Hugh III of Cyprus

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hugh III
Isabella of Ibelin
Issue
more...
Poitiers-Antioch
FatherHenry of Antioch
MotherIsabella of Cyprus

Hugh III (

Hugh of Brienne
, he succeeded both young monarchs upon their deaths and appeared poised to be an effective political and military leader.

As the first king of Jerusalem to reside in the kingdom since the 1220s, Hugh tried to restore the

Egyptian Mamluks. Marital alliances brought to him steadfast loyalty of the most powerful noble families, the Ibelins and the Montforts, but his efforts on the mainland were doomed to failure by the hostility of the Venetian merchants and the Knights Templar. His insular vassals, on the other hand, resented his determination to deploy Cypriot armies in defense of the Crusader states. In 1275 he failed to establish himself as regent of the County of Tripoli
.

Most problematically, Hugh's right to the throne of Jerusalem was challenged by his aunt

John I
.

Background

Hugh was the son of

Melisende of Cyprus.[6] King Henry ruled the mainland kingdom as regent until his death in 1253.[7]

Hugh's mother brought him up along with his cousin

nobility of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.[9] The marriage, or at least a betrothal, took place in 1255,[9] when a dispensation was issued.[2] Hugh was handsome and charming, but disadvantaged by his bad temper and tactlessness.[10]

Regency

Hugh's relationship to the rulers of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Antioch[11][12]
Isabella I
of Jerusalem
Melisende
of Cyprus
Bohemond V
of Antioch
Isabella II
of Jerusalem		Maria
of Cyprus		Henry I
of Cyprus		Isabella
of Cyprus		Henry
of Antioch		Maria
of Antioch
Plaisance
of Antioch		Bohemond VI
of Antioch
Hugh
of Brienne
Hugh II
of Cyprus		Hugh III
of Cyprus
Lucia
of Tripoli

Hugh's mother, Isabella, was the aunt of the young King

Conrad III of Jerusalem, who lived in Europe, he was entitled to govern the Kingdom of Jerusalem as regent.[13] But since he was a minor, that regency needed to be exercised by his next of kin, and Isabella accepted that role in 1263.[2]

Isabella died in 1264, and a dispute arose between Hugh of Brienne and Hugh of Antioch. The former claimed that he should now exercise the regency in Jerusalem because his mother was older than Hugh of Antioch's. But, as regent of Cyprus, Hugh of Antioch could contribute more militarily to the dwindling mainland kingdom, and was better connected, being the first cousin of Prince Bohemond VI of Antioch as well as being married into the powerful Ibelin family. The High Court of Jerusalem ruled that, since the contenders were equally close relatives of the young king, the elder of them should have priority, and that was Hugh of Antioch. Being chosen as regent effectively marked Hugh of Antioch as the heir presumptive of Hugh II.[14]

As regent, Hugh considered it his duty to defend the

Chastel Neuf.[15] Hugh likely focused on reinforcing the defence of Acre,[15] the sole remaining royal city on the mainland.[16]

Reign

Accessions

Quartered arms
denoting Hugh as king of both Jerusalem and Cyprus

14-year-old King Hugh II died in December 1267,

king of Cyprus by his cousin and regent Hugh of Antioch (Hugh III).[18] Hugh III's coronation took place in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Nicosia on 25 December 1267.[18][17] In May 1268 the new king sailed to Acre to be recognized as the formal regent, and thus heir presumptive, of Conrad III of Jerusalem. The High Court was prepared to accept him,[18] but he was surprised to find his claim challenged by his aunt Maria of Antioch.[19] She insisted that she had the better claim to regency due to being a nearer relative of Conrad; whereas Hugh was a great-grandchild of their common ancestor, Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem, Maria was a grandchild.[18] Maria's case was legally stronger and, unlike Hugh, she had come prepared for debate.[20] Hugh, however, was a more desirable choice, as he was a man, experienced in government, and with troops at disposal. Earlier in 1268 Baibars had conquered Jaffa, Beaufort, and Antioch, which prompted the High Court to rule in Hugh's favour.[18]

On 29 October 1268, Conrad was executed in

bailli to rule his new kingdom on his behalf, Hugh divided his time between Cyprus and Acre.[21] For the first time since the 1220s the mainland kingdom had a resident monarch.[22]

Policy

The barons of the Kingdom of Jerusalem had grown independent from royal authority during the reigns of the absentee kings.

bishop of Lydda in the Cathedral of Tyre, where kings and queens of Jerusalem had been crowned since the loss of the city of Jerusalem in 1187.[26]

Lord Edward's crusade in 1271–72
  Mamluks
  Crusaders
  Mongols

In June 1271, Acre became exposed when Baibars conquered the Montfort Castle to its north-east. He immediately made an unsuccessful attempt at raid on Cyprus.[27] At that time, the English prince Edward took a small army of about 1,000 men on a a crusade to the Latin East, arriving in Acre on 9 May 1271. Edward was soon disillusioned by the uncooperativeness of the local Christians.[28] Baibars' failed attack on their island had disturbed Cypriot knights, who refused Hugh's summons to serve on the mainland. They argued that the king could not expect them to fight for him outside Cyprus. Edward was called on to arbitrate.[27] Their disobedience was humiliating for Hugh. It was decided that the knights could be commanded to serve abroad for four months each year if led by the king or his son.[29] Edward helped Hugh raid Baibars' territory, and early in 1272 Hugh secured a truce, after which Acre remained at peace until 1291.[27] Edward left on 16 June 1272.[30]

The only

legally required to marry one of three candidates presented to her by the king.[32] Wishing to attract a capable knight to the East by offering her hand in marriage,[33] Hugh took Isabella to Cyprus. Baibars demanded that she be returned to Beirut, and as the High Court offered no support, Hugh relented. The king did not resume control over Beirut until long after Baibars died.[31] Despite some successes, in the end Hugh found it impossible to be more than "king of Acre", as Muslim writers called him.[22]

Bohemond VI, the last prince of Antioch, died in 1275, leaving two children,

Lucia. Bohemond VII inherited the County of Tripoli from his father, but he was a minor. King Hugh arrived in Tripoli to claim regency as the closest adult scion of the ruling family. Bohemond VII's mother, Sibylla of Armenia, had already established herself as regent, however, as was her right according to family custom. Hugh found no support in Tripoli.[34] He only won a minor diplomatic victory when he negotiated with Baibars a truce covering Latakia, preserving the last remnant of the Principality of Antioch.[35]

Baronial opposition

Billon 'denier' coin issued in the reign of Hugh III.

Hugh succeeded in mending the rifts between his lay vassals, the Ibelins and the Montforts, but the merchants of

William of Beaujeu, elected to succeed Thomas Berard in 1273, proved determined to undermine the king.[35]

Hugh's chief problem, however, was the persistence of his aunt Maria in claiming the throne of Jerusalem.

Mediterranean Hugh had feared since 1269.[37] Charles had the support of William of Beaujeu, his kinsman.[38] As the ruler of Sicily and brother of the celebrated crusader King Louis IX of France, he rivalled what Hugh could offer militarily and diplomatically.[37] Charles was also personally hostile to Hugh, encouraging Maria's claims to Jerusalem and Hugh of Brienne's to Cyprus.[36]

Indignant at the opposition he faced, Hugh suddenly packed up his belongings and left Acre for good in October 1276.

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Thomas of Lentino. They sent delegates to Tyre, where the king had retired with the intention to sail to Cyprus, begging him to at least appoint a bailli. It took the intercession of his brother-in-law John of Montfort to make the angry king appoint an administrator, Balian of Ibelin. King Hugh immediately embarked and went to Cyprus, from where he justified his action to Pope John XXI.[40]

1285 coin describing Charles as king of Jerusalem and Sicily

The sale of Maria's claim to Charles was concluded, with papal approval, in March 1277. Within weeks Charles's representative Roger of San Severino arrived in Acre to claim government, facing no opposition from Hugh.[38] Roger proclaimed Charles king of Jerusalem and demanded that the barons do homage to him as Charles's bailli. To preserve a sense of legality, the barons twice asked Hugh to absolve them from their allegiance to him, but he refused to answer.[42] The holders of the most important lordships, John of Tyre and Isabella of Beirut, continued to recognize Hugh as their legitimate king.[43]

Struggles for Acre

Hugh attempted twice to reoccupy Acre but was ultimately unsuccessful. In 1279 he brought a large Cypriot army to Tyre, hoping that a display of strength and bribery would be enough to restore his authority over the city.[38] John of Montfort was on his side,[44] but William of Beaujeu's enduring opposition to Hugh frustrated the plan.[38] Upon returning to Cyprus, he seized the Templars' properties and destroyed their fortifications in reprisal.[45] The Templars complained to the pope, who asked Hugh to restore their property, but he declined.[46] Though restricted since 1277 in his ability to support the mainland against the Mamluks, Hugh may have planned to assist the Mongols in their attempted invasion of the Mamluk-held Levant.[16]

1282 saw the recall of Roger of San Severino due to a major

bad omens: his standard fell into the sea, and the cross carried by the assembled clergy accidentally cracked the skull of his Jewish court physician. Hugh waited in vain to be welcomed to Acre.[10] Charles's new bailli in Acre, Odo Poilechien, had just concluded a truce with the Mamluks, and Hugh may have feared their intervention if he attacked.[16]

The king lost his most promising son, Bohemond, on 3 November 1283. An even more serious blow was the death of his friend and brother-in-law, John of Montfort. The Cypriots left him after the agreed period of four months expired, but Hugh remained in Tyre, where he died on 24 March 1284.

John I, who died the next year and was followed by another son, Henry II.[16]

Issue

With his wife,

Isabella of Ibelin, Hugh had eleven children:[11]

References

  1. ^ Edbury 1994, p. 30.
  2. ^ a b c d Edbury 1994, p. 88.
  3. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 206.
  4. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 195.
  5. ^ Edbury 1994, p. 81.
  6. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 82.
  7. ^ Edbury 1994, p. 83.
  8. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 289.
  9. ^ a b Edbury 1979, p. 6.
  10. ^ a b c d Runciman 1989, p. 394.
  11. ^ a b Edbury 1994, p. 37.
  12. ^ Runciman 1989, p. Appendix III (Genealogical trees No. 1 and 2.).
  13. ^ Edbury 1994, p. 86.
  14. ^ Edbury 1994, pp. 89–90.
  15. ^ a b c Edbury 1994, pp. 89.
  16. ^ a b c d e Edbury 1994, pp. 96.
  17. ^ a b c Runciman 1989, p. 327.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Edbury 1994, pp. 90.
  19. ^ Riley-Smith 1973, p. 220.
  20. ^ Edbury 1979, p. 15.
  21. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 290.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Edbury 1994, pp. 91.
  23. ^ Riley-Smith 1973, p. 225.
  24. ^ a b Riley-Smith 1973, p. 224.
  25. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 328.
  26. ^ a b Runciman 1989, p. 329.
  27. ^ a b c Edbury 1994, pp. 92.
  28. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 335.
  29. ^ a b c Edbury 1994, pp. 93.
  30. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 338.
  31. ^ a b Runciman 1989, p. 342.
  32. ^ Riley-Smith 1973, pp. 8–9.
  33. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 329-330.
  34. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 343.
  35. ^ a b Runciman 1989, p. 344.
  36. ^ a b c Runciman 1989, p. 330.
  37. ^ a b c Edbury 1994, pp. 94.
  38. ^ a b c d Edbury 1994, pp. 95.
  39. ^ Edbury 1994, pp. 94–95.
  40. ^ a b Runciman 1989, p. 345.
  41. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 344-345.
  42. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 346.
  43. ^ Riley-Smith 1973, p. 227.
  44. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 389.
  45. ^ Edbury 1994, pp. 95–96.
  46. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 390.
  47. ^ Runciman 1989, p. 342, 393.

Sources

  • Edbury, Peter W. (1979). The Disputed Regency of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1264/6 and 1268. Offices of the Royal Historical Society.
    OCLC 4782987
    .
  • Edbury, Peter W. (1994). The Kingdom of Cyprus and the Crusades, 1191–1374.
    ISBN 978-0-521-45837-5
    .
  • ISBN 0-333-06379-1
    .
  • ISBN 0-521-06163-6
    .
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Hugh II
King of Cyprus

1267–1284 		Succeeded by
Preceded by King of Jerusalem
1268–1284
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hugh_III_of_Cyprus&oldid=1252748516"