One for Dutch Crusader on Cyprus

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
29/04/2010 13:59

Hans I have just read historical biography of Eleanor of Acquitaine, mother of Richard and it was very interesting. Alison Weir writes that he married Barengia in Cyprus (after taking it) and there

are still memorials to her somewhere. Lots of other stuff too, but couldn't find anything about

him handing it to the Lusignans, or which one.

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
29/04/2010 23:38

phylray, from a history teacher but not DC! Hope this time-line helps.



The Crusaders

1184 – 1192

In 1184 the greedy and cruel Isaac Komnenos seizes power and breaks from Constantinople, but in 1191 Richard the Lionheart takes Cyprus after his sister and fiancée are nearly taken hostage there. After plundering the island, Richard sells the island to the Knights Templar and continues crusading, and they then sell it to a minor French noble and crusader, Guy de Lusignan.

Lusignan Rule

1192 – 1489

Descendants of Lusignan rule the island and marry into European royal families, signalling a decadent ruling class while the Greek Orthodox population bides its time. A war with Genoa in 1373 seriously weakens the Lusignans' position, and when King Kames II marries a Venetian royal in 1472 and then dies, it paves the way for the Venetians to force an abdication of the last Lusignan

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
30/04/2010 03:39

Thanks Panchocat According to Weir Richard was later taken prisoner by a minor Austrian ruler

whose land he crossed returning and England had to raise an enormous amount to free him. This,

of course, was passed on to the people via taxes, (what's new) and even though he hardly spent any

time in England, and bled it, didn't speak English, they still loved him!

Richard was responsible for a massacre of thousands of prisoners, men, women & children which will

never be forgotten in Turkish history. Mothers still threaten their children with him "Ric" + devil Richard

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/04/2010 08:16

RE msg 2, Panchocat: Not quite correct. The Templars, with only about 20 knights and few men at arms, couldn't control the unruly Cypriots and tried to return the island to Richard, after only paying him 40.000 of the 100.000 Bezants they were due. Richard then compensated his vassal Guy de Lusignan, who had just lost his Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, after losing the decisive Battle of Hattin - in now the Westbank in Israel - against Saladin's Moslim army.

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
30/04/2010 18:44

Thanks Hans. His mother Eleanor was an incredible woman, especially in 12th Cent. Married to 2 kings

9 kids, ran England for a while and lived to 82, to mention just a few things about her. Richard was her

favourite and she wrote long letters to the Pope asking for help when he was captured (or someone did it

for her) and he didn't even answer her.