Theobald II of Navarre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theobald II
Royal seal depicting Theobald II
King of Navarre
Reign	1253 – 1270
Predecessor	Theobald I
Successor	Henry I
Born	c. 1238
Died	4 December 1270 (aged 31–32) Provins, France
Consort	Isabella of France
House	House of Blois
Father	Theobald I of Navarre
Mother	Margaret of Bourbon
Religion	Catholicism

Theobald II (born around 1239 – died 1270) was a powerful ruler. He was the King of Navarre and also known as Theobald V, the Count of Champagne and Brie in France. He ruled from 1253 until he passed away.

Theobald II was the son of Theobald I. He was the second king from the House of Blois to rule Navarre. Since he had no children, his younger brother, Henry I, became king after him.

Becoming King

Theobald was the oldest son of Theobald I of Navarre and his third wife, Margaret of Bourbon. He became king when his father died in 1253. At that time, Theobald was only fourteen years old.

His mother, Margaret, ruled for him as a regent until 1256. She worked with James I of Aragon during this time. When Theobald turned 17 in 1256, he officially took over as king.

Early Challenges

On November 27, 1256, Theobald agreed to follow the Fueros of Navarre. These were special laws that limited the king's power. They said he had to get advice from a tutor chosen from the nobles. He also couldn't make big decisions without a council of twelve noblemen.

Theobald didn't like these limits on his power. He felt he should have more control as king. To show his royal authority, he received special religious ceremonies. Pope Alexander IV gave him the rites of unction in 1257 and coronation in 1259. Theobald wanted to show that his right to rule came from God. This idea was new in Navarre.

Ruling Navarre

Theobald wanted to make his kingdom stronger and reduce the power of the nobles. He also wanted to be free from the limits of the fueros. To do this, he looked for support from the middle-class people, known as the bourgeoisie.

He asked them to pay extra taxes, but they still supported him. This was because he gave them more rights, respect, and a say in politics.

Expanding Rights

Theobald extended the special laws (fueros) of Pamplona to other towns. These towns included Lantz, Estella, and Torralba Del Río. He also founded a new town called Espinal (Aurizberri) in 1269.

Dealing with Conflicts

Theobald continued a disagreement with the bishop of Pamplona. This conflict had started during his father's rule. The bishop supported the local Basque people in one part of Pamplona. Theobald, however, supported the people from southern France who lived in another part of the city.

In 1266, Theobald tried to stop the fights between the different parts of Pamplona. He pushed for an agreement among the city's councils. However, this didn't prevent a destructive war in 1276.

Improving the Kingdom

Theobald also continued his father's work in other areas. He made the royal government better, especially how money was managed. He also ordered the first official count of the population.

The count in 1266 showed that Navarre had about 150,000 people. The king spent his money in different ways:

• About 6.75% went to the government workers.
• About 33.84% was used for the military.
• About 59.6% was for the king and his household.

French Connections

A dinero coin from Theobald II's time. It says Tiobald rex de Navarie (Theobald King of Navarre).

Theobald found a strong ally in Louis IX of France. Louis was known for supporting other kings against their nobles. Theobald married Louis's daughter, Isabella, on April 6, 1255.

Theobald often advised Louis, and Louis helped solve problems within Navarre. In 1256, Navarre gained access to the important ports of Fuenterrabía and San Sebastián. This happened when Alfonso X of Castile's daughter was engaged to Louis IX's son.

The Crusade and Death

In July 1270, Theobald joined his father-in-law, King Louis IX, on the Eighth Crusade. This was a religious war to Tunis. During the siege, Louis died from an illness.

Theobald also died that same year in Trapani, Sicily, while returning home. He had no children. His younger brother, Henry I, became the next king. Theobald's wife, Isabella, returned to France and died a few months later.

See also

• Ciampolo, a character in a famous old story who cheated Theobald.