Abbot Suger (ca. 1081–1151): Abbot of Saint-Denis, biographer of Louis VI, and counselor to Louis VI and Louis VII of France. Served as a regent of France during Louis VII’s absence while on the Second Crusade.
Adele of Champagne (ca. 1140–1206): Third wife of Louis VII of France and mother of Louis’ only son and heir, the future Philip II. Her brother Henry I of Champagne was married to Marie, the daughter of Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine; her brother Theobald V of Blois was married to Marie’s sister Alix.
Adémar, or Aymar (Aimar), count of Angoulême: Father of Isabelle of
Angoulême and half-brother of Aimar V of Limoges.
Agnes of Meran: Called Marie by some chroniclers. Daughter of the German duke of Genest or (according to some chroniclers) the duke of Moravia and Bavaria. Third wife of Philip II of France, whose marriage (and the legitimacy of her children by Philip) was disputed by Philip’s second wife, Ingeborg of Denmark, and by Ingeborg’s supporters, including the pope.
Aimar V of Limoges, viscount of Limoges: Lord of Châlus, where Richard Lionheart died.
Alais of France (1160–1220): Second daughter of Louis VII of France and Constance of Castile. Betrothed as a child to Richard Lionheart, she remained unwed for years, subject to rumors that Richard’s father, Henry II of England, had made her his mistress and that she had borne him a child. Eventually her half-brother, Philip II of France, arranged for her return to France and her marriage to the count of Ponthieu.
Arthur I, duke of Brittany (1187–1203): The posthumous son of Geoffrey of Brittany, and grandson of Henry II of England. Regarded as Richard Lionheart’s heir until Arthur came under the influence of Philip of France. Captured by John, Arthur disappeared; it was rumored that he was murdered by John himself.
Baldwin de Béthune, count of Aumale: Devoted follower of Richard Lionheart, who accompanied Richard on his ill-fated journey from the Holy Land and served as a hostage for the remainder of Richard’s ransom after Richard’s departure from prison.
Berengaria of Navarre (d. 1230): Wed Richard Lionheart in 1191. Married him in Cyprus, en route to the Third Crusade. She died without issue.
Bertran de Born (last half of twelfth century): Baron from the Limousin and a major troubadour, especially on the subject of warfare. Sided with Henry the Younger in Henry’s struggles with his father and, later, with Richard Lionheart.
Blanche of Castile (1188–1252): Queen of France (consort to Louis VIII) and granddaughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England. Her marriage to Louis marked an important attempt at peace between the French and English crowns.
Bourguigne of Lusignan: Niece of Guy of Lusignan and, after her return from the Holy Land, wife of Raymond VI of Toulouse. Later set aside by Raymond, who married Joanna Plantagenet.
Conrad, marquis of Montferrat: Contender with Guy of Lusignan for the crown of king of Jerusalem. Killed in 1192, shortly after he was chosen king of Jerusalem.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204): Duchess of Aquitaine, countess of Poitou, queen of France (as wife of Louis VII), and queen of England (as wife of Henry II). Mother of King Richard I and King John.
Eleanor Plantagenet (1162–1214): Second daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Married Alfonso VIII of Castile. Mother of Bianca, or Blanche of Castile, who married the future Louis VIII, son and heir of Philip Augustus.
Eustace (d. 1153): Son and heir of Stephen of Blois. His death made it possible for Matilda’s son (Henry I’s grandson) to become king of England, as Henry II.
Frederick Barbarossa (1122–1190): Ruled the Holy Roman Empire as Emperor Frederick I, from 1155 until his death en route to the Holy Land on the Third Crusade. His reign was marked by struggles with the Church, the Lombards, and the German nobility, chief among whom was Duke Henry the Lion.
Geoffrey II, duke of Brittany (1158–1186): Fourth son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Allied with Philip Augustus against Henry II. Geoffrey died in Paris. His son, Arthur, was born posthumously.
Geoffrey of Anjou (1113–1151): Count of Anjou, Touraine, and Maine; duke of Normandy by conquest. Wed to Matilda, daughter and heir of Henry I. Father of Henry II and founder of the Plantagenet line.
Giraldus Cambrensis, or Gerald of Wales (ca. 1146–ca. 1223): Chronicler; royal clerk and chaplain to Henry II of England.
Guy of Lusignan: King of the crusader state of Jerusalem (1186–1194), as husband of Sibylle of Jerusalem, who had succeeded to the throne. Guy refused to give up the crown after Sibylle’s death, even though the succession had passed to Sibylle’s younger sister, Isabelle, and to Isabelle’s husband, Conrad of Montferrat. Eventually Conrad won the crown, and Guy accepted the crown of Cyprus.
Henri I of France (1008–1060): Grandson of Hugh Capet; ruled France from 1031 to 1060. Came to the aid of young Duke William of Normandy (who became William the Conqueror) at the battle of Val-ès-Dunes.
Henry Hohenstaufen (1165–1197): Ruled the Holy Roman Empire as Emperor Henry VI, from 1191 until his death. Conquered Sicily and imprisoned Richard Lionheart, who was en route home from the Third Crusade, for an enormous ransom. Henry’s unexpected death left an infant heir, who became Emperor Frederick II.
Henry I of England (1068 or 1069–1135): Youngest son of William the Conqueror. Seized the English crown in 1100 upon the death of his brother, William Rufus (William II), and ruled until his own death in 1135. Left no legitimate male heir, leading to almost two decades of civil war in England between the contestants to the throne: Henry’s daughter, Matilda, and Henry’s nephew, Stephen of Blois.
Henry II of England (1133–1189): Son of Geoffrey of Anjou and Matilda of England; grandson of Henry I. Ruled England from 1154 to 1189. First of the royal Plantagenet dynasty.
Henry the Lion (1129–1195): Duke of Saxony and Bavaria; wed Matilda Plantagenet (his second wife). Stripped of his lands and exiled by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Henry and Matilda fled to the court of her father, Henry II of England. In 1189, upon the departure of Frederick Barbarossa for the Holy Land, Henry returned to fight for his lands.
Henry the Younger (1155–1183): Also known as the Young King and, before his coronation, as Prince Henry. Second of the five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and first among those who survived infancy. Crowned during his father’s lifetime and wed to Marguerite of France, daughter of Louis VII of France and Constance of Castile. Died while at war with his father and younger brother, Richard Lionheart.
Henry, count of Champagne: Grandson of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII; king of Jerusalem following the death of Conrad of Montferrat.
Hugh Capet (938 or 939–996): First king of France (987–996) and founder of the Capetian dynasty.
Ingeborg of Denmark: Second wife of Philip II of France, who tried to have the marriage annulled, leading to years of dispute between Philip and the Church.
Isaac Comnenus: Ruler of Cyprus before Richard Lionheart conquered it in 1191, en route to the Holy Land.
Isabelle of Angoulême (1188–1246): Second wife of King John of England. Originally betrothed to Hugh of Lusignan. Her marriage led to resumed conflict between John and Philip Augustus. After John’s death she married Hugh of Lusignan (Hugh X), bearing him nine children.
Joanna Plantagenet (1165–1199): Youngest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Wed William II of Sicily, becoming Sicily’s queen. Following William’s death, she was rescued from imprisonment by her brother, Richard Lionheart, and accompanied Richard’s bride, Berengaria, on the Third Crusade. She later married Raymond VI of Toulouse. Died in childbirth after a daring escape from her husband’s minions.
John of England (1166 or 1167–1216): Youngest son of Henry II of England and heir of his older brother, Richard Lionheart. Ruled England from 1199 to 1216.
Leopold V, duke of Austria (1157–1194): Took Richard Lionheart prisoner when he was en route home from the Third Crusade.
Louis VI of France, or Louis the Fat (1081–1137): Son of Philip I; ruled France from 1108 to 1137. Abbot Suger served as his adviser and biographer.
Louis VII of France (1120–1180): Son of Louis VI; ruled France from 1137 to 1180. Wed Eleanor of Aquitaine (1137); the marriage was annulled after fifteen years, two daughters, and no male heirs. Next he married Constance of Castile, who bore him two daughters (Marguerite and Alais) and died in 1160. Louis promptly married Adele of Champagne, who in 1165 bore him a son and heir, the future Philip II.
Louis VIII of France (1187–1226): Son and heir of Philip II; he ruled France from 1223 to 1226. Married Blanche of Castile (1200), granddaughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England.
Marguerite of France (1157–1197): Eldest daughter of Louis VII of France and Constance of Castile, and twice a queen. Wed as an infant to Henry the Younger (eldest surviving son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine), she brought the contested territory of the Norman Vexin as her dowry. Became queen when her young husband was crowned during his father’s lifetime. After his death she married King Béla III of Hungary. Following Béla’s death she set out on pilgrimage for the Holy Land, where she died.
Matilda of England (1102–1167): Daughter and heir of Henry I of England. Married at a young age to Emperor Henry V, she was widowed and then married Geoffrey of Anjou, by whom she had three sons, the eldest of whom became Henry II of England. Upon the death of her brother (Henry I’s only legitimate son, William Aetheling), her father made her his heir. But her cousin, Stephen of Blois, seized the crown before she could claim it. She remained at war with Stephen, both in England and in Normandy, throughout his long and turbulent reign.
Matilda Plantagenet (1156–1189): Eldest daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Married Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony and Bavaria. She and her husband were forced to flee from Germany to her father’s court during Duke Henry’s exile at the hands of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
Mercadier: Soldier from Provence. Leader of Richard Lionheart’s mercenaries and right-hand man to Lionheart.
Otto of Brunswick: Younger son of Henry the Lion, nephew of Richard Lionheart, and rival to Philip of Swabia for the imperial crown following the death of Emperor Henry VI. Became Emperor Otto IV, but for years faced opposition from Philip of Swabia.
Philip I of France (1052–1108): Son of Henri I of France; ruled France from 1060 to 1108, during the reigns of William the Conqueror, William II of England, and Henry I of England, all of whom were also duke of Normandy.
Philip II of France (1165–1223): Only son of Louis VII. Ruled France from 1180 to 1223. Also known as Philip Augustus.
Philip of Dreux, bishop of Beauvais: Known as the “fighting bishop”; longtime antagonist of Richard Lionheart. Eventually captured in battle by Richard’s chief mercenary, Mercadier. Philip Augustus protested, but Richard retorted that as a warrior, the bishop clearly had forfeited his ecclesiastical immunity.
Philip of Swabia: Younger brother of Emperor Henry VI; the Hohenstaufens’ candidate for emperor following Henry’s death. Ultimately unsuccessful, he continued for years to fight for the crown.
Pope Innocent III: Elected to the papacy in 1198, where he exerted tremendous power and influence until his death in 1216.
Richard Lionheart (1157–1199): Second surviving son of Henry II of England. Ruled England (1189–1199) as Richard I. Died without legitimate issue.
Robert Curthose (1054–1134): Eldest surviving son of William the Conqueror. Became duke of Normandy after the death of his father in 1187. In 1106, Robert’s younger brother, Henry (who had ruled England as Henry I since 1100), defeated Robert’s army at the Battle of Tinche-bray, imprisoned Robert for life, and claimed Normandy as a possession of the English crown.
Robert, earl of Leicester: As a teenager, made a name for himself on the Third Crusade. Continued to support Richard Lionheart in Normandy until his own capture.
Roger de Lacy: Baron of Pontefract and commander of King John’s garrison at Château-Gaillard.
Rollo (ca. 846–ca. 931): Viking leader and first ruler of what became known as Normandy.
Rosamond Clifford (1150–ca. 1176): Henry II’s mistress.
Saladin (ca. 1138–1193): The great leader of the Muslim and Arab opposition to the crusader states and to the Third Crusade.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153): Abbot of Clairvaux and leader of the austere and reform-minded Cistercian monastic order, who played a leading role in combating heresy, preaching the Second Crusade, and ending schism within the Church. A major figure in the growth of the cult of the Virgin.
Stephen of Blois: Nephew of Henry I of England. Claimed the English crown upon Henry’s death. Stephen’s reign (from 1135 until his death in 1154) was marked by civil war and anarchy, during which Henry I’s daughter, Matilda, and her husband, Geoffrey of Anjou, fought Stephen for the crown.
Tancred (1138–1194): Count of Lecce; king of Sicily from 1189–1194. Unwilling host to the crusading armies of Richard Lionheart and Philip Augustus en route to the Holy Land.
Walter Map (1140–ca. 1210): Man of letters and member of Henry II’s court.
William Aetheling (ca. 1103–1120): The sole legitimate son of Henry I of England. Drowned on the White Ship in 1120.
William Clito: Son of Robert Curthose, nephew of Henry I of England, and—until his untimely death in 1128—contender for the English crown and duchy of Normandy.
William II of Sicily (1155–1189): Last in the line of Norman kings of Sicily. Wed to Joanna Plantagenet, he died childless, leaving his rich kingdom up for grabs. Tancred grabbed first, but Henry Hohenstaufen (as Emperor Henry VI) soon conquered Sicily, becoming its king.
William Marshal (1146–1219): Legendary knight and faithful protector of Henry the Younger, Henry II, and Richard Lionheart, as well as King John and young Henry III. Rewarded by the monarchs he so loyally served, he became rich and powerful, ending his life as earl of Pembroke.
William Rufus (1056?–1100): Second son of William the Conqueror, who ruled England as William II (1087–1100) following the Conqueror’s death. Killed in what was either an assassination or a hunting accident.
William the Conqueror (1027 or 1028–1087): Descendant of Rollo the Viking and bastard son of Duke Robert I of Normandy. Ruled Normandy as duke from 1035; conquered England in 1066, where he ruled as William I (1066–1087).