Medieval Section member, David Harpin, initiated the year’s programme of lectures in October with a talk about Richard of Cornwall, King of the Romans (1209-1272). This was a follow-up to his talk at the Leeds Medieval Congress last summer which commemorated the 750th anniversary of the battle of Lewes, in which Simon de Montfort defeated King Henry III and his supporters, and took control of the government. Richard of Cornwall was the younger brother of the king and was imprisoned after his capture at Lewes. David drew upon objects that had been reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and objects in his personal collection to tell the story of Richard.
As the younger brother of Henry III, Richard was very well-connected. He visited Louis IX in Paris, went on Crusade to the Holy Land and negotiated with the Pope and his brother in law Frederick II to try to resolve their differences over Sicily and the Holy Roman Empire. He was sufficiently wealthy to found Hailes Abbey, apparently having made a vow whilst in peril at sea. Richard was elected King of the Romans, a position that was rather more than titular. He held this position between 1257 and 1272. The belt of Las Huelgas shows the coats of arms of Richard as Earl of Cornwall, and many of the people he knew, including the Earls of Gloucester and Derby, and the Kings of England and France. Such belts were given as presents in Henry III’s reign to mark important occasions. An image from the “Trinity Apocalypse”, a book which may have belonged to Richard’s wife Sanchia, shows heraldic pendants suspended from the peytral (harness) of the horse. An heraldic harness fitting of Richard’s is a similar style to the coat-of-arms on the Huelgas belt. Another two have been found near Cambridge and may date from Richard’s prolonged visit there in 1266. Richard’s coats-of arms appear on steelyard weights that were introduced into England by the Hansa merchants after 1260. They had been given a base in England through Richard’s influence. Richard’s coats-of arms include a lion rampant for his Earldom; and a double-headed eagle for him as King of the Romans (and prospective Holy Roman Emperor). This indicates that Richard had authority over weights and measures in England, as he had had for the re-coinage. He ensured that the weights were used all over England.
A southern French theme is discernible in another pendant with a cross pattee heraldic device representing the de Montfort family, which had acquired lands in the south of France during the Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th century. The device appears on Simon de Montfort’s tomb. He was killed during the siege of Toulouse in 1218. It was this Simon de Montfort’s younger son, also called Simon, who became Earl of Leicester and played such a prominent role during the reign of Henry III.
Another piece may indicate Richard’s relationship with Alphonse of Poitiers, who was brother of the French king and Count of Poitou and Toulouse. A 13th century bag with Alphonse’s coat-of-arms survives in a museum in Germany. Could the bronze fitting David showed us, also found near Cambridge, once have been attached to a diplomatic communication between them?
Richard was crowned King of the Romans in 1257 at Aachen and the regalia were gifted by Richard to the church. The sceptre was made in the English tradition and has a dove as its terminal. Charlemagne founded the Holy Roman Empire some 450 years earlier. Richard spent little time in Germany.
At a lower level in Medieval society heraldry can be seen on wine tavern tokens. David showed us four with the single-headed eagle as King of the Romans. As already seen Richard could also lay claim to use the double-headed eagle as he was expecting his promotion to be Holy Roman Emperor would be a formality. But the Pope and the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire, wanted to keep more power from him.
In 1247-50 Richard was involved in the re-coinage of the English currency. He recovered his expenses from exchanges and fines in return over a 12 year period. One hundred and forty million Voided Long Cross pennies were struck. The English silver coins the new issue replaced had borne the name of Henry even though they had been produced through the reigns of Henry II, Richard I, John and during the early years of Henry III. By this time the English coinage was in poor condition due to wear and clipping. The mint and moneyer’s name were on the coins so people could be held responsible for the quality of the coins. There were occasions when punishments were severe. David showed coins struck on the Continent that may have passed for English pennies, showing the commercial influence of England. From 1251 Richard was also responsible for the re-coinage in Ireland. Over 1000 wine tavern tokens cast in moulds that were previously used in London have been found during excavations in Dublin, leading to speculation that Richard may have had them brought over. David stressed that Richard was unlikely to have been involved in the minting of Henry’s gold penny, an initiative that never really caught on.
The lecture closed with an opportunity to see some of the pieces that David described in his lecture. This was very much appreciated by the members.
Medieval Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society 