Henry of Almain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry of Almain |
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| Born | 2 November 1235 Hailes Abbey, Gloucestershire |
| Died | 13 March 1271 (aged 35) Chiesa di San Silvestro, Viterbo, Italy |
| Burial | Hailes Abbey, Gloucestershire |
| Spouse | Constance of Béarn |
| House | Plantagenet |
| Father | Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall |
| Mother | Isabel Marshal |
Henry of Almain (born November 2, 1235 – died March 13, 1271) was an important English nobleman. He was also known as Henry of Cornwall. His father was Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who later became the King of the Romans. This title meant his father was chosen to be the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a large group of lands in central Europe. Henry's mother was Isabel Marshal. People called him "of Almain" because his father was the German King of Almayne.
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Henry's Early Life
Henry was knighted by his father on May 18, 1257. This happened the day after his father, Richard, was crowned King of the Romans. The crowning took place in Aachen, which was a traditional place for German kings to be crowned. Being knighted meant Henry became a medieval warrior, loyal to his king.
Role in the Barons' War
Henry was related to two very powerful men in England. He was the nephew of King Henry III and also of Simon de Montfort. These two leaders were on opposite sides during a conflict called the Barons' War.
At first, Henry was unsure which side to support. But he eventually chose to support King Henry III. After the Battle of Lewes in 1264, Henry was captured by Simon de Montfort's forces. He was held as a hostage at Wallingford Castle but was later set free.
Journey to the Crusades
In 1268, Henry decided to join a Crusade. Crusades were religious wars fought by European Christians to take back holy lands. He joined his cousin, Edward, who would later become King Edward I.
However, Edward sent Henry back from Sicily. Henry's new mission was to help bring peace to the region of Gascony, which was part of England's lands in France. Henry traveled by land with Philip III of France and Charles I of Sicily.
The Tragic End of Henry
On March 13, 1271, Henry was attending a church service in Viterbo, Italy. While in the Chiesa di San Silvestro, he was murdered. His killers were his cousins, Guy de Montfort and Simon de Montfort the Younger.
They were the sons of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, who had been killed in battle. Guy and Simon murdered Henry to get revenge for their father's death. The famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri even wrote about this event in his book, The Divine Comedy. Henry was buried at Hailes Abbey in England.
Henry's Marriage
Henry married Constance of Béarn on May 5, 1269. Their wedding took place at Windsor Castle. Constance was the eldest daughter of Gaston VII of Montcada.
Henry and Constance did not have any children. Because of this, Henry's half-brother, Edmund, became the next in line to inherit their father's titles.
Images for kids
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The murder of Henry by the de Montforts
