died
several months later,the four-year-old prince was placed under the
guardianship ofPope Innocent III, thenew regent of Sicily. Emperor Otto
IV was deposed in 1211, and the German princes selected Frederick to
replace him. A contest for the imperial throne ensued, because Otto was
unwilling to relinquish the crown.
Supported by thepapacy, to which he promised many concessions, and aided
by the French, Frederick was eventually secure in his title. He was
crowned king of Germany at Aix-la-Chapelle (now Aachen, Germany in 1215
and Holy Roman emperor at Rome in1220. On hiscoronation Frederick made a
number of elaborate promises to thechurch, including a vow that he would
go on a Crusade. Hepostponed the Crusade,however, because of an outbreak
of anarchy in Sicily and because of the resistance of the Lombard cities,
which in 1226 renewed the Lombard League, originally formed against his
grandfather, Frederick I. The following year Frederick annulled the
Treaty of Constance and put the Lombard cities under the banof the
empire. Threatened several times with excommunication if he did not
fulfill his coronation pledge, Frederick determined to sail for Jerusalem
in1227. An epidemic forced him to return three days after his
departure,whereupon Pope Gregory IX declared him excommunicated.
In 1228 Frederick led the Fifth Crusade to the Holy Land, where he took
Jerusalem and concluded a 10-yeartruce with the sultan of Egypt. Having
married Yolande (1212-28?), the youngdaughter of the titular king of
Jerusalem, John of Brienne, and having assumed his title upon her death,
Frederick was crowned king ofJerusalem in that city in 1229. He returned
to Europe and spent many of his remaining years attempting to bring the
Lombards under subjection. During intermittent struggles with the papacy
he was excommunicated twice again, by Pope Gregory IX in 1239and in 1245
by Pope Innocent IV. His participation in costly wars in Italy caused him
to neglect the welfare of his German subjects. Frederick managed to
establish peace, prosperity, and order in Sicily, however, promulgating
there in 1231 a comprehensive code of laws, described as the best issued
by anyWestern ruler since the reign of Charlemagne.
Frederick also made worthy contributions to learning in Italy. Because he
was a man of culture, he gatheredscholars and men of letters at his
Sicilian court, which Dante called the birthplace of Italian poetry. The
University of Naples was founded by Frederickin1224. For about a century
after his death, on December 13, 1250,the beliefpersisted that Frederick
was still alive. According to one famous legend, Frederick resides in a
cave in the Kyffhäuser Mountains, in the region of Thuringia, awaiting
the summons of the German people to return and restore peace inthe
empire. The legend was later interpreted to refer to Frederick I.
Alias:<ALIA> of /England/
Alias:<ALIA> of Provence and /Forca/
Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cornwall
Alias:<ALIA> King of the /Romans/
Richard was elected King of Germany in 1256,following the death of
William II Holland (killed in a riot). Richard ruled unti 1271. After
his death, there followed the Great Interregnum of nominal emperors
(Rudolf of Hapsburg and Alfonso of Castile) until 1273 when RudolfI of
Hapsburg became Emperor.[91502.ftw]
Richard was elected King of Germany in 1256, following the death of
William II Holland (killed in a riot). Richard ruled unti 1271. After
his death, there followed the Great Interregnumof nominal emperors
(Rudolf of Hapsburg and Alfonso of Castile) until 1273 when Rudolf I of
Hapsburg became Emperor.
John I Plantagenet King of England
Alias:<ALIA> /Lackland/
Reign 1199-1216
Signed Magna Carta 1215
Born: 24 December 1167 at Beaumont Palace, Oxford
Died: 18 October 1216 at Newark Castle,Nottinghamshire
Buried: Worcester Cathedral, Worcester
Crowned: 27 May 1199 at Westminster Abbey, Middlesex
Married: (1st) 29th August 1189 at MarlboroughCastle, Wiltshire; (2nd)
24 August 1200 at Bordeaux Cathedral
Spouse: (1st)Isabella daughter of William, Earl of Gloucester; (2nd)
Isabella daughter ofAymer Taillefer, Count of Angouleme
Contemporaries: Philip II (King of France,1180-1223); Innocent III
(Pope, 1198-1216); Llywelyn the Great (King of Wales, 1208-1240); Stephen
Langdon (Archbishop of Canterbury)
The unrepairable fall of Humpty Dumpty is a jibe at King John as he was
forced to sign the Magna Carta a charter of liberty in 1215 at Runnymede.
John was born on ChristmasEve 1167. His parents drifted apart after his
birth; his youth was dividedbetween his eldest brother Henry's house,
where he learned the art of knighthood, and the house of his father's
justiciar, Ranulf Glanvil, where he learned the business of government.
As the fourth child, inherited lands were notavailable to him, giving
rise to his nickname, Lackland. His first marriagelasted but ten years
and was fruitless, but his second wife, Isabella of Angouleme, bore him
two sons and three daughters. He also had an illegitimate daughter,
Joan, who married Llywelyn the Great, Ruler of All Wales, from whichthe
Tudor line of monarchs was descended. The survival of the English
government during John's reign is a testament to the reforms of his
father, as John taxed the system socially, economically, and judicially.
John was said tohave been a "bad son, bad subject, bad husband, bad
father, and bad sovereign."
The Angevin family feuds profoundly marked John. He and Richard clashed
in 1184 following Richard's refusal to honor his father's wishes
surrender Aquitane to John. The following year Henry II sent John to
rule Ireland, but John alienated both the native Irish and the
transplanted Anglo-Normans who emigrated to carve out new lordships for
themselves; the experiment was a totalfailure and John returned home
within six months. After Richard gained thethrone in 1189, he gave John
vast estates in an unsuccessful attempt to appease his younger brother.
John failed to overthrow Richard's administrators during the German
captivity and conspired with Philip II in another failed coupattempt.
Upon Richard's release from captivity in 1194, John was forced tosue for
pardon and he spent the next five years in his brother's shadow.
John's reign was troubled in many respects. A quarrel with the Church
resultedin England being placed under an interdict in 1207, with John
actually excommunicated two years later by Pope Innocent. The dispute
centered on John's stubborn refusal to install the papal candidate,
Stephen Langdon, as Archbishopof Canterbury; the issue was not resolved
until John surrendered to the wishes of Pope Innocent III and paid
tribute for England as the Pope's vassal.
John proved extremely unpopular with his subjects. In addition to the
Irish debacle, he inflamed his French vassals by orchestrating the murder
of his popular nephew, Arthur of Brittany. By spring 1205, he lost the
last of his French possessions and returned to England. The final ten
years of his reign wereoccupied with failed attempts to regain these
territories. After levying anumber of new taxes upon the barons to pay
for his dismal campaigns, the discontented barons revolted, capturing
London in May 1215. At Runnymeade in thefollowing June, John succumbed
to pressure from the barons, the Church, and the English people at-large,
and signed the Magna Carta at Runnymeade. The document, a declaration of
feudal rights, stressed three points. First, the Church was free to make
ecclesiastic appointments
John I Plantagenet King of England
Alias:<ALIA> /Lackland/
Reign 1199-1216
Signed Magna Carta 1215
Born: 24 December 1167 at Beaumont Palace, Oxford
Died: 18 October 1216 at Newark Castle,Nottinghamshire
Buried: Worcester Cathedral, Worcester
Crowned: 27 May 1199 at Westminster Abbey, Middlesex
Married: (1st) 29th August 1189 at MarlboroughCastle, Wiltshire; (2nd)
24 August 1200 at Bordeaux Cathedral
Spouse: (1st)Isabella daughter of William, Earl of Gloucester; (2nd)
Isabella daughter ofAymer Taillefer, Count of Angouleme
Contemporaries: Philip II (King of France,1180-1223); Innocent III
(Pope, 1198-1216); Llywelyn the Great (King of Wales, 1208-1240); Stephen
Langdon (Archbishop of Canterbury)
The unrepairable fall of Humpty Dumpty is a jibe at King John as he was
forced to sign the Magna Carta a charter of liberty in 1215 at Runnymede.
John was born on ChristmasEve 1167. His parents drifted apart after his
birth; his youth was dividedbetween his eldest brother Henry's house,
where he learned the art of knighthood, and the house of his father's
justiciar, Ranulf Glanvil, where he learned the business of government.
As the fourth child, inherited lands were notavailable to him, giving
rise to his nickname, Lackland. His first marriagelasted but ten years
and was fruitless, but his second wife, Isabella of Angouleme, bore him
two sons and three daughters. He also had an illegitimate daughter,
Joan, who married Llywelyn the Great, Ruler of All Wales, from whichthe
Tudor line of monarchs was descended. The survival of the English
government during John's reign is a testament to the reforms of his
father, as John taxed the system socially, economically, and judicially.
John was said tohave been a "bad son, bad subject, bad husband, bad
father, and bad sovereign."
The Angevin family feuds profoundly marked John. He and Richard clashed
in 1184 following Richard's refusal to honor his father's wishes
surrender Aquitane to John. The following year Henry II sent John to
rule Ireland, but John alienated both the native Irish and the
transplanted Anglo-Normans who emigrated to carve out new lordships for
themselves; the experiment was a totalfailure and John returned home
within six months. After Richard gained thethrone in 1189, he gave John
vast estates in an unsuccessful attempt to appease his younger brother.
John failed to overthrow Richard's administrators during the German
captivity and conspired with Philip II in another failed coupattempt.
Upon Richard's release from captivity in 1194, John was forced tosue for
pardon and he spent the next five years in his brother's shadow.
John's reign was troubled in many respects. A quarrel with the Church
resultedin England being placed under an interdict in 1207, with John
actually excommunicated two years later by Pope Innocent. The dispute
centered on John's stubborn refusal to install the papal candidate,
Stephen Langdon, as Archbishopof Canterbury; the issue was not resolved
until John surrendered to the wishes of Pope Innocent III and paid
tribute for England as the Pope's vassal.
John proved extremely unpopular with his subjects. In addition to the
Irish debacle, he inflamed his French vassals by orchestrating the murder
of his popular nephew, Arthur of Brittany. By spring 1205, he lost the
last of his French possessions and returned to England. The final ten
years of his reign wereoccupied with failed attempts to regain these
territories. After levying anumber of new taxes upon the barons to pay
for his dismal campaigns, the discontented barons revolted, capturing
London in May 1215. At Runnymeade in thefollowing June, John succumbed
to pressure from the barons, the Church, and the English people at-large,
and signed the Magna Carta at Runnymeade. The document, a declaration of
feudal rights, stressed three points. First, the Church was free to make
ecclesiastic appointments
Isabella De Taillefer Queen of England
Alias:<ALIA> of /Angouleme/
Isabella was betrothed to Hugh but forced to marryKing John of England
in 1200. Her coronation as Queen of England was held at Westminster
Abbey on Octer 8 1200. Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Catnerburyperformed
the ceremony. She was imprisoned by King John from 1214-1216 andafter
he died in 1216, Isabella returned to France to marry Hugh. She became
estranged from Hugh, and entered the Abbey of Fontevraut, became the nun
Felice, and died there.
She became the wife of King John, of England, and thusancestress of a
series of kings and a long line of Cavaliers and Puritans inEngland and
America.
John I Plantagenet King of England
Alias:<ALIA> /Lackland/
Reign 1199-1216
Signed Magna Carta 1215
Born: 24 December 1167 at Beaumont Palace, Oxford
Died: 18 October 1216 at Newark Castle,Nottinghamshire
Buried: Worcester Cathedral, Worcester
Crowned: 27 May 1199 at Westminster Abbey, Middlesex
Married: (1st) 29th August 1189 at MarlboroughCastle, Wiltshire; (2nd)
24 August 1200 at Bordeaux Cathedral
Spouse: (1st)Isabella daughter of William, Earl of Gloucester; (2nd)
Isabella daughter ofAymer Taillefer, Count of Angouleme
Contemporaries: Philip II (King of France,1180-1223); Innocent III
(Pope, 1198-1216); Llywelyn the Great (King of Wales, 1208-1240); Stephen
Langdon (Archbishop of Canterbury)
The unrepairable fall of Humpty Dumpty is a jibe at King John as he was
forced to sign the Magna Carta a charter of liberty in 1215 at Runnymede.
John was born on ChristmasEve 1167. His parents drifted apart after his
birth; his youth was dividedbetween his eldest brother Henry's house,
where he learned the art of knighthood, and the house of his father's
justiciar, Ranulf Glanvil, where he learned the business of government.
As the fourth child, inherited lands were notavailable to him, giving
rise to his nickname, Lackland. His first marriagelasted but ten years
and was fruitless, but his second wife, Isabella of Angouleme, bore him
two sons and three daughters. He also had an illegitimate daughter,
Joan, who married Llywelyn the Great, Ruler of All Wales, from whichthe
Tudor line of monarchs was descended. The survival of the English
government during John's reign is a testament to the reforms of his
father, as John taxed the system socially, economically, and judicially.
John was said tohave been a "bad son, bad subject, bad husband, bad
father, and bad sovereign."
The Angevin family feuds profoundly marked John. He and Richard clashed
in 1184 following Richard's refusal to honor his father's wishes
surrender Aquitane to John. The following year Henry II sent John to
rule Ireland, but John alienated both the native Irish and the
transplanted Anglo-Normans who emigrated to carve out new lordships for
themselves; the experiment was a totalfailure and John returned home
within six months. After Richard gained thethrone in 1189, he gave John
vast estates in an unsuccessful attempt to appease his younger brother.
John failed to overthrow Richard's administrators during the German
captivity and conspired with Philip II in another failed coupattempt.
Upon Richard's release from captivity in 1194, John was forced tosue for
pardon and he spent the next five years in his brother's shadow.
John's reign was troubled in many respects. A quarrel with the Church
resultedin England being placed under an interdict in 1207, with John
actually excommunicated two years later by Pope Innocent. The dispute
centered on John's stubborn refusal to install the papal candidate,
Stephen Langdon, as Archbishopof Canterbury; the issue was not resolved
until John surrendered to the wishes of Pope Innocent III and paid
tribute for England as the Pope's vassal.
John proved extremely unpopular with his subjects. In addition to the
Irish debacle, he inflamed his French vassals by orchestrating the murder
of his popular nephew, Arthur of Brittany. By spring 1205, he lost the
last of his French possessions and returned to England. The final ten
years of his reign wereoccupied with failed attempts to regain these
territories. After levying anumber of new taxes upon the barons to pay
for his dismal campaigns, the discontented barons revolted, capturing
London in May 1215. At Runnymeade in thefollowing June, John succumbed
to pressure from the barons, the Church, and the English people at-large,
and signed the Magna Carta at Runnymeade. The document, a declaration of
feudal rights, stressed three points. First, the Church was free to make
ecclesiastic appointments
Mistress of John[91502.ftw]
Mistress of John