Berengaria of Navarre

Queen Consort of England

**Berengaria of Navarre** (C. 1134 - 1165) was Queen Consort of England from 1149 to 1164, by her marriage to Richard I of England, she was Queen until her husband's murder, and they have had a childless marriage, she met her own downfall the year after her husband's murder while imprisoned in the tower of London, she was strangled to death and dragged in a wheel-barrel. She was the daughter of Theobald III of Navarre and Blanche of Flanders who was the second wife of the King of Navarre. Berengaria was the second beautifulest sister after her older-half sister Joan of Navarre who was the future Queen of France, after Berengaria's murder, she was given her own burial chamber in Westminister, and gold and diamonds were placed in her chambers.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Berengaria of Navarre was born in 1134, in Pamplona in Navarre. Berengaria resembled her mother Blanche of Flanders who was said to be a caring mother. From birth she was moved to Pau, Navarre where her mother would raise her, and Berengaria's younger sister Constance of Navarre. Berengaria at age 3, was betrothed to Richard, 1st Earl of Somerset who would soon become the future King of England.

### Education

Berengaria was private schooled, in the basic forms of a mideval princesses education. Berengaria did not know how to read in write, but she knew how to paint, dance, sing, play chess, archery, horse-back riding, and conversation, which was common for royal girls at the time. Berengaria mother Blanche of Flanders was poisoned by her father when Berengaria was 5, so Theobald could marry Isabella of Artois, a French noblewoman. Isabella was not caring and suspended the payment for Berengaria's education so she could spend the money on herself. Isabella died a 1 year after the wedding, after being pushed of a bridge, by a madman.

## Marriage

When she was only 14 in 1145, she was sent to Somerset to marry her betrothed, when she arrived, she was quickly married to her 16 year old husband Richard. Her new mother-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was quite fond of her daughter-in-law and made sure Berengaria's father-in-law, Henry II of England, saw the ceremony. The moment she arrived at the English court, she made enemies, 4 of them were her sister and brother-in laws, who were: Henry the Young King, Constance of England, Isabella of England, and Eleanor of England, they all hated Berengaria's husband, so they found no reason to like Berengaria, despite Berengaria having nothing to do, of there dislike for the king.

## Relationship with Richard

Berengaria found her husband to be handsome, but her husband was very unfaithful, he had many mistresses behind Berengaria's back, and never slept with Berengaria as he found her boring, and had little to offer. It was rumored in the 1600's, Berengaria may have had a daughter named Elizabeth of Somerset, who became a nun, but the rumor cannot be verified. Her husband had an affair with Berengaria's house-keeper, Agnese de Rosanae who was a French-Germanic pesant. Berengaria was ill tempered and got attached to her husband to easily, so she shoved the mistress in a bag, and threw the bag in the water, were she would die of drowning. While on Crusade with her husband, her husband's mistress Katherine Sweynford gave birth to Richard's child. Berengaria was so furious, a guard had to lock her in her room, in order to keep the Welsh mistress alive, but Berengaria broke open the door, and threw Katherine of deck, and the other mistress was stabbed in her bath tub. When Berengaria arrived on crusade, she fought alongside her husband in Jerusalem.

## Life at Court

Berengaria was a wild figure at court, she even out-shined the lord vassals, who were very important men at the royal court. Berengaria was a very important figure, and very influecial. She was a Patron of the arts, and music. Berengaria's sister Constance of Navarre became countess of Buccleuch, and joined the English court to celebrate her marriage to the Earl of Buccleuch. Berengaria became jealous of her sister when Constance gave birth to a son, which Berengaria did not even have a child yet. Berengaria instead convinced the Queen to strip the family of there titles as Earl of Buccleuch, and behead the Earl of Buccleuch, for not exact reason, Constance was devastated, as she no longer had a strong place in the Royal court, she was kicked out 3 days later and her son died of natural causes 4 weeks later, after that, Constance turned into a nun.

## Queen of England

In 1148, Berengaria's enemy and brother-in-law, was killed in the famous Cambridge disaster. Berengaria's husband was next in line for the throne, and Berengaria cheered, she had always wanted to become Queen, that next year, Richard defeated his father with the help with Prince John. King Henry II died of devastation 1 month later, and Richard was crowned, King. He was quick to crown his Wife Queen. Berengaria was an self absored Queen, she wanted everyone to notice her beauty, and when her husband invaded Jordan, she ordered statues of Muhammed be knocked down, and statues of her be placed everywhere, while she was in Jordan, the people revolted and burned down statues of the Queen, and murdered her servents. But to be fair Berengaria had ordered the slaughter of the Jordanese people, while a horse was being prepared to rip apart the Queen, but she escaped while a faithful Islamic nun who was declared martyr after her death, helped the Queen escape to France. In France she met her half-sister-in-law, Queen Blanche of Hungary who was confused to see her in France, the King of France Louis VIII of France gave Berengaria a boat to London were she was cheered, but a year later, her husband was captured by the Holy Roman Empress and put on sail for a considerible amount of money, and Berengaria's sister-in-law Constance bought Richard and imprisoned him in Sicily. Berengaria was made regent, and begged Constance to have mercy on Richard. But Constance kept Richard prisoner for over 10 years, When Berengaria was 30, her husband had been imprisoned for 15 years. Constance decided to end Richard's suffering, she tortured him for 3 months, and then finally cut his throat open and strangled him. Constance worked together with Prince John to overthrow Richard, Prince John became King of England, an Berengaria was imprisoned in John's orders.

## Imprisonment

Berengaria was imprisoned in the tower of London, and tortured for evidence suggesting Richard was a traitor to the English, a guard hung Berengaria by the hands naked, and whipped her until she would confess, she was even publically dragged by a horse until she admitted, which she never did. She was only fed 3 times a day by John, and she was treated like a slave other then a Dowager Queen. John soon called for her murder as she was not giving him an helpful information, and assasians set for the Tower of London.

## Murder

After a year of torture, she was strangled to death by knights, she screamed as the prisoners in the tower tried to free her. Her body was placed in a wheel-barrel, and dragged to westminister. But She was not the last Queen to be murdered in England, Isabella of Auvergne, the second wife of King John was strangled to death in Normandy along with there daughter Matilda. Berengaria was given her own room by king John in Westminister, and the room was decked with Gold and diamonds. Today her grave is visited by millions in England.