Walter III, Count of Brienne

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Seal of Walter III of Brienne

Walter III of Brienne (

King of Sicily
.

Early life

Walter III was the eldest son of

Count of Brienne in 1191.[3] In the late 1190s, Walter and his brothers became involved in the conflict between Peter II of Courtenay (first cousin of King Philip II of France) and Peter's vassal Hervé IV of Donzy. Possibly provoked by Philip's support of his cousin, Walter briefly "abandoned the King of France" during the latter's conflict with King Richard I of England. Philip then became weary of the growing influence of the Brienne brothers.[4]

Marriage and campaign

At the end of the 12th century,

House of Brienne, however, Walter's marriage to Elvira signified a sudden rise and the beginning of the dynasty's golden age.[6]

The

took the cross and started persuading prospective crusaders, such as his cousin Walter of Montbéliard, to assist him in his upcoming campaign in southern Italy on their way to the Holy Land.[7] Besides recruiting men, Walter energetically collected money and supplies from 1200, selling or mortgaging all of his land by April 1201.[8] He also secured the blessing and significant aid from Pope Innocent III. Innocent was the guardian of King Frederick but determinedly opposed to his regents.[7] He refused Walter's petition to recognize Elvira's claim to Frederick's throne; instead, he recognized the couple's right to the Principality of Taranto and the County of Lecce.[7][9] In return, Tancred's family was compelled to recognize Frederick as their king.[9] Walter knew that securing possession of Taranto and Lecce would give him a sufficient power base and agreed.[7]

Leaving his younger brother

island of Sicily. Walter was reluctant to combat Innocent's enemies on the island before consolidating his position on the peninsula.[7]

Death and aftermath

By 1204, Walter was besieged in the fortress of Terracina by

Diepold of Vohburg and lost an eye to an arrow, but he broke the siege and put Diepold to fight.[11] One night in June 1205, a contingent of enemy soldiers infiltrated Walter's camp, cut the ropes of his tent, felled it on Walter and stabbed him.[12] Walter died of his wounds soon afterwards,[7] June 1205.[11]

Elvira, pregnant at the time of Walter's death, quickly remarried. She gave birth to a

Walter IV.[12] Their family's claims posed problems for the rest of Frederick's reign.[9] Walter III was succeeded in Brienne by his brother John, who held the county until Walter IV reached the age of majority.[13]

References

  1. ^ Perry 2013, pp. 16, 22.
  2. ^ Perry 2013, p. 26.
  3. ^ Perry 2013, pp. 18, 29.
  4. ^ Perry 2013, p. 30.
  5. ^ a b Perry 2013, p. 32.
  6. ^ Perry 2013, p. 31.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Perry 2013, p. 33.
  8. ^ Perry 2013, p. 33-34.
  9. ^ a b c McDougall 2016, p. 214.
  10. ^ Perry 2013, p. 34.
  11. ^ a b Mitchell 2011, p. 69.
  12. ^ a b Perry 2013, p. 35.
  13. ^ Perry 2013, p. 36.

Sources

  • Kennan, Elizabeth (1971). "Innocent III and the First Political Crusade: A Comment on the Limitations of Papal Power". Traditio. 27.
  • McDougall, Sara (2016). Royal Bastards: The Birth of Illegitimacy, 800–1230. Oxford University Press.
  • Mitchell, Roger Haydon (2011). Church, Gospel, and Empire: How the Politics of Sovereignty Impregnated the West. Wipf & Stock.
  • Perry, Guy (2013). John of Brienne: King of Jerusalem, Emperor of Constantinople, c.1175–1237. Cambridge University Press.
Preceded by
Robert
Prince of Taranto

1200–1205 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Erard II
Count of Brienne

1191–1205 		Succeeded by
Walter IV
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