General Notes

Second son of King John of England and brother of Henry III. In 1227,following an expedition to Gascony and Poitou, Richard forced Henry togrant him the land and wealth he regarded as his right, as well as thetitle of earl of Cornwall. He improved his position further by hismarriage (1231) to Isabella, daughter of William Marshall, 1st earl ofPembroke.

He went on a crusade in 1240 and concluded (1241) a truce with the sultanof Egypt. On Henry's expedition to Poitou in 1242, Richard was barelyable to save his brother from complete military disaster. In the 1230s,Richard had often associated himself with the baronial opposition toHenry. However, after his marriage (Isabella having died) to the queen'ssister in 1243, he became a faithful supporter of the king and his mostsensible adviser.

He financed the reform of the coinage in 1247, adding greatly to hisalready considerable wealth, and acted as regent when Henry was out ofthe country. Richard refused (1252) Pope Innocent IV's offer of theSicilian crown (which Henry later accepted for his son Edmund), but in1257 he had himself elected king of the Romans (i.e., emperor-elect ofthe Holy Roman Empire).

Richard was crowned at Aachen and made three visits to Germany, but wasnever more than nominal ruler there. When the Barons' War broke out inearnest, Richard was one of Henry's chief supporters. He was captured atthe battle of Lewes (1264) and held prisoner until after the battle ofEvesham (1265). In the settlement after the war he advised moderationagainst the rebels.

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition Copyright ©1993