Richard of Cornwall: The English King of Germany

Richard of Cornwall, born in 1209, was a wealthy and widely traveled man of his era. He led the last successful crusade to the Holy Land and was elected king of Germany. He was indispensable to his brother Henry III but resented his dependence on him. He took a neutral stance in a rebellion against the regime, which cost him and the king. He later exerted his greatest and lasting influence on his German subjects, taking one of them as his third wife and siring numerous children with mistresses. He was both admired and hated when he died in 1272.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Born in 1209 as the youngest son of King John, Richard of Cornwall embarked on a remarkable life filled with adventure, making him one of the wealthiest and most widely traveled men of his era. Praised for his diplomatic and organizational skills, he led the last successful crusade to the Holy Land and was elected king of Germany. At home, he was indispensable to his brother Henry III, but he often resented his dependence on him and sometimes equivocated his support. When his brother-in-law Simon de Montfort raised rebellion against the regime, Richard took a neutral stance, which ultimately cost him and the king. However, he emerged from that low point to exert his greatest and lasting influence on his German subjects. He took one of them as his third wife, a teenage beauty who was forty years younger than him. Ever a seeker of glory, luxury, and pleasure, Richard transformed Wallingford and Berkhamsted into the famous castles they became later on and sired numerous children with mistresses. He gladly squeezed the peasants to finance his ventures and lifestyle but also came to their rescue when famine beset the realm. As with any complicated individual of that era, he was both admired and hated when he died in 1272.

In this first biography of Richard of Cornwall in more than fifty years, Darren Baker delves into the accomplishments of this remarkable Englishman, exploring his life in greater detail than any previous work. Baker demonstrates why Richard, the only Englishman to carry the prestigious title of king of the Romans, is worth another look and why his legacy continues to fascinate and inspire us today.

Weight: 636g
Dimension: 244 x 165 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398112179