Theobald II (Navarre)

"Seal of Theobald, by the grace of God King of Navarre"

Theobald II (French: Thibaut , Spanish: Teobaldo ; * 1238 ; † December 4, 1270 in Trapani ) was King of Navarre since 1253 and, as Theobald V, Count of Champagne from the House of Blois . He was the eldest son of King Theobald I of Navarre (Count Theobald IV of Champagne) and his wife Margarethe von Bourbon-Dampierre († 1256).

biography

After the death of his father, Theobald took over his inheritance at the age of 14. This was not without controversy, because his brother-in-law, Duke John I of Brittany , made a claim to the Crown of Navarre on behalf of his wife. In fact, Theobald's father had once given his older half-sister the right of inheritance in Navarre with him in the marriage. But King Ludwig IX stepped in Theobald's favor . from France , who kept the peace between the parties. Theobald later bought the claims for 3000 livres from his rival .

Theobald had a close relationship with the French king, at whose court he was educated and who is said to have treated him like his own son. At first he was under the reign of his mother and the guardianship of King James I of Aragon . After he took over the reign in Navarre himself after the death of his mother, Theobald restricted the power of the magnates, especially the twelve-member council, which should have advised him until he was twenty-first. With the support of Pope Alexander IV , he introduced the French rite of anointing and coronation in 1257 and 1259, thereby placing his kingdom under divine grace. He won the sympathies of the citizens, despite the increase in taxes, by granting them privileges and political influence in return. He also carried out the first census in Navarre.

Theobald II married Isabella of France (1242–1271), daughter of King Louis IX , in 1255 . and Margaret of Provence . From this point onwards, Ludwig IX. the arbitrator in Navarre's external relations. Therefore King Alfonso X of Castile allowed the Basque Kingdom as long as Theobald was alive to use the ports of Fontarrabia and San Sebastián , which Navarre needed for its trade. This admission was preceded by the marriage speech between the French Princess Blanche and Ferdinand de la Cerda , the son and heir of Alfonso X.

In July 1270 Theobald accompanied his father-in-law on the Seventh Crusade to Tunis , where Ludwig died. Theobald himself died shortly afterwards on the return journey, before he had reached the Iberian Peninsula, and was buried in the Church of the Cordelières in Provins . His wife, who accompanied him, also died on the return journey on April 27, 1271 in Hyères and was buried at her husband's side. Since the couple had no children, his brother Heinrich the Fat followed him .

On Theobald's death, the poet Rutebeuf wrote a lament ( La complainte du roi de Navarre ).

The character "Ciampolo" from the XXII. Gesang von Dante's Divine Comedy was a servant at Theobald's court in Navarre.

Individual proof

1. ↑ On the death of Theobald II of Navarre see: Guillaume de Nangis , Gesta Philippi Regis Franciæ , ed. by M. Daunou in the Recueil des Historiens des Gaules et de la France (RHGF) , Vol. XX (Paris, 1840), pp. 482-483

Web links

Commons : Theobald II.  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Short biography of Theobald II of Navarre (French)

predecessor	Office	successor
Theobald IV./I.	Count of Champagne, King of Navarre 1253–1270	Heinrich III./I.