Richard, Earl of Cornwall - Definition

Richard (5 January 1209 - 2 April 1272) was Count of Poitou (bef. 1225), Earl of Cornwall (from 1227) and King of the Romans (from 1257).

He was the second son of King John "Lackland" and Isabella of Angouleme, and thus, the younger brother of King Henry III; although all other mediaeval lords of Cornwall have been known as "Earl" (or, later, "Duke"), as he is most known to history through continental accounts his version of that title has come down to us in a French-derived rendering ("Count," as opposed to Earl).

In 1257, he was elected by three Electoral Princes as King of Germany.

He was buried at Hayles Abbey, which he had founded.

Marriages

He married three times:

• On 30 March 1231 to Isabel Marshal, widow of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, and daughter of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. She died in childbed 17 January 1240.

• On 23 November 1243 to Sanchia of Provence, daughter of Raymond Berenger IV, count of Provence. She died 9 November 1261.

• On 16 June 1269 to Beatrice de Falconburg, daughter of Dirk II, Count of Falconburg.

Issue

He had four children by his first wife and two sons by second wife, but none of these had children; his only descendants are via his illegitimate son (Richard de Cornwall) by Joan de Vautort (or Valletort).