Richard King of the Romans

Not a very good photo, but an intriguing plaque.

Many years ago I studied medieval history for A-level, but even so I had never heard of Prince Richard, son of King John who was crowned King of the Romans in Aachen (not Rome as you might imagine) in 1257.

King John who we’ve been hearing lots about this year, the anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, had two sons, Henry who became King Henry III, and Richard, and three daughters, Joan who became Queen of Scotland, Isabella who married the Holy Roman Emperor and became an Empress, and Eleanor who was Countess of Pembroke.

Richard who was born in 1209, had an extraordinary life, as well as being a King, he was also the first Earl of Cornwall, he fought in Crusades, was elected King of Germany, married three times and had eight sons, including John, Henry, Edmund, Philip, Richard and Walter and two daughters Isabel and Joan.

The plaque above refers to his ignominious capture while hiding in a windmill after the Battle of Lewes when the king’s forces were defeated by those of the rebel Simon de Montfort. Richard died in 1272