Constance, Queen of Sicily

## Constance of England

Queen of Sicily

Sancha of Sicily

Maria of Sicily

**Constance of England** (C. 1132 - July 1165) was the third child of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Henry II of England. Other then for her beauty, Constance was a famous Crusader Queen, in fact she and her brother Henry the Young King were the most famous crusaders in the 5th Crusade. When Constance was 6, she married her 17 year old husband Robert I of Sicily who was not yet king of Sicily. Constance fought in the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Crusades. and wrote down every time she wen't crusading. When Constance finally be came Queen of Sicily, her husband died of fever 2 years later, Constance acted as regent for her 2 year old son Robert II of Sicily. Constance died of sweating sick age 33.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Constance was born the third child of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England in Normandy. Constance was the first daughter of the pair and she was a least favourate of them 2. Constance was raised with her older 2 brother Henry the Young King, and Prince Richard. In the early family life of Constance, her parents where happy and not fighting. Her parents would often take Constance and her 3 older brothers to Anjou in the winters. Constance was close to her older half-sister Alix of France but the sadly barley met each-other because Alix lived in Blois, and Constance usually lived in London. Constance and her older brother Henry the Young King where very close, Constance supported her older brother on anything. Constance had a harder relationship with Prince Richard who was on all account her mothers favourate.

### Marriage

When Constance was about 6 or 7, her parents arranged a marriage for her between the King of Sicily, Constance moved to Sicily with her half-sister Alix of France and Agnes of France. When she arrived she was greeted by the Sicilian people and her future husband. Her husband was Robert, Duke of Calabria who was the heir to the throne. Constance did not actually marry Robert till she was 11, but she promised to engage to him, Constance was raised the Robert's mother who was Yolanda of Naples, Yolanda was not like Eleanor or Henry at all, she was a strict and stern teacher who wanted the best for young Constance. Yolanda taught Constance everything she would need to know, learning was uncommon for a mideval princess, but many princesses and noblelady got around that rule and learned.

## 4th Crusade

When Constance was only 11, she was married to her fiance. But her fiance Robert, was informed he was going on crusade in Jaffa which was the deadliest place to go crusading. There had been many other crusades before, but this was Robert's first time going crusading. Yolanda of Naples was left to take care of Constance and Robert's kingdom. Constance had always feared the Ottoman's would reach Sicily, but they never did. After the crusades, Robert wen't home victorias. But 4 months later Robert's father died of food poisoning. Constance and Robert were crowned King and Queen of Sicily.

## Feud in home

After Constance aged 12 gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter, she left home to see why her family was now fighting, the fight was about who would take who after Constance's father Henry died, the deal was, Henry the Young King who was Constance's father's co-King, would inherit Brittany, and England, Prince Richard would inherit Aquitaine, Normandy, Anjou, Angoulême, Poiters, and Nantes. And the youngest of the son's John would inherit 19000 pounds, and Ireland. Sense John was busy being 8, he did not care about power yet, but Henry the Young King and Prince Richard wanted it all, Constance supported Henry the Young's claim to everything, and Constance's mother supported her brother Richard's claim to everything. But Henry II's favourate child was Prince John, so Henry II rewrote his will saying the 8 year old would get everything. Constance and Henry the Young were furious, the 12 year old and the 15 year old rode to Norfolk and started gathering armies, Constance was the youngest female to ever gather an army. Henry the Young and Constance raided Surrey and Henry the Young was created "Duke of Surrey", in responce Henry II did not wan't to go to war, he gave Constance a palace in Surrey, and Henry and Constance began there rule, but Constance also needed to serve in Sicily, but she also felt she had no need to as she gave birth to 2 other children. So Constance decided to stay.

## 5th Crusade

In 1148 the Pope and the army generals changed the crusading age to 12 years old, because they were losing to many 14, and 15 year olds, and most royal woman were allowed to crusade, and that meant the 13 year old Constance could start crusading. Constance did not know what to do, her brother offered to help her and they started practicing sword fighting. The crusades was about reconquering Jerusalem, Cyprus and other kingdom's that the Ottoman empire stole. The christian kingdom's were Hungary, Navarre, France, Naples, Sicily, England, Aquitaine, Castile, Aragon, Leon, Germany, Croatia, Bohemia, and Kyiv. Sense Constance was English, she was now an official crusader. Her brother promised to protect her and wanted his sister to acompany him to Cyprus to help Prince James, regain his lost crown from the Ottomans who were muslum. Constance was currently in Brittany were her brother was heir apparent, they set sail across Italy and reached Cyprus within 3 days, Constance and her brother put on there army and set for the capital, Cyprus was the 3rd deadliest place to crusade after Syria, and Jaffa. Eleanor of Aquitaine was in Jerusalem, and Constance at first felt like she was always in the wrong place, but then her brother told her "Don't worry my sister, we will win with gods faith." Then the 2 slaughtered 7000 ottoman wariors, then the pair set sail for Turkey. In Turkey it was deadly, arrows were being exacanged on both sides, Constance shot 89 arrows killing 16 wariors. Constance was nearly hit in the head with a fire arrow from an Ottoman general. Then the 2 launched about 700 live donkey's at a palace the Ottoman Sultan or Emperor was staying at, thanks to her mother Eleanor who launched the first live donkey in world history. After they killed many powerful Ottoman General's, they celebrated there victory in Brittany. The 5th Crusade was the first lusted bloody crusade in all of crusading History. Constance and Henry the Young then wen't home to see the chearing crowd of Surrey, but this was not the last crusade, there was more.

## The start of the family war

Henry still trying to claim his stolen throne got his now 14 year old sister to raid Normandy, while he raided a more dangerous place called Poiters. Eleanor of Aquitaine did not wan't any war, she knew her eldest wanted everything so she gave Henry the Young 8000 pounds if he would stop raiding crown territory, But Constance and Henry the Young refused the offer, Constance was supported by her younger 12 year old sister Isabella of England and Isabella became an ally of Henry the young. Henry the Young next invaded Warwick and then Hertford. Constance and Isabella led armies in Northumberland and Richmond. Constance was victorias. Henry the Young then held Henry II's best friend John, 2nd Duke of Amule and prisoner, Constance then had John publicly beheaded in Surrey, this was enough to anger Henry II who launched an invasion of Surrey, Constance took advantage of the fact her father was not in London and stole 9000 pounds from his treasury, then she started raiding London, until her Richard and Eleanor stopped her, but Constance 7 minutes after she was told to stop, she raided Kent and she created her brother Earl of Kent, that year Constance's husband died in a hunting accident, but Constance had no time to mourn, she had to help Henry the Young, so Constance Invaded Dorset and gave it to her brother. Her brother's wife Mary of Gloucester who was 11 was given the Dukedom of Gloucester upon the death of her father. Henry the Young stole all the power of Gloucester for himself therefor becoming 4th Duke of Gloucester. Henry II then reconquered Warwick and imprisoned the govoner appointed by Henry the Young, but Henry re invaded Warwick, then Henry II reconquered it. Then Henry II beheaded the govoner there. Henry the Young was so angry that his father took Warwick that he invaded Chester. Henry and Constance then tried to raid Aquitaine, but Eleanor and there half-brother Louis VIII of France, would not allow them to. The war was not over, but they managed to make peace for a period of time.

## The bloody lust of the 6th Crusade

Another Crusade was announced in 1148, the deal was Henry the Young, would take Constance to Jaffa, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Prince Richard would go to Syria and crusade there, Henry II of England would take Marie of France to Venice, then to Turkey, and Agnes of France would protect Greece from any Ottoman invasion, Isabella of England and Eleanor of England would go to Venice which was the least dangerous place to crusade.

After the Crusade was set everyone led armies all over the balkans, and middle east. Constance first wen't to Jaffa, the bloodiest Crusader state, Constance and Henry the Young marched there armies to Jaffa and killed the Ottoman overlord there. Then the County of Jaffa was given to Alix of France's husband Fulk II. After that, they headed straight for Turkey, thousands of crusaders stormed the battle field left and right, after that Henry the Young came brused, Constance had cuts on her right arm, they headed next for Venice, luckly barely any Ottomans were there and they never were cut. Then they headed for Hungary where the half-sister Blanche of France was reigning as Queen Consort, Constance helped Blanche chase the Ottomans back to Egypt. They finally wen't to Romania were they met the King of France and his wife the Queen of Navarre. After the fight they came home tired and in pain, nurses healed the wombs with medicine. After that, Constance and the young King accepted an invatation to party with the French in Paris over there victory, the 2 were praised as hero's to both the English and French, Constance barely went to England and stayed in Paris and Brittany, her son Robert was raised by the King and Queen of France and Navarre, so was all her other children.

## Henry the Young's death

After the crusade's Henry the Young still wanted his lost crown and went to war with both his brother Richard, and his father. Constance led armies in Devon and headed for Norfolk. Richard never wanted to kill Constance because he thought Constance had been misguided by Henry the Young, so instead he warred against his father and Henry the Young, while Constance was walking over a bridge in London, Henry the young fell off, she screamed and ordered 8 guards to pick him up, but it was to late, Henry the Young was stabbed by his father's guard, Constance fled the battle field fearing she was next. Constance would either have to side with her father, or her brother Richard who now tookover everything Henry the Young had. Constance sided with Prince Richard and the 2 became closer then ever. Constance and Richard after 5 months in late 1148 held there father hostage, there father's supporter was 13 year old John, but Prince John betray Henry II, and helped Constance and Richard win. Now at victory there father died 1 year later of fever.

## 7th Crusade

Constance wen't to Nantes to start training with her brother in crusading, Richard and Constance decided instead of killing people with a sword all the time, they would also bring Daggers which they would set on fire. The pope announced the 7th crusade in July 9, 1149. Constance was now 17 and Richard was 19. Constance marched to Jaffa, but when they met Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor took Richard to Hungary, and Constance instead took her 16 year old sister Isabella who was now Holy Roman Empress to Syria. The 2 were caught of guard and had little protection, they were captured and taken prisoner in Arce. The 2 were let free by there sister-in-law Joan I of Navarre and sent to Greece were it was a much safer place to crusade. Eleanor of England met up with the girl's in Sparta and she came with them to Hungary to kick out ottomans, that area they met Blanche of France who was crusading with her husband and 13 year old son Geza who was heir apparent to the Hungarian crown, and they also went with there 12 year old daughter Judith of Hungary, the crusaders marched to Bulgaria which Constance, Eleanor, and Isabella helped them invade. But the Ottoman empire took over Kieven owned Turkey, the united christian kingdoms were very angry and tried to invade Oman before being kicked out. The 7th Crusade was a tie, it was a bad year for Constance because her mother died not long after the 3 year crusade.

## 8th Crusade

Richard was devastated at the loss of his mother, his only support was the 21 year old Constance. The 8th Crusade was happening in 2 months, Constance trained knights in Normandy and Brittany, her brother who was now King Richard I as Duke of Aquitaine, helped nobles there become knights. Blanche of France had 4 children who could crusade, Louis VIII of France had 5 children who could crusade, and Agnes of France had 2 children who could crusade. Constance's children were only 11 years old, but a month later 2 of Constance's children Robert and Eleanor of Sicily were at the age to crusade, Constance told Eleanor of Sicily to crusade with King Richard, while she crusaded with Robert who was Robert II of Sicily. When the crusade was announced Robert II of Sicily was excited, because he dreamed of being a knight, little did he know, he was entering the savage life of a day and night crusader, because crusaders barely got rest as they had to be on field. Eleanor of Sicily and Richard wen't to Hungary then Romania.

Constance and her son stopped at Serbia to kick out some ottomans and some of there allies, Robert was an unusually good sword fighter and had great military skills for a 12 year old, Constance and Robert after defeating the Ottomans in the battle of Belgrade, then sailed to Jerusalem where her niece Fulk II was ruling a King of Jerusalem, Fulk wanted to regain Arce, something France had failed to do in the 6th and 7th Crusade, Fulk joined the march as killed the overlord, they were able to get back most of Arce, but not all of it, the other parts were heavly protected. Robert never got scared in this crusade unlike his sister, he was ready to do anything, they next wen't to Jaffa which was still the bloodiest crusader state, Robert managed to burn down 7 villages even though he was only 13 now. This crusade lasted 4 years, Constance's other daughters joined in on the Crusade, Constance wen't with her daughter Maria, and Constance told Robert to take Sancha of Sicily to Bohemia, this was the first time Robert wen't by himself in a war. This crusade the christian kingdoms won, but they lost a lot of money and needed to regain it, so any european country who had land in the middle east, taxed the middle east heavly.

## Son's marriage

Her son was at the age to get married, many princesses were discussed but Robert's focus was being a military hero, not a husband, a princess by the name of Beatrice of Rethel who was the daughter of the count of rethel was discussed, Constance was charmed by Beatrice and forced her son to marry her. Her son loved another woman by the name of Isabella of Burgundy, but Constance liked Beatrice more. Beatrice had black hair and blue eyes, she was also well mannered and very beautiful. Beatrice was later crowed Queen Consort of Sicily at age 14. The pair would have many children, but there first one was Roger II of Sicily the future king of Sicily, Roger would always be his father's favourate child, but after 5 weeks, the couple fell in love with each other.

## 9th Crusade

It would not be long till another crusade happened, the christian kingdoms had 5 days to prepare, Constance would go with Maria of Sicily who was married the the sick and ill Count of Provence, Maria's 1 year old son William was put in the care in the Arch-Bishop, Maria and Constance headed for Turkey.

Constance and Maria marched there army to Jaffa, the king and Count was Baldwin III of Jerusalem, who gladly allowed Constance and Maria in, Constance kidnapped the Sultan's heir apparent and gave him to the king of Jerusalem for free, the heir apparent was later murdered, after that the Sultan waiged war on Jerusalem, they lost, but they did take 100 euros. The crusade lasted for 3 years until the war stopped, even though there were still troops still fighting in Turkey.

## 10th Crusade

Constance now at 31, her brother Richard died in the Crusades, her younger brother John became King at 23. Constance had seen the savage and cruel life of a crusader, Constance's son was waiting for the next crusade, because he had a plan to invade part of Turkey. When the 10th crusade was announced she was ready, she helped her brother lead troops from Brittany to Sicily, and from Sicily they crossed the Mediterranean sea and wen't to Albania.

This crusade lasted a long time, it was the bloodiest crusade Constance had every lived to see, the ottoman ally of Grenda was also involved, Constance wen't with her younger brother to Jerusalem, the war was finally over when the Sultan died and his half-brother made peace with the united Euro forces.

## Death

Constance aged 33 was very sick, she could not see and walk, she knew she would die, but she also knew that the 11th Crusade was coming she warned her son to promise to make sure that the armies would be prepared, she died of sweating sickness.