Hugh's Rivals

When the title King of Jerusalem was up for grabs in 1268, there was more than one claimant. There had not been a king in situ for years because the title had been passed to children whose regents were involved elsewhere or to people who were kings elsewhere.

But there was a chance now to bring the king "home," as it were.

In recent years, a regency in Jerusalem was necessary because the rightful kings were either too young or too far away or both. Conrad III (called Conradin) and Hugh II of Cyprus needed regents, for instance.

Hugh of Brienne had claimed a role as regent in 1264 as the oldest relative of Alice of Jerusalem, one of the daughters of Queen Isabella I. The High Court, however, chose his cousin, Hugh of Antioch. Hugh of Brienne abandoned the Holy Land and Eastern Mediterranean and went to Europe to seek fame in Italy.

Hugh of Antioch became Hugh III of Cyprus and Hugh I of Jerusalem. (The illustration is the coat of arms quartered to show the king of the two states.) All seemed settled, but another claim arose from an unexpected area.

The mother of Hugh of Brienne and aunt of Hugh I of Jerusalem, Maria of Antioch, claimed starting in 1268 that she should be on the throne of Jerusalem. She was 48 years old at the time, a granddaughter of Isabella I of Jerusalem through Melisende of Cyprus, and was one degree closer to Conradin than Hugh of Antioch.

Considering genealogy tables, she was right. She had the support of the Knights Templar. She demanded to be crowned by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, William of Agen.

She appeared before the High Court with her reasoning all laid out. Hugh of course brought military experience and the support of Cyprus to Jerusalem. Maria had nothing to offer except her status. (It is also believed by many that she did not want to have the title to rule so much as have it to sell to someone for money.) 

A remark from Hugh offended her so much that she left the Court. The Court used her absence to reason that she was abandoning her claim and Hugh should be crowned. During the coronation of Hugh at Tyre, however, Maria employed two people to run into the church, make a protest, and run out again.

She complained to Rome for years about the injustice, and was taken seriously. Pope Gregory X even started an investigation that found her claim to be true. Could they obtain justice for Maria? We'll find out tomorrow.

Conrad, King of Jerusalem?

Frederick II (1194 - 1250) was King of Germany, King of Italy, King of Sicily, and Holy Roman Emperor. He agreed to go on Crusade, but wanted to be King Jerusalem when he got to the Holy Land. It was arranged for him to marry Queen Isabella II, the most recent in line of succession. Isabella died after giving birth to a son, Conrad (1228 - 1254).

Upon his mother's death, Conrad became Conrad II, King of Jerusalem, and Frederick took on the regency for his son. Frederick made him Duke of Swabia when Conrad was seven years old (because Frederick's eldest son from a previous marriage, Henry VII, had rebelled against Frederick). At nine years old Conrad was made King of Germany, and at 11 he was King Conrad IV of Italy. In 1250 on Frederick's death the young man also became King Conrad I of Sicily.

With so many other lands to rule, Conrad neglected Jerusalem. He grew up in Southern Italy until he became Duke of Swabia, when he traveled to Germany. In the year he was also betrothed to a daughter of the Duke of Bavaria who died young, but a second betrothal to another daughter, Elizabeth of Bavaria, would lead to marriage.

He became involved in German politics, and was part of the attempt to repel the Mongol invasions of 1241.

Problems with Frederick led to Pope Innocent IV excommunicating Frederick and declaring Conrad deposed. Conrad fought against the newly elected king of Germany, Henry Raspe (whom Frederick had once selected as regent for Conrad in Germany), and lost in 1246. When Raspe died months later he was succeeded by William of Holland.

Conrad married Elizabeth in 1246. They had a son, called Conradin, who would succeed to several of his father's titles.

Not only did the neglect of Jerusalem lead to civil unrest there, rebellions in Germany and Sicily continued throughout Conrad's life. When Conrad died in 1254 an Interregnum took place in Germany when no one managed to take complete control of the country of several years.

Jerusalem passed to Conradin, who died at 16, never having visited the Holy Land. The succession passed back into the Lusignan dynasty through a cousin named Hugh. There were challenges, however, from other family members, including some with whom he was close. Even once he was established, however, there were issues caused by the years that no king was present, when barons managed things on their own. No one really wanted a king to come back and expect to be obeyed or even consulted. We'll see what Hugh was dealing with tomorrow.