Arrayed in Gold: Berengaria of Navarre: The English Queen Who Never Set Foot in England Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England. Engraving from c.1890. Berengaria of Navarre, consort to one of England's most beloved and best remembered kings, Richard I (the Lionheart), had a distinction in history as the only Queen of England never to set foot in England, well at least during her husband's lifetime. Just as in the case of early medieval English queens consort, little is known about Berengaria's life, and this what makes her more intriguing for me. She lived in a time of many historical events and yet she was overshadowed by more forceful personalities of that time (Richard the Lionheart and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine). Berengaria is one of my favorite historical character, and I have always looked up to her as a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and courageous woman, deeply devoted to her husband. But beauty and devotion were all seemed wasted.

Richard, although undoubtedly the ideal warrior-king and the epitome of a chivalrous knight, was far from being the ideal husband (and the ideal king), and his treatment of Berengaria reveals a rather cold and callous side of his personality. Berengaria was born a princess of Navarre, a little kingdom on the borders of France and Spain (and now a Northeastern region of Spain), between the years 1165 and 1170. She was the eldest daughter of Sancho IV of Navarre (nicknamed "the Wise") and Infanta Sanchia of Castile. Berengaria was probably born and educated in Pamplona, the capital of Navarre. She was said to be extremely well-educated, and she grew up with a great appreciation for the music and poetry of the troubadours of neighboring Provence. Even though she was a Spanish by descent, she was more a Provencal princess in language and education. When it comes to her appearance, Berengaria was described as dark-haired and dark-eyed, "petite, and a fine musician... in all things, a suitable consort for a king".

She was said to be very beautiful, but a Norman minstrel named Ambroise, one of the only two contemporaries who ever saw her, simply described her as "elegant and prudent". Berengaria first saw Richard when he was still Count of Poitou at a grand tournament held by her father in Pamplona. Richard was a great friend of Berengaria's brother, Sancho. They were fratres juratis, or sworn brothers, according to a custom of the times of chivalry. They had similar personalities and interests. Both men were renowned for their bravery, and they were highly skilled in all the learning and poetry of the Provencals. As Count of Poitou, Richard had ample opportunities to visit Sancho since Navarre was a close neighbor of Poitou. It was believed by historians that it was the result of Richard's frequent sojourns to Navarre that he became acquainted and eventually felt attracted to Berengaria. Berengaria herself was a learned and cultivated princess, and Richard, a gifted troubadour-poet, must have become naturally drawn to her. He admired her cultivated mind, and she made a strong impression on his volatile heart.

Years after Richard and Berengaria's first meeting, the King of Navarre was informed that Eleanor of Aquitaine was interested in a marriage between Berengaria and her favorite son Richard, who by this time had made a vow to 'take up the cross' and join the Crusade. The union between the Princess of Navarre and a Prince of England would be very beneficial for Queen Eleanor, for an alliance with the kingdom of Navarre would mean protection to the southern borders of Aquitaine. The cultural similarities between Aquitaine and Navarre, where the troubadours enjoyed great prestige and royal protection, and the apparent physical attraction between Richard and Berengaria, helped to forge the marriage. But marriage was impossible between the couple while the contract made by their parents between Richard and Alys of France remained intact. Years ago, Richard had been promised in marriage to Alys Capet, half-sister of the King of France. However, Richard's father King Henry II of England, had taken the gentle Alys as his own mistress, which resulted in Alys giving birth to an illegitimate child.

But after the death of his father in 1189, Richard, now King of England, was quick to break the engagement to Alys, and felt free to select a bride according to his personal inclinations. Of course, Alys's brother, King Philip of France, insisted that Richard should marry Alys, but Richard stated openly the reason for his refusal: that Alys's reputation was sullied. Philip was unable to refute this charge, and finally dropped the matter. King Richard I by the 19th century painter Merry-Joseph Blondel Since Richard was at that time busy preparing for the Third Crusade, he sent his mother Queen Eleanor to Navarre to secure Berengaria's hand in marriage. King Sancho was more than happy to accept the proposition and entrusted his willing daughter to Eleanor. We do not know what Berengaria thought about the whole arrangement, but being a dutiful daughter, she was aware of the political advantage of her marriage. And so Eleanor and Berengaria started on their journey not to England, but to Sicily. They were expecting to meet Richard in Messina, but he was already on his journey for the Holy Land.

The two women arrived in Messina during Lent, and so the marriage could not take place until after Easter. Richard's sister, Joanna, the Dowager Queen of Sicily, had previously arrived, and she and Berengaria became the closest of friends. Queen Eleanor left Sicily for England with a task of raising money for the Crusade, and Berengaria was left under Joanna's custody. With the crusading forces started on their journey for the Holy Land, arrangements were made for Berengaria and Joanna to set sail to the Holy Land with Richard in a separate ship. En route to the Holy Land, a violent storm came on and scattered the vessels. Richard's ship found shelter in Crete, while Berengaria and Joanna's was driven towards Cyprus. The latter found themselves threatened by the island's ruler, Isaac Comnenus. Eventually, Richard found Berengaria's ship in the open sea, and was indignant to see Isaac and his men plundering the wrecked vessel. Richard led the attack, rescued his fiancee and his sister, captured the island, and overthrew Isaac. Berengaria must have been delighted to be reunited with Richard. It was then decided that their wedding should take place immediately.

Richard and Berengaria were married in Limassol on May 1191, amidst great feasting and revelry. A chronicler wrote: "And there in the joyous month of May, 1191, in the flourishing and spacious isle of Cyprus, celebrated as the very abode of the goddess of love, did King Richard solemnly take to wife his beloved lady Berengaria." The wedding was followed by their coronation. Richard was crowned King of Cyprus, and Berengaria Queen of England and of Cyprus. It was said that Berenagaria's crown was more elaborate and more expensive than those worn by previous Queens of England. It was probably due to her being both Queen of England and Cyprus. Loretta Young as Berengaria of Navarre from the movie "The Crusaders", 1935. Soon after the wedding, Richard immediately set sail to the Holy Land, leaving his wife and his sister to sail under the protection of his most trusted knight, Stephen de Turnham. He was so busy commanding his troops and was in such haste to arrive in Holy Land that observers noted that he did not even spend enough time with his wife.

Upon Berengaria and Joanna's arrival at Acre, the place had already been successfully captured by Richard and his men. The ladies stayed there throughout the duration of the Syrian campaign, living in almost harem-like seclusion. While Richard was busy securing the honor and renown he sought, history was silent about Berengaria and her life during this period. I would like to think that she possessed considerable courage and strength of will, since going to the Crusade and the constant dangers of living in a war zone was not an easy thing. Richard, on the other hand, appeared to have had no interest on his wife whatsoever, and many historians believe that the couple's marriage was never consummated. The reasons for this were various: some blame it to Richard being a homosexual, or that he was far too busy with his battles to devote his time to his queen. After spending a year or two in the Holy Land, Richard finally made truce with his enemy, Saladin. With Jerusalem now under the rule of an Italian nobleman, Richard left the Holy Land, and started on his journey back to Europe. He had already sent Berengaria and his sister back ahead of him to Naples.

While Berengaria and Joanna safely arrived in Naples, Richard's ship was wrecked on the coast of Istria. He was captured and imprisoned by the Emperor of Germany, and a huge ransom was demanded for his release. His ever devoted mother, raised the ransom money, and she was aided in this by Berengaria. Richard was released and journeyed back to England after a four-year-absence. As if to make up for the shame of his imprisonment and his long absence, he was re-crowned at Westminster Abbey. This might be the best opportunity to bring Berengaria with him in England and show her to his people. But he did not even bother to recall her. When he went to Normandy to check on his French territories, he did not make any effort to see Berengaria despite ample opportunities. It was said that during this time, Richard renewed his connections with "profligate and worthless set of persons with whom he had been associated in his bachelor days". Berengaria was in a humiliating situation, but she kept her dignity and patience. The Church then finally intervened and reprimanded Richard.

When he fell ill and thought that he was going to die, he admitted his faults and vowed that if he recovered, and if Berengaria would forgive him, he would never leave her again. He did recovered, and as he promised, he went to Poitou where Berengaria was residing, and became reconciled with her. She welcomed him with joyful forgiveness, wisely avoiding from giving him any reproaches. In the Polychronicon, a entry was found about the couple: "The King took to him his Queen Berengaria, whose society he had for a long time neglected, though she were a royal, eloquent, and beauteous lady, and for his love had ventured with him through the world." Berengaria indeed loved Richard, and throughout his time in France, she never left his side, even when he was on his campaigns. He further sealed the reconciliation by giving her the royal revenues arising from the mines in Cornwall and Devonshire for her dower. Unfortunately, her renewed happiness was short-lived. The couple's reconciliation proved to be unfruitful, and Richard, despairing of heirs by his queen, eventually named his younger brother John as heir to the throne of England.

Richard never returned to England - his continental possessions had always been more important for him than England, which he viewed as only a source of money and resources for his wars. And thus Berengaria remained Queen of a country which she had never seen. Queen Berengaria's tomb and effigy in the Cathedral of St. Juliens in Le Mans, France Richard died on 1199, when he was 42 years old, as a result of an arrow wound. Berengaria was with him when he died, and was a witness to the testimony that Richard left his crown and his kingdom to his brother John. Although she was still young and beautiful, Berengaria never remarried, and retired in Le Mans, one of her dower properties, where she founded the Abbey of L'Espan. She had never been insistent upon her marital rights, but when it came to her dower rights, she proved to be firm and unyielding. King John refused to pay her her dower rights, and she came to England to demand what was due to her. John treated her shabbily, but she refused to back down. She appealed to the Pope, who championed her cause.

King John finally relented (after the threat of excommunication), but he died before the payment could be made. John's son, now King Henry III, finally set things straight, and Berengaria's courage and persistence were rewarded when she received her pension from England. She spent the remaining years of her life at the stately Abbey of L'Espan, doing good works like feeding the poor, and caring for abandoned children. She died in 1230 and was buried in her abbey. Berengaria, although one of the least known about Queens of England, proved to be, as her story shows, a virtuous, courageous and admirable woman. I also find her to be a sympathetic figure - she truly loved and admired her husband, but unfortunately for her, Richard seemed to be more interested in battling his wars than being with his wife. We would never know what her feelings were regarding her husband's neglect of her - she took her heart's secrets to her grave.

Her devotion to Richard was commendable, and this was best summed up by the English writer Agnes Strickland: "From early youth to her grave, Berengaria manifested devoted love for Richard; uncomplaining when deserted by him, forgiving when he returned, and faithful to his memory even unto death." References: Agnes Strickland, The Lives of the Queens of England. Lisa Hilton, Queens Consort, England's Medieval Queens. Queen Berengaria of Navarre - Queen of England - MedievalQueens.com Queen of England, 1191-1199 "From unsung queen to beloved Dame of LeMans" From obscure Basque princess to queen of England was a long leap for Berengaria, daughter of King Sancho the Wise of Navarre. And not only queen of England, but wife of the most famous warrior of the age, Richard the Lionheart. The 1191 marriage was engineered by Richard's mother, Queen Eleanor. King Henry II had just died. Richard, now king, was unmarried and the royal succession required an heir. Eleanor insisted that he marry before leaving for the Third Crusade.

She brought the bride she'd chosen, twenty-six-year-old Berengaria, to Sicily just before Richard sailed off to the Holy Land. She ordered that Berengaria accompany him, to reduce the chances of his philandering and hasten the production of offspring. Though Berengaria came to love Richard, he proved an indifferent husband, more interested in his battles than his wife. The Crusade fizzled out, no child was born, and upon her return to France Berengaria seldom saw Richard. In 1199 he died, without ever taking her to the country of which she was queen. Widowed and almost impoverished, she lived quietly in a small castle near Angers. Since she had never borne the required heir, her English in-laws ignored her. Richard's successor, King John, refused to send her her inheritance, despite her repeated pleas and demands. Then through an unlikely agent, fate intervened. King Philip of France, for devious diplomatic reasons, named her Dame of Le Mans. Her financial future was secure. For twenty-five years she governed wisely and firmly, surprising the powerful churchmen who had ruled the city and expected to bend a weak woman to their will.

As final vindication, King John's successor, Henry III, acknowledged her rights and sent the inheritance that was due her. She died in 1230, just before the dedication of her most enduring legacy, the magnificent Abbey of Epau in Le Mans, which still stands. Her tomb and her effigy are in the Cathedral of St. Julien in Le Mans, where the inscription reads: "To the sovereign majesty, beauty and goodness and the virtues of her youth, were added her greatness in adversity and her resignation in sacrifice." Learn more about Queen Berengaria of Navarre: Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings, by Amy Kelly. Harvard University Press, 1950. Richard the Lionheart, by John Gillingham.

Times Books, 1978 Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England - Medievalists.net Medievalists.net Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England September 4, 2014 by Medievalists.net Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England By Susan Abernethy Of the many princesses available as a bride for Richard the Lionheart, King of England, Berengaria of Navarre was chosen to be his queen. There were two reasons for this choice. The first was for the usual dynastic purpose of having an heir. The second rationale was for strategic and political reasons relating to Richard’s desire to go on Crusade to the Holy Land. Berengaria was born c. 1170. Her parents were King Sancho VI the Wise of Navarre and Queen Sancha-Beata of Castile. We don’t know anything about Berengaria’s education but the court of Navarre had assimilated some of the troubadour and courtly love culture from southern France. The chroniclers did describe Berengaria as “wise” and she had an unsullied reputation.

Richard may have seen Berengaria when she was a young girl on a visit to Pamplona in 1177. Richard was engaged to Alys, the sister of King Philip II of France for many years but the marriage was never celebrated. Alys had come to the English court of Richard’s father King Henry II when she was a young girl and she may have been seduced by King Henry and had his child. Richard needed King Philip’s participation in the Crusade and so delayed his marriage to Alys as long as he could. In the meantime he pursued an alliance with Navarre. While he was on Crusade, he needed someone to guard his holdings in southern France and King Sancho was in a position to defend Richard’s interests. In 1185, Berengaria was given the fief of Monreal near Tudela. Her sister’s didn’t receive any such gift so King Sancho may have been enhancing Berengaria’s status prior to a betrothal to Richard. Sancho would have considered Richard to be a splendid match for his daughter.

While Richard was on a progress through his holdings in the south of France in 1190, he may have come to an understanding with King Sancho about the marriage. In the same year, Richard sent his formidable mother Eleanor of Aquitaine to retrieve Berengaria. Eleanor met Sancho and Berengaria in Pamplona. Although they were still trying to keep King Philip in the dark about the engagement, Sancho celebrated the meeting with a large banquet at the Palace of Olite. Berengaria and Eleanor left Navarre together, crossing the Alps in to Lombardy. They moved down to Pisa to await word from Richard. There was no ship to carry them so Richard had them continue to Naples where they finally embarked in February, 1191 accompanied by Count Philip of Flanders who was planning to join the Crusade. While the women travelled to meet him, Richard took Messina in Sicily. Philip knew Berengaria was on her way and was pressuring Richard to marry his sister Alys. In March, Richard finally told Philip he would not marry Alys as she had been his father’s mistress.

Philip was angry but he needed to avoid embarrassment and was forced to agree that Richard could marry whoever he wanted. Berengaria arrived with little fanfare. It was Lent and the marriage couldn’t be celebrated so Richard sent Berengaria and his sister Joanna on a ship to the Holy Land. The women supposedly became separated from the fleet in a storm and came upon the coast of Cyprus where their ship might have been wrecked. Richard’s plans included taking Cyprus to utilize it for holding supplies for the Crusade. He used the excuse of the missing ship to attack and take the island. Richard and Berengaria were married in Limasol at the chapel of Saint George on May 12. The ceremony was performed by Richard’s chaplain Nicholas who later became the Bishop of Le Mans. Berengaria was then crowned queen by John, Bishop of Evreux. Richard settled on Berengaria all his Gascon properties beyond the Garonne River as her dower. They had three weeks together and then sailed on June 5, arriving at Acre on June 8. While Richard was fighting, Berengaria and Joanna were no better than captives, moving between Acre, Jaffa and Ramleh.

The areas where they stayed were dangerous so they probably couldn’t do much travelling or sightseeing. Their activities were most likely limited to reading, prayer, embroidery, weaving, and games. In 1192, Richard and his opponent Saladin finally came to an agreement to end the Crusade. Berengaria and Richard parted at Acre. Berengaria and Joanna left for Europe on September 29. They went to Brindisi and then on to Rome where Berengaria stayed for six months. In December, as Richard made his way across Austria, he was captured by Leopold of Austria who turned him over to the German Emperor, Henry VI. He was held in captivity and a ransom was set for 100,000 marks in February of 1193. Berengaria left Rome in June and travelled to Pisa, Genoa and Marseilles. She may have helped to raise some of Richard’s ransom but most of the fundraising was done by Eleanor. Eleanor was frantically working to stop her son John from taking Richard’s throne while she required everyone in England to contribute to Richard’s ransom.

Eleanor left for Germany in December 1193 to pay the ransom and Richard returned to England, landing at Sandwich on March 12, 1194. He dealt with John before he was crowned again at Winchester on April 17, in the presence of his mother rather than his wife. Richard hadn’t seen Berengaria for two years. He was being pressured by several sources to reunite with his wife and he eventually did, most likely joining her in Loches in what is now central France in 1194. Berengaria had organized a small household in Poitou and had travelled between the castles of Beaufort-en-Vallée, Chinon and Saumur before the reunion at Loches. In 1195, she and Richard began construction of a small house on land they had purchased at Thorée but there is no evidence they ever lived there. Despite this reunion, Richard was now spending a lot of time working on his cherished project of building his castle at Gaillard. He also was fighting incursions by King Philip II of France into Normandy.

There is some evidence Richard might have considered repudiating Berengaria during this time, most likely due to her inability to have a child. But Berengaria’s brother, now King Sancho VII was a staunch ally of Richard and the marriage remained intact. In March of 1199, Richard began a siege of the castle of Chalus-Chabrol in his ongoing struggles with Philip. It was on an evening stroll outside his camp, without his usual armor, that he was struck by an arrow in the arm. His health had not been robust since the Crusade and even though the arrow was extracted, infection quickly set in. Before he died, he sent for Eleanor who arrived at his bedside to witness his death on April 6. Berengaria was not summoned and was told of her husband’s death by Bishop Hugh of Lincoln at Beaufort-en-Valée. Berengaria was in deep sorrow and heartbroken. Richard was buried at the family mausoleum at Fontevrault in Eleanor’s presence. For unknown reasons, Berengaria did not attend the funeral. She did visit Fontevrault shortly after the funeral and had a brief meeting with Eleanor.

She also discussed the marriage of her sister Blanca to Thibaut of Champagne with the papal envoy Cardinal Pietro di Capua. She attended the wedding at Chartres in July. When Thibaut died in 1201, Blanca provided a home for Berengaria for a few years. Berengaria was having a hard time getting money due to her from King John and Eleanor. Berengaria had to send envoys to John in England to press for the money. John promised to pay but never delivered. The Pope even complained on Berengaria’s behalf to no avail. John’s son Henry III made similar promises to pay but negotiations were still pending as late as 1226. Richard had managed to cheat her out of getting her dower properties from their marriage and she was forced to rely on the French for her living. She became known as the Lady of Le Mans. Berengaria lived mostly in the palace of the counts of Maine with her household. She took an interest in the local church of St. Pierre. She involved herself in a feud between St. Pierre and the rival cathedral chapter of St. Julien and St. Pierre came under interdict.

The Pope protected Berengaria during this feud but she did leave Le Mans and lived at Thorée until the interdict was lifted in 1216 and she was able to return. She devoted her life to charitable works and caring for the poor. Berengaria never set foot in England during her husband’s lifetime. Richard himself was only in England about six months of his reign. But there is evidence Berengaria visited England several times during the reign of King John. She toured England in 1216 and in 1220 she was in the crowd at Canterbury Cathedral that witnessed the translation of Thomas Beckett’s bones to the new Trinity Chapel shrine. Berengaria’s main project in her last years was to erect a Cistercian house. She managed to purchase some land and was granted more land by King Louis VIII of France. She built the foundation of Nôtre Dame de la Pieté at Epau. In 1230, the first monks arrived and the abbey was confirmed by the Pope and consecrated by Bishop Geoffrey de Laval in January, 1231.

Unfortunately, Berengaria did not live to see the sanctification as she had died in December of 1230. She was buried in the abbey at Epau. Her bones were moved at some point but it is believed they were rediscovered in a hidden vault in 1960. Her remains have been restored in Epau to the chapter house behind her effigy. Further reading: “Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York” by Lisa Hilton, “Richard & John: Kings at War” by Frank McLynn, “Eleanor of Aquitaine” by Alison Weir Susan Abernethy is the writer of The Freelance History Writer . You can Like her on Facebook as well on Medieval History Lovers . You can also follow Susan on Twitter @SusanAbernethy2 Berengaria of Navarre, queen of England | Epistolae Home » Berengaria of Navarre, queen of England Berengaria of Navarre, queen of England Title social-status: Queen of England Biography: Berengaria was the daughter of Sancho (el Sabio) VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile.

Sancho was a descendant of Garcia Ramirez el Restaurador (the Cid). Berengaria was closely related to royalty in France and England as well as Spain. A brother, Sancho el Fuerte, succeeded his father; a sister, Blanche, married Thibaut of Champagne (grandson of Eleanor of Acquitaine and Louis VII), whose son succeeded Sancho VII as king of Navarre. Berengaria was a witness at Blanche's marriage, which she may have been participated in arranging, and Blanche took Berengaria in when she was widowed and unable to claim her dower and later when her city was under interdict.1 One aunt, sister of Berengaria's father, married William the Bad of Sicily and their son William the Good married Joan (Joanna), daughter of Eleanor of Acquitaine and Henry II, and eventual sister-in-law of Berengaria. Another paternal aunt married Sancho of Castile; their son Alfonso VIII married Eleanor of England, a sister-in-law of Berengaria, and their daughter Blanche married Louis VIII of France, son of Philip Augustus, who made it possible for Berengaria to live in and rule Le Mans.

Queen Blanche and her son treated Berengaria as a close relation and helped her to buy the land she needed to found her monastery. Berengaria married Richard Lionheart, king of England in 1191. She was brought from Navarre to Sicily by Richard's mother, Eleanor of Acquitaine; from there Eleanor's daughter and Berengaria's future sister-in-law, Joan, the widowed queen of Sicily, accompanied her to meet Richard. They were shipwrecked on Cyprus, where they could not land for fear of being taken hostage by its ruler Isaac Comnenus; Richard came to the rescue with many crusading allies and took the island. Richard and Berengaria were married at Limassol on Cyprus and Berengaria was crowned queen of England. Berengaria and Joan accompanied Richard to Syria, but when they returned, Richard went by land and was captured, Berengaria and Joan by sea, stopping in Rome as guests of the pope for six months. Berengaria never went to England, and bore no children. When Richard died in 1199, therefore, she had no role.

She entered into a long struggle just to recover her dower lands which were in France; she was also supposed to receive Eleanor's lands in England, Normandy and Poitou after her death. Despite various agreements and pressure from the papacy, John never paid his sister-in-law what was owed her. She fought on various levels: there are records of her claims to a particular castle, see RHP III, #61, October 18, 1216, in which pope Honorius tells an archbishop, dean, and archdeacon of Tours to conclude the case committed to them by Innocent III over possession of the castle of Segreio which Berengaria claimed as her dower right against William of Verchia/Wirchia/Guerchia who had despoiled her of it. In July 1217, Honorius ordered them to compel William to restore the castle to Berengaria, RHP III, #678. When John lost Normandy, Berengaria petitioned the victorious Philip Augustus and he settled the county of Maine on her in return for her dower properties in Normandy which he now controlled.

She lived and ruled in Maine, in the city of Le Mans, from 1204 until she died in 1230. Berengaria founded the abbey of l'Espau, and was directly involved in ruling Le Mans. She engaged in various struggles with the local bishop over corrupt practices in his church and jurisdictional issues. Her authority over the city was recognized by the French crown in matters of extending city boundaries or enlarging cathedral precincts (Trindade, 161). She arbitrated disputes and appointed functionaries. But when she levied certain taxes and attempted to collect certain revenues, she encountered opposition from the cathedral chapter and the bishop who imposed interdicts. On one occasion, described in a letter from Honorius III to the abbot of St. Genevieve and two Paris deans, when Berengaria and a "large multitude of people" had come to the church for Palm Sunday services, the bishop and the chapter refused them entry and shut the doors in their face "to the confusion, injustice/injury, and scandal of many," RHP III #4237. The conflict between the cathedral chapter of St. Julien and rival chapter, St.

Pierre de la Cour, began before the arrival of Berengaria, and continued beyond her life (see Trindade, 163ff). Biographical notes: 1. Much of the material in this biography comes from Ann Trindade, Berengaria, In Search of Richard the Lionheart's Queen (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1999). Berengaria of Navarre Berengaria of Navarre Queen of England, Spouse of Richard I Berengaria of Navarre, Queen Consort of Richard I Lionheart of England. © 2011 Clipart.com Married May 12, 1191 to Richard I of England Died December 23, 1230 Occupation: Queen of England - Queen consort of Richard I of England, Richard the Lionhearted Known for: the only Queen of England never to set foot on the soil of England while Queen About Berengaria of Navarre: Berengaria was the daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre, called Sancho the wise, and Blanche of Castile. Richard I of England had been betrothed to Princess Alice of France, sister of King Phillip IV.

But Richard's father, Henry II, had made Alice his mistress, and church rules therefore forbid the marriage of Alice and Richard. Berengaria was chosen as wife to Richard I by Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine . The marriage with Berengaria would bring a dowry that would help Richard finance his efforts in the Third Crusade. Eleanor, though almost 70 years old, traveled over the Pyrenees to escort Berengaria to Sicily. In Sicily, Eleanor's daughter and Richard's sister, Joan of England , embarked with Berengaria to join Richard in the Holy Land. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge But the ship carrying Joan and Berengaria was wrecked off the shore of Cyprus. The ruler, Isaac Comnenus, took them prisoner. Richard and part of his army landed in Cyprus to free them, and Isaac foolishly attacked. Richard freed his bride and his sister, defeated and captured Comnenus, and took control of Cyprus. Berengaria and Richard were married on May 12, 1191, and set off together to Acre in Palestine.

Berengaria left the Holy Land for Poitou, France, and when Richard was on his way back to Europe in 1192, he was captured and then held prisoner in Germany until 1194, when his mother arranged for his ransom. Berengaria and Richard had no children. Richard is widely believed to have been a homosexual, and though he had at least one illegitimate child, it is believed that the marriage with Berengaria was little more than a formality. When he returned from captivity, their relationship was so bad that a priest went so far as to order Richard to reconcile with his wife. After Richard's death, Berengaria as dowager queen retired to LeMans in Maine. King John, Richard's brother, seized much of her property and refused to repay her. Berengaria lived in virtual poverty during John's lifetime. She sent to England to complain that her pension was not being paid. Eleanor and Pope Innocent III each intervened, but John never did pay her most of what was owed to her. John's son, Henry III, finally did pay much of the overdue debts.

Berengaria died in 1230, soon after founding Pietas Dei at Espau, a Cistercian monastery. Bibliography: Ann Trindade. Berengaria: In Search of Richard's Queen. 1999. ( buy at Amazon ) [1851824340] More women's history biographies, by name: Berengaria of Navarre (1163 - 1230) - Find A Grave Memorial Death: Dec. 23, 1230 British Monarch. The Queen consort of King Richard I "Lionheart", she was the daughter of Sancho VI, King of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. She married Richard in Cyprus on May 12, 1191, and accompanied him on crusade. They returned seperately, and Richard was imprisoned. Berengaria stayed in Europe, attempting to raise money for his ransom. She did not return to England with him after his release. Richard was ordered by a priest to reunite with his wife and show her fidelity, but the couple was never reunited.

Berengaria is the only English queen never to have set foot in England during the lifetime of her husband. The marriage was childless, and whether or not it was ever even consummated is a matter for conjecture. Richard's brother, King John, refused to pay her dowry pension, despite being ordered to do so by the Pope. The dowry was later payed by John's son. Berengaria settled in Le Mans, and entered the convent at the Abbey of L'Epau. She died at the age of 65, and was buried at the abbey, but was later moved to the Cathedral of St. Julien in Le Mans. (bio by: Kristen Conrad) Berengaria of Navarre - New World Encyclopedia Berengaria of Navarre Queen consort of the English Consort 12 May 1191 – 6 April 1199 Consort to Died 23 December 1230 (aged 59–65) Berengaria of Navarre (Spanish: Berenguela, French: Bérengère) (c.

1165 – December 23, 1230) was queen consort to King Richard I , the Lionheart. She was the eldest daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile, and was also related to royalty in France and England . Taking her name from the Navarre region in the north of Spain bordering on the French lands of Aquitaine, Berengaria was called "prudent and elegant" by chroniclers who saw her, and she was well educated. She and Richard met around 1176, when he was still a prince attending a tournament held by her father, and it was as a result of this meeting that they became betrothed and because she brought a large dowry. She married Richard when at Limassol, Cyprus while he was on his way to the Third Crusade. However, she spent very little time with him during their eight-year marriage, and they had no children. She became a widow when she was about 34 and Richard was 42, and never remarried.

She was later known as, "the only English queen to never set foot in England." Contents 8 Credits After Richard's death, Berengaria suffered poverty as a result of lack of support from Richard's brother, King John. She fought for her dower rights, utilizing her influence with the popes Honorius III and Innocent III and her famous mother-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine . When John was defeated in Normandy, Philip II of France exchanged her properties there for the county of Maine. Only after John's death did she receive the rest of what was due her from his son, Henry III. In her final days, she ruled in Maine and established a Cistercian monastery at l'Epau in Le Mans, living in the abbey from 1204 until her death in 1230. Life Background Berengaria was the eldest daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. Her maternal grandparents were Alfonso VII of León and Berenguela of Barcelona. She was a fourth generation descendant of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid . She was also closely related to royalty in France and England .

Her brother, Sancho el Fuerte, succeeded his father as king of León and her sister, Blanche, married Thibaut of Champagne, who was the grandson of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII of France. Blanche and Tibaut's son succeeded Sancho VII as king of Navarre. Marriage King Richard and Joan greeting King Philip II. Bengaria and Richard met years before their marriage at a tournament, but a match between them was not yet contemplated. Richard was betrothed to Alys, Countess of the Vexin, the sister of King Philip II of France . Alys, however, became the mistress of Richard's own father, King Henry II , and was allegedly the mother of Henry's illegitimate child. Richard thus terminated his betrothal to Alys, and his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine arranged a new match with Berengaria. Map of Aquitaine on the southern border of France. Map of Navarre on the northern border of Spain. After their betrothal, Berengaria traveled with Eleanor to meet him while he traveled on the Third Crusade shortly after his coronation. The two women had a long and difficult journey to catch up with him.

They arrived in Sicily during Lent, when the marriage could not take place. They were joined by Richard's sister Joan Plantaganet, the widowed queen of William II of Sicily. En route from there to the Holy Land, the ship carrying Berengaria and Joan went aground off the coast of Cyprus , and they were nearly captured by the island's renegade ruler, Isaac Komnenus. Richard came to their rescue, conquered the island, overthrew Komnenus and took control of Cyprus as a base for his crusade. The island proved immensely valuable in keeping the Frankish kingdoms in the Holy Land viable for another century. Berengaria finally married Richard on May 12, 1191, in the Chapel of St. George at Limassol, Cyprus. Queen consort King Richard I of England. Despite this romantic beginning, whether the marriage was ever even consummated is a matter of debate. Berengaria brought to the marriage a great fortune and the lands of Navarre, which bordered Eleanor's lands of Aquitaine. Many have argued that Richard was much more interested in lands and war than marriage, and that only the influence of Eleanor brought the union about.

Richard's sexual orientation has been hotly debated in recent years, with revisionist historians claiming that Richard was a homosexual , and others depicting him as a notorious womanizer who found Berengaria too pious for his lascivious tastes. Some sources have recorded him having at least one bastard son, Philip of Cognac (d. c. 1211). It would be strange indeed for a ruler of Richard's standing not to attempt to sire a legitimate heir. In any case, the couple had no children, and either infertility or lack of time together may be the simplest explanation for this. Richard I in Palestine on the Third Crusade. After the wedding, Berengaria followed Richard to the Holy Land, where she and Joan stayed in Acre. When the crusade failed, she left with Joan for France in September 1192. Richard, with what was left of his army, planned to go to France to protect his Angevin lands from the attempt of Philip II and his brother John, both of whom had designs on his throne. Berengaria did not see Richard for three years. Returning by sea, she and Joan stopped in Rome to pay their respects to pope Innocent III , remaining there for six months as his guests.

They were then conducted to Marseilles, accompanied by Alfonso II of Aragon. They then progressed through Provence , and next on to Poitou, conducted by Raymond of St. Gilles, don of the count of Toulouse—whom Joanna subsequently married. They finally reached Aquitaine ahead of Richard, only to learn of Richard's capture and imprisonment in Germany . Berengaria remained in Aquitaine during Richard's imprisonment (1192-1194), helping her mother-in-law Eleanor to raise the enormous ransom needed (150,000 marks/65,000 pounds in silver) to free him. After his release, Berengaria remained in France while Richard returned to England, where he had to regain the territory that had been lost to Philip II during the regency of John. Eleanor of Aquitaine riding with her son John. During this period, Richard faced criticism from the Church for living separately from his queen and was even ordered by Pope Celestine III to reunite with Berengaria and to show fidelity to her.

When a severe illness nearly cost him his life, Richard publicly repented and rejoined Berengaria for Christmas at Poitiers in 1195, taking her to church every week while there. Their time together did not last long, however, as Richard left again for more battles against Philip II and his own rebellious vassals. He gave his greatest attention for the next two years to building the huge castle, Chateau Gaillard at Les Andelys in Normandy, from which he could defend his lands. At this point, Richard named John as his successor in England. Discouraged by Richard's long absences, Benengaria retired to an obscure castle near Angers, where she heard the news of Richard's death. He died on April 6, 1199, aged 42, as a result of a wound incurred while besieging the castle of a vassal who had rebelled. While some say that Berengaria was present at his deathbed, others report that even though she was only a day away she did not come to his side and did not participate in his funeral. Dowager queen Tomb effigy of Berengaria of Navarre.

Berengaria never visited England during Richard's lifetime. However, it should be noted that during the entirety of their marriage, Richard himself spent just three months there. She may have gone to England in the years following his death, however. If so, the traditional description of her as "the only English queen never to set foot in the country" could still be technically true, as she did not visit England during the time she was Richard's consort. However, Berengaria certainly sent envoys to England several times. Her main concern was the pension she was due as dowager queen, which King John was not paying her. She lived in near poverty and for a time had to take refuge at her sister Blanche's court in Champagne, in northern France. Blanche had married Thibaut of Champagne, grandson of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII of France. Blanche and Thibaut's son succeeded Sancho VII as king of Navarre. Berengaria had been a witness at her sister's marriage, and may even have helped in arranging it.

Blanche and her son treated Berengaria as a close relation and helped her to acquire the land she needed to found her lifelong dream of building a Cistercian monastery at l'Epau in Le Mans, Maine. Pope Innocent III, Berengaria's champion Pope Honorius III, another of Berengaria's champions; shown with Francis of Assisi . Berengaria now entered into a long struggle to recover her dower lands, which were in France. She was also due to receive Eleanor's lands in England, Normandy, and Poitou after the great queen's death. Her champions in this struggle were Pope Innocent III and his successor, Honorius III. Finally, in 1220, after threats and even excommunications , papal power prevailed, and Berengaria received a pension from England. Still, John did not completely pay his sister-in-law what was owed her, which was more than than £4000 when he died. However, during the reign of his son Henry III of England , her payments were made as they were supposed to be, bringing the English monarchy again into harmony with the pope.

Ruler and patron Location of Maine in France As a result of King John losing Normandy to France, Phillip II made haste to seize Berengaria's lands there, but she claimed them as rightfully hers as dowager queen. In exchange for these lands, she accepted from him the county of Maine. Thereafter, she lived and ruled in Maine, in the city of Le Mans. Philip II. There, Berengaria entered the convent life, and founded the abbey of l'Epau in Le Mans. However, she remained directly involved in ruling the area around Le Mans, and her authority over the city was recognized by the French crown. She was also involved in struggles with the local bishop over corrupt practices in his church and on jurisdictional issues. She arbitrated disputes and appointed functionaries. She again fell into conflict with the local church when she tried to levy taxes. In a letter from Pope Honorius III to the abbot of St.

Genevieve and two Paris deans, when Berengaria and a "large multitude of people" came to the church for Palm Sunday services, the bishop and the chapter refused them entry and shut the doors in their face "to the confusion, injustice/injury, and scandal of many." [1] She lived in the abbey from 1204 until she died in 1230, and was buried there. Legacy Closeup of Berengaria of Navarre's effigy Like many queen consorts, Berengaria of Navarre, does not figure boldly in the history of the English royalty, especially because she did not even visit England while she was queen consort and also she did not produce an heir. No one knows whether she was barren, whether Richard simply was not interested, or whether they became estranged for other reasons. After her husband's death, she showed great strength and tenacity in her struggles over 20 years to gain her rightful dower inheritance from King John, and then from his son Henry III. Ultimately, she found happiness and peace when she was able to build the l'Epau Cistercian monastery in Le Mans, which had been a lifelong wish.

Her governing of the county of Maine was fair and competent, and she showed determination and strength in her battles with the local clergy. In the twentieth century, Berengaria's effigy was moved from the abbey to the Cathedral of St. Julien in Le Mans. She is still revered in that city as "Dame of Le Mans," and perhaps this is the most fitting epitaph, rather than one that tries to link her with Navarresse or English royalty. Here was where she eventually found peace and an opportunity to serve her God-and where her memory as a strong, brave, and fair ruler still lives. The plaque reads: This mausoleum dedicated to Berengaria, most serene Queen of the English and foundress of this monastery, was restored and relocated in this most solemn place and in it were placed the bones which were found in the ancient grave AD 17 May 1672. It was taken from the abbey of Pietas Dei and replaced in the Cathedral Church 2nd December 1821. [2] A skeleton thought to be hers was discovered in 1960 during the restoration of the abbey.

In fiction The story of Richard and Berengaria's marriage is fictionalized in the 1935 film, The Crusades, starring Loretta Young and Henry Wilcoxon, and was a prominent feature of the 1960s British television series, Richard the Lionheart, but both versions were highly romanticized and are not reliable sources of information about the queen. Novels featuring Berengaria include: Bard, Rachel. Queen Without A Country. Literary Network Press, 2001. ISBN 9780971033382 . Bloss, C. A. Heroines of the Crusades. Rochester, Wanzer, Beardsley & co., 1853. OCLC 4567877 . Gillingham, John . Richard I. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780300079128 . Lofts, Norah. Queens of England. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977. ISBN 9780385127806 . Sauers, Victoria.

Lionhearted Queen: Berengaria of Navarre. Philadelphia: Blue Bear Press, 2000. ISBN 9780966629422 . Strickland, Agnes. Lives of the Queens of England from the Norman Conquest: With Anecdotes of their Courts. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1841. OCLC 8830518 . Trindade, Ann. Berengaria: In Search of Richard's Queen. 1999. ISBN 1851824340 . Weir, Alison. Britain's Royal Families: A Complete Genealogy. London: The Bodley Head, 1999. ISBN 9780370313108 .

External links Berenguela de Navarra, Reina consorte de Inglaterra (c.1167 - 1230) - Genealogy Berenguela de Navarra, Reina consorte de Inglaterra Lithuanian: Berengarija Navarietė, Anglijos Karalienė Birthdate: in Abbey de Espans, Sarthe, France Place of Burial: Abbey de Espans, Sarthe, France Immediate Family: Queen consort of England, Queen of England (without ever visited England) Managed by: Circa 1167 - Pampeluna, Navarra, Spain Death: Dec 23 1230 - Abbey de Espans, Sarthe, France Father: Sancho Vi Rey De Navarra.

1150 1194 Siblings: Blanca De Navarra, Sancho De Navarra Husband: After Dec 23 1230 - Abbey de Espans, Sarthe Francia Parents: Sancho Vi (El Sabio) Rey De Navarra, Sancha Rey De Navarra I (nacida Alfonso) Siblings: ...Navarra, Ramiro Sánchez De Navarra Infante De Navarra Y Obispo De Pamplona, Constanza Sánchez De Navarra, Blanca, Champagne (nacida Sánch... Husband: Circa 1167 - Pampeluna, Navarra, Spain Death: Dec 23 1230 - Abbey de Espans, Sarthe, France Parents: ...e Sage King Of Navarre The /wise/ Le Sage "the Wise" Called The Wise (El Sabio) Sancho Vi (The Wise) De Navarra, Sancha Of Nava... Siblings: ...d The Strong (El Fuerte In Spanish Santxo Azkarra In Basque) Or The Prudent. His Retirement At The End Of His Life Has Given Rise To The ...

Circa 1167 - Pampeluna, Navarra, Spain Death: Dec 23 1230 - Abbey de Espans, Sarthe, France Husband: ...;the Lion Hearted" King Of England,ricardo I "corazón De León",richard D'angleterre,richard The Lionheart,coeur De Li... Son: About Berengaria of Navarre, Queen consort of England from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Berengaria of Navarre (Spanish: Berenguela, French: Bérengère; c. 1165-1170 – 23 December 1230) was Queen of the English as the wife of King Richard I of England. She was the eldest daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. Marriage Berengaria married Richard I of England on 12 May 1191 and was crowned the same day by the Archbishop of Bordeaux and Bishops of Evreux and Bayonne. As is the case with many of the medieval queens consort of the Kingdom of England, relatively little is known of her life.

It seems that she and Richard did in fact meet once, years before their marriage, and writers of the time liked to claim that there was an attraction between them at that time. Richard had been betrothed many years earlier to Princess Alys, sister of King Philip II of France. Alys, however, may have been the mistress of Richard's own father, King Henry II, and some said the mother of Henry's illegitimate child; a marriage between Richard and Alys would therefore be technically impossible for religious reasons of affinity. Richard terminated his betrothal to Alys in 1190 while at Messina. He had Berengaria brought to him by his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Since Richard was already on the Third Crusade, having wasted no time in setting off after his coronation, the two women had a long and difficult journey to catch up with him. They arrived in Sicily during Lent (when the marriage could not take place) in 1191 and were joined by Richard's sister Joan, the widowed Queen of Sicily.

En route to the Holy Land, the ship carrying Berengaria and Joan went aground off the coast of Cyprus, and they were threatened by the island's ruler, Isaac Comnenus. Richard came to their rescue, captured the island, overthrew Comnenus, and married Berengaria in the Chapel of St. George at Limassol. Queen consort Whether the marriage was ever even consummated is a matter for conjecture. In any case, Richard certainly took his new wife with him for the first part of the crusade. They returned separately, but Richard was captured and imprisoned. Berengaria remained in Europe, attempting to raise money for his ransom. After his release, Richard returned to England and was not joined by his wife. The marriage was childless, and Berengaria was thought to be barren. When Richard returned to England, he had to regain all the territory that had either been lost by his brother John or taken by King Philip of France. His focus was on his kingdom, not his queen. Richard was ordered by Pope Celestine III to reunite with Berengaria and to show fidelity to her in future. Richard obeyed and took Berengaria to church every week thereafter.

When he died in 1199, she was greatly distressed, perhaps more so at being deliberately overlooked as Queen of England and Cyprus. Some historians believe that Berengaria honestly loved her husband, while Richard's feelings for her were merely formal, as the marriage was a political rather than a romantic union. Queen dowager Berengaria never visited England during King Richard's lifetime; during the entirety of their marriage, Richard spent less than six months in England. There is evidence, however, that she may have done so in the years following his death. The traditional description of her as "the only English queen never to set foot in the country" would still be literally true, as she did not visit England during the time she was Richard's consort. She certainly sent envoys to England several times, mainly to inquire about the pension she was due as dowager queen and Richard's widow, which King John failed to pay. Although Queen Eleanor intervened and Pope Innocent III threatened him with an interdict if he did not pay Berengaria what was due, King John still owed her more than £4000 when he died. During the reign of his son Henry III of England, however, her payments were made as they were supposed to be.

Berengaria eventually settled in Le Mans, one of her dower properties. She was a benefactress of the abbey of L'Epau, entered the conventual life, and was buried in the abbey. A skeleton thought to be hers was discovered in 1960 during the restoration of the abbey. Berengaria of Navarre, Queen consort of England's Timeline 1167 Berengaria of Navarre - iSnare Free Encyclopedia Berengaria of Navarre 23 December 1230(1230-12-23) (aged 59–65) Spouse Sancha of Castile Berengaria of Navarre ( Basque : Berengela, Spanish : Berenguela, French : Bérengère; c. 1165–1170 – 23 December 1230) was Queen of England as the wife of Richard I of England . She was the eldest daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile . As is the case with many of the medieval English queens, relatively little is known of her life.

Traditionally known as "the only English queen never to set foot in the country", she may in fact have visited the country after her husband's death, but did not do so before, nor did she see much of him during her marriage, which was childless. She did (unusually for the wife of a Crusader ) accompany him on the start of the Third Crusade , but mostly lived in his French possessions, where she gave generously to the church, despite difficulties in collecting the pension she was due from Richard's brother and successor John after she became a widow. Contents 13 External links Early years In 1185, Berengaria was given the fief of Monreal by her father. [1] Eleanor of Aquitaine promoted the engagement of Berengaria to her son, Richard the Lionheart. An alliance with Navarre meant protection for the southern borders of Eleanor's Duchy of Aquitaine , and helped create better relations with neighbouring Castile whose queen was Eleanor , a sister of Richard. Also, Navarre had assimilated the troubadour culture of Aquitaine and Berengaria's reputation was unbesmirched.

[2] It seems that Berengaria and Richard did in fact meet once, years before their marriage, and writers have claimed that there was an attraction between them at that time. In 1190, Eleanor met Sancho in Pamplona and he hosted a banquet in the Royal Palace of Olite in her honour. [3] The betrothal could not be celebrated openly, for Richard had been betrothed for many years to Alys , sister of King Philip II of France . Richard terminated his betrothal to Alys in 1190 while at Messina . It has been suggested that Alys had become the mistress of Richard's own father, Henry II of England , and possibly the mother of an illegitimate child; a marriage between Richard and Alys would therefore have been technically impossible for religious reasons of affinity. Marriage Richard had Berengaria brought to him by his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. Since Richard was already on the Third Crusade , having wasted no time in setting off after his coronation, the two women had a long and difficult journey to catch up with him.

They arrived at Messina in Sicily during Lent (when the marriage could not take place) in 1191 and were joined by Richard's sister Joan , the widowed Queen of Sicily. The two women became good friends and Berengaria was left in Joan's custody. [4] En route to the Holy Land , the ship carrying Berengaria and Joan ran aground off the coast of Cyprus , and they were threatened by the island's ruler, Isaac Comnenus . Richard came to their rescue, captured the island, and overthrew Comnenus. Berengaria married Richard the Lionheart on May 12, 1191, in the Chapel of St George at Limassol on Cyprus, and was crowned the same day by the Archbishop of Bordeaux and Bishops of Évreux and Bayonne . [5] Queen consort Whether the marriage was ever even consummated is a matter for conjecture. In any case, Richard certainly took his new wife with him for the first part of the Third Crusade .

This was unusual, although Richard's mother and Berengaria's predecessor, Eleanor of Aquitaine , had, when Queen of France , been with her husband throughout the Second Crusade , though the stresses and disputes of the unsuccessful campaign did serious damage to their relationship. Berengaria returned well before Richard left the Holy Land ; on his return to Europe he was captured and imprisoned. Berengaria remained in Europe, based at Beaufort-en-Vallée , attempting to raise money for his ransom. After his release, Richard returned to England and was not joined by his wife. When Richard returned to England, he had to regain all the territory that had either been lost by his brother John or taken by King Philip of France. His focus was on his kingdom, not his queen. Richard was ordered by Pope Celestine III to reunite with Berengaria and to show fidelity to her in the future. Richard, now mostly spending his time in France, obeyed and took Berengaria to church every week thereafter. When he died in 1199, she was greatly distressed, perhaps more so at being deliberately overlooked as Queen of England and Cyprus.

Some historians believe that Berengaria honestly loved her husband, while Richard's feelings for her were merely formal, as the marriage was a political rather than a romantic union. Queen dowager Berengaria never visited England during King Richard's lifetime; during the entirety of their marriage, Richard spent less than six months in England. There is evidence, however, that she may have done so in the years following his death. The traditional description of her as "the only English queen never to set foot in the country" would still be literally true, as she did not visit England during the time she was Richard's consort. She certainly sent envoys to England several times, mainly to inquire about the pension she was due as dowager queen and Richard's widow, which King John failed to pay. Although Queen Eleanor intervened and Pope Innocent III threatened him with an interdict if he did not pay Berengaria what was due, King John still owed her more than £4000 when he died. During the reign of his son Henry III of England , however, her payments were made as they were supposed to be. Berengaria eventually settled in Le Mans , one of her dower properties.

She was a benefactress of L'Épau Abbey in Le Mans, entered the conventual life, and was buried in the abbey. In 1240, Archbishop Rodrigo Jimenez de Rada of Toledo wrote of Berengaria that she lived, "as a most praiseworthy widow and stayed for the most part in the city of Le Mans, which she held as part of her marriage dower, devoting herself to almsgiving, prayer and good works, witnessing as an example to all women of chastity and religion and in the same city she came to the end of her days with a happy death." [6] A skeleton thought to be hers was rediscovered in 1960 during the restoration of the abbey. These remains are preserved beneath the stone effigy of the queen, which is now to be found in the chapter house of the abbey.

Historical significance Historian Ann Trindade says about Berengaria that she “is remembered as a benefactor of several…religious congregations and institutions and was regarded as a model of piety." [7] She also states that “Berengaria’s life illustrates very clearly the constraints under which medieval women, even aristocratic ones, were obliged to live.” [8] Berengaria's struggles are a good example of what many women faced in the thirteenth century, and “those long years of widowhood reveal, on the basis of record, a strong courageous woman, independent, solitary, battling against difficult political and economic circumstances, with little interest in the trappings of courtly existence, sustained by her faith in Christ and her loyalty to the See of St Peter, not afraid to assert her rights against powerful enemies, both lay and clerical.” [9] Ancestry Banners of Gold by Pamela Kaufman On the stage Holy Warriors by David Eldridge , premiered at Shakespeare's Globe in July and August 2014. In media The 1935 film The Crusades , starring Loretta Young and Henry Wilcoxon , tells a fictionalized story of Richard and Berengaria's marriage.

The 1954 historical drama film King Richard and the Crusaders , starring George Sanders and Paula Raymond , tells that Richard and Berengaria are married and on the Third Crusade . The 1960s' British television series Richard the Lionheart prominently features their marriage, she is played by Sheila Whittingham. In the 1923 film Richard the Lion-Hearted , Queen Berengaria is played by Kathleen Clifford . All versions were highly romanticized and are not reliable sources of information about the queen. Berengaria of Navarre was played by Zoë Wanamaker in the BBC 13-part drama The Devil's Crown (1978). Legacy The early 20th-century Cunard passenger liner RMS Berengaria was named in her honour, the first Cunard ship to be named for a British queen.

Notes Queen Berengaria of Navarre - Queen of England - MedievalQueens.com Queen of England, 1200-1216 "A queen of high ambition and strong passions" At fourteen, already a beauty, Isabella, daughter of the Count of Angoulême, was betrothed to Hugh IX de Lusignan, a powerful French noble. But in a last-minute switch that was probably engineered jointly by her parents and King John of England, she was wed to him instead. She was persuaded that it was far more exciting to be a queen than a countess. Isabella gloried in the trappings and privileges of queenship. At first, she and John were infatuated with each other. Some of his subjects accused him of neglecting his kingly duties in order to lie abed with his wife. But in time Isabella became disillusioned by John's cruelty and infidelities. Love turned to distrust, then accusations of adultery and betrayal. After an increasingly stormy sixteen-year marriage and the birth of five children, John died in 1216. Isabella looked forward to a long and controlling regency during the minority of her nine-year-old son, Henry.

But she was far from popular with the English, who blamed her for many of the kingdom’s woes. The king’s council, fed up with her high-handed ways, sent her back to France. At thirty-one, still strikingly beautiful and ever ambitious, she was far from ready to give up her position of power. She married Hugh X de Lusignan, son of the man she'd turned down twenty years ago. With her Angoulême and his extensive holdings, they controlled more of France than the king of France. The couple became obsessed with their desire to not only keep their joint realms intact, but to enlarge them. With every child born, they felt more secure in the continuity of their line. They went into battle, now against the English, now against the French, always with the aim of consolidating their own power. Isabella was not afraid to take on King Louis of France himself. She induced her husband and her son Henry, now king of England, to join her in a disastrous rebellion against the superior French forces. Ignominy followed.. According to legend if not fact, her next plot was to poison the king. If there was such a plot, it failed.

Most of the contemporary chroniclers were highly critical of the countess, who still called herself a queen. More and more unpopular, and with Hugh less and less willing to cooperate in her audacious schemes, Isabella turned against her long-suffering husband. Possibly relieved, he went off to join the Crusade. Isabella retired to Fontevraud Abbey, often a refuge for highborn ladies who wished to live out their lives in comfort and without worldly cares. One of the few people who remained devoted to her was her son, Henry III of England. And though the English continued to call her "John’s Jezebel," in France she came to be admired for her beauty and spirit. Henry saw to it that she was buried in Fontevraud next to her royal in-laws: King Henry, Queen Eleanor and King Richard the Lionheart. Her effigy wears the crown of a queen of England, just as she would have wished. Learn more about Queen Isabella: Isabelle d'Angoulême, Comtesse-Reine, by Jean François Castaigne. Angoulême, 1836. The Marriage and Coronation of Isabelle of Angoulême, by H. G.

Richardson, in The English Historical Review, September 1946. The Lusignans in England, 1247-1258, by Harold Snellgrove, in University of New Mexico Publications in History, #2, 1950. Isabelle d'Angoulême, Reine d'Angleterre, by Sophie Fougère. Edit-France, 1998. And for an informed and absorbing fictional life of Queen Isabella, see Isabella: Queen Without a Conscience , by Rachel Bard.

Question: Berengaria of Navarre was the queen of which English King?
Answer: Richard I