Hugh I of Cyprus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hugh I |
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A coin (Bezant) from Hugh I's time
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| King of Cyprus | |
| Reign | 1 April 1205 – 10 January 1218 |
| Predecessor | Aimery |
| Successor | Henry I |
| Regent | Walter of Montbéliard |
| Born | 1194/1195 |
| Died | 10 January 1218 Tripoli |
| Burial | Church of the Hospitallers, Nicosia |
| Spouse | Alice of Champagne |
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| House | House of Lusignan |
| Father | Aimery, King of Cyprus |
| Mother | Eschiva of Ibelin |
Hugh I (born around 1194 or 1195 – died January 10, 1218) became the King of Cyprus on April 1, 1205. He was very young when his father, Aimery, who was also King of Jerusalem, passed away. Hugh's mother was Eschiva of Ibelin. Her family, the Ibelins, were important landowners in places like Bethsan and Ramleh.
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Early Life of Hugh I
Hugh was the youngest of three sons born to Aimery of Lusignan, who was the Lord of Cyprus. His mother was Eschiva of Ibelin. Hugh was born sometime between 1194 and 1199. Sadly, his mother died shortly after he was born.
To help bring peace between Cyprus and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Hugh and his two brothers, Guy and John, were set to marry the three daughters of Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem. These daughters were Maria, Alice, and Philippa. Out of all his brothers, Hugh was the only one who lived past childhood.
Hugh I's Time as King
Becoming King While Young
Hugh was still a child when his father died on April 1, 1205. Because he was too young to rule by himself, the High Court of Cyprus chose his brother-in-law, Walter of Montbéliard, to be his regent. A regent is someone who rules for a king or queen until they are old enough. Walter also became Hugh's guardian, which meant he was in charge of both the kingdom and the young king.
During this time, Walter got involved in a fight over a town called Satalia. This fight was between the Sultanate of Rum and an adventurer named Aldobrandino. Walter supported Aldobrandino. However, the Seljuks, with help from local Greeks, managed to capture the town.
Ruling Cyprus as an Adult
Hugh became old enough to rule on his own in September 1210. He then asked Walter of Montbéliard to explain how he had managed the kingdom's money. Hugh claimed that Walter had kept him in a "state of deprivation" while he was growing up. He demanded 240,000 white bezants (a type of coin) from Walter. Hugh said that 200,000 bezants were in the royal treasury when his father died, and he had spent 40,000 bezants on himself.
Instead of giving an account, Walter left Cyprus. He got help from Bohemond IV of Antioch. John of Brienne, who was the new King of Jerusalem, gave Walter a safe place to stay. Walter wrote a letter to Pope Innocent III, saying that Hugh had forced him out of Cyprus and taken his property without a fair trial.
Hugh made a special agreement with the Seldjuq Sultan of Rum. This agreement made sure that merchants from Cyprus and Rum could trade safely in both countries. Hugh also arranged for his sister, Helvis, to marry Raymond-Roupen. This was a bit controversial because Helvis had already been married to Odo of Dampierre, who was related to Walter of Montbéliard. Odo asked the pope to stop the new marriage. According to a letter from Pope Innocent III in 1213, Hugh also supported people who were against John of Brienne. The pope also criticized Hugh for capturing John of Brienne's followers whose ships had been forced to land in Cyprus by Muslim ships.
Hugh was especially supportive of the Knights Hospitaller, a group of knight-monks. He made sure they didn't have to pay taxes on things they bought or sold in Cyprus, right from the start of his rule. In 1214, he sent more soldiers to help them in Syria.
In September 1217, Hugh joined King Andrew II of Hungary on the Fifth Crusade. They went on raids in Muslim lands in Galilee. On his way back, Hugh stopped in Tripoli to attend the wedding of his half-sister Melisende. He became sick during the celebration and died on January 10, 1218. He was first buried at the Church of the Hospitallers in Tripoli, and later at the Church of the Hospitallers in Nicosia.
Hugh I's Family
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Hugh married Alice of Champagne. She was the older daughter of Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem and her third husband, Count Henry II of Champagne. When they got married, Alice was next in line to become queen after Queen Maria. The wedding happened before Hugh became an adult in 1210.
Hugh and Alice had three children:
- Mary (born before March 1215 – died July 5, 1251 or 1253). She married Count Walter IV of Brienne in 1233. Mary's son, Hugh of Brienne, later tried to claim the kingdoms in the Middle East.
- Isabella (1216–1264). She married Henry of Antioch. Isabella was the mother of Hugh III of Cyprus, who started a new line of the Lusignan family.
- Henry I (1217–1253). He was named after his mother's father. Henry became King of Cyprus when his father, Hugh I, died in 1218. His mother, Alice, ruled as regent for him.
Images for kids
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A coin (Bezant) from Hugh I's time
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The coat-of-arms of the Lusignan family, Kings of Cyprus
