Henry of Almain

(Henry of Cornwall)

Henry of Almain was an English Nobleman and part of the Plantagenet dynasty. He was known for his involvement in political conflicts of the 13th century and was famously murdered by his cousins.

 

 

Henry was born in Hailes, Gloucestershire, England, on November 2nd, 1235, and was the eldest son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, second son of King John of England. Henry's mother was Isabel Marshal, daughter of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. Henry was also known as Henry of Cornwall.

Henry was knighted by his father the day after Richard was crowned King of the Romans at Aachen, Germany, on May 17th, 1257. As a knight, Henry displayed valor and loyalty.

Henry of Almain was the nephew of both King Henry III and Simon de Montfort, placing him in an awkward situation when those two went to war against each other during the Second Barons' War. Henry would eventually side with the royalists and his uncle, Henry III.

Henry fought at the Battle of Lewes alongside his uncle, Henry III, his father, Richard of Cornwall, and his cousin, Prince Edward, the future King Edward I. At Lewes, he was captured by de Montfort and taken prisoner, where he was held at Wallingford Castle before being released at a later time.

In 1268, Henry took the cross and joined his cousin Edward on crusade to the Holy Lands. However, Edward sent him back from Sicily to deal with the unruly province of Gascony.

On May 5th, 1269, Henry married Constance of Béarn, daughter of Gaston VII of Montcada, at Windsor Castle. They had no children.

On March 13th, 1271, Henry of Almain was attending mass at the Church of San Silvestro in Viterbo, Italy, when he was murdered by his cousins Guy de Montfort and Simon de Montfort the Younger, out of revenge for their father, Simon de Montfort, being killed and beheaded at the Battle of Evesham. Henry was murdered while clutching the altar and begging for mercy. Guy de Montfort replied by saying, "You had no mercy on my father and brothers".

 

 

Henry was buried at Hailes Abbey in Gloucestershire, England. However, his heart was preserved in a golden shrine and buried at Westminster Abbey near the shrine of Edward the Confessor. Having no children of his own, his half-brother, Edmond, inherited his estates and became the heir apparent to their father, Richard of Cornwall.