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Richard of Cornwall

Type Figure Region England Time 1209–1272 Also known as Richard Plantagenet

Richard of Cornwall (1209–1272), brother of Henry III, Earl of Cornwall from 1225, famed for his wealth and crusading prestige;…

Timeline

  1. 1251Rome · LazioIn 1251 Richard was dispatched to Rome by his brother King Henry III to mediate between Pope Innocent IV and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II; though no lasting reconciliation resulted, it raised his profile in European politics and built contacts for his later bid for the German throne.
  2. 1252–1256Frankfurt · HesseFrom 1252 Richard lobbied electors across Germany, drawing on his crusading merits and Cornish revenues, competing with Alfonso X of Castile; he repeatedly traveled between England and Germany in the mid-1250s to raise funds and allies, laying the groundwork for the 1257 election.
  3. 1257–1260Aachen · North Rhine-WestphaliaIn January 1257 Richard was elected King of the Romans by a majority of electors at Frankfurt and crowned at Aachen in May, creating a rival two-king situation with Alfonso X. In the late 1250s he based his activities in Germany, seeking to consolidate control over the electors and maintain political ties with England.

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