An emperor, an earl, a duchess,and a duke

On October 21, 1209, Richard’s nephew, Otto IV, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Want to bet Heinrich was spinning in his grave like the proverbial top? Otto had actually been elected in 1198, thanks in large measure to the efforts of Richard and his good friend, the Archbishop of Cologne. But Otto found himself competing with Heinrich’s youngest brother, Philip, the only good Hohenstaufen.  After Philip was assassinated in 1208, Otto no longer had any rivals, although his reign did not end well for him. Here is an interesting thought. If Heinrich had not died so unexpectedly in 1197, might Richard have considered making Otto his heir? He made Otto Count of Poitou in 1196, which may indicate he was thinking along those lines. But then the post of emperor suddenly became vacant and that was too good an opportunity to pass up. I think Otto’s life might have been happier, though, had he not become emperor, for he was never really at home in Germany; one historian even called him their first foreign emperor.
And on October 21st, 1204, one of the heroes of the Third Crusade, Robert Beaumont, the Earl of Leicester died. I liked Robert, an important character in Lionheart and a character, too, in Ransom. One report said he’d died a leper, but I am happy to report that historians do not believe it. I’m glad Robert was spared that, at least, for I am sure he did not have a fun time during the two years that he was held prisoner by the French king; he’d made a fool out of Philippe when the French king tried to capture Rouen and Philippe was not one for forgiving and forgetting.
And on October 21, 1221, Constance of Brittany’s daughter Alix, by her second husband, Guy de Thouars, died in childbirth, at the age of twenty. She was recognized as the Duchess of Brittany rather than her elder sister Eleanor after the Breton lords became convinced Arthur was dead because they feared that John would try to rule Brittany through Eleanor, who was his prisoner; Eleanor, of course, would spend the rest of her life as an English prisoner, first of John and then his son. Alix had been wed at 13 to Philippe’s cousin, and after she died in childbirth, she was succeeded by her son, named John! She also had a son named Arthur, who only lived for four years.
Lastly, on October 21st, 1449, George, Duke of Clarence, one of the most screwed-up brothers of a king in medieval history was born. In light of what we know about Brother George’s misspent life, I don’t see this as a day to celebrate, and isn’t that a sad epitaph?