Henry II, Count of Champagne facts for kids

Henry II of Champagne (also known as Henry I of Jerusalem) was an important figure in the Middle Ages. He was born on July 29, 1166, and passed away on September 10, 1197. Henry was the count of Champagne from 1181 until his death. He also became king of Jerusalem in 1192, through his marriage to Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem.

Henry's Early Life

Henry was the older son of Henry I, Count of Champagne and Marie. His mother, Marie, was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine. This meant Henry was related to many powerful royal families in Europe.

In 1171, Henry was supposed to marry Isabella of Hainault. However, she ended up marrying Philip II of France instead. This made Henry's family, especially his aunt Adela of Champagne, quite upset. It caused some tension in the French royal court.

When Henry's father died in 1181, his mother, Marie, took over as the ruler. She acted as a regent, which means she governed the county until Henry was old enough or ready to rule on his own. She ruled until 1187.

Joining the Crusades

In 1190, Henry traveled to the East to join the Third Crusade. Before he left, he made sure his nobles promised that if he didn't return, his younger brother Theobald would become the next count.

Henry arrived in the Holy Land before his uncles, King Philip II of France and King Richard I of England. He quickly became a leader for the French soldiers during the siege of Acre. This was a long and difficult battle to take back the city of Acre.

During this time, Henry was involved in some important events. He was part of a group that helped Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem get a divorce from her first husband, Humphrey IV of Toron. This was so she could marry Conrad of Montferrat. Henry was related to Conrad through his mother's side of the family. Records show that Henry was wounded during the fighting at Acre on November 15.

Later in the Crusade, Henry started working closely with King Richard of England. In April 1192, Richard sent Henry to Tyre. His mission was to tell Conrad of Montferrat that he had been chosen as the new king of Jerusalem. Henry then went back to Acre.

Just a few days later, Conrad was murdered by two Assassins. Henry quickly returned to Tyre, expecting to help with Conrad's coronation. Instead, he found preparations for a funeral. Right away, Henry was betrothed (promised in marriage) to Queen Isabella, who was now a widow and expecting Conrad's child. They got married only eight days after Conrad's death.

Some old stories say that Isabella was so impressed by Henry that she asked him to marry her. Even though she was pregnant with Conrad's child, the marriage was important for the kingdom. Isabella needed a husband to help defend Jerusalem. Henry asked his uncle, King Richard, for permission, and Richard quickly agreed. Henry and Isabella later had two daughters, Alice and Philippa.

Henry was known to the Arabs as "al-kond Herri." He later made an agreement with the Hashshashin, a group known for their secret missions. He even visited their fortress. After their meeting, Henry and the Hashshashin agreed to a treaty.

Henry died in 1197 in his palace in Acre. He fell from a window that was only one floor above the ground. Different old writings tell slightly different stories about how it happened. Most say that a window frame or balcony broke when he leaned against it. Another story suggests he was watching a parade and stepped backward to greet some visitors, losing his balance and falling.

Henry's Legacy

After Henry's death, his widow, Queen Isabella, married again soon after. Her fourth husband was Aimery of Lusignan, who was the king of Cyprus.

Henry's main heir was his older daughter, Alice. She soon married her stepbrother, King Hugh I of Cyprus. Their descendants continued the main family line of the counts of Champagne.

Henry left some challenges for Champagne. He had borrowed a lot of money to pay for his trip to Jerusalem and his marriage. Also, the right to rule Champagne was later argued over by his daughters. In 1213, some people who supported Henry's nephew, Theobald IV of Champagne, claimed that Isabella's first marriage to Humphrey of Toron was never properly ended. This would have meant Henry's daughters were not legitimate heirs. However, this claim was doubtful. Isabella's daughter with Conrad, Maria, and her descendants' right to the throne of Jerusalem were never questioned. If Maria was legitimate, then Henry's daughters were too. In the end, Theobald had to pay a lot of money to both Alice and Philippa to settle the dispute.

Genealogical Table

See also

In Spanish: Enrique II de Champaña para niños