Chapitre II
On his way to the territory of his brother-in-law Henry of Saxony, Richard I of England was captured shortly before Christmas 1192 near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria who accused Richard of arranging the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat. Moreover Richard I of England had personally offended Leopold by casting down his standard from the walls of Acre. Richard I of England and his retainers had been travelling in disguise as low-ranking pilgrims, but he was identified either because he was wearing an expensive ring, or because of his insistence on eating roast chicken, an aristocratic delicacy, Emperor Frederick took advantage of this situation and used it against both Henry of Saxony and Richard I of England.
In 1193, Eleanor of Brittany was engaged to Frederick son of Leopold V, Duke of Austria, as part of the conditions to release of Richard who had been taken prisoner by the Emperor.
However, when she was still on the way there with Baldwin of Bethune the next year, the marriage took place on October 4, 1194, the marriage meant the release of Richard I of England on November 1, 1194 and ending the feud between the Plantagenets and the Babenbergs, Philip Augustus would return to France and goes to Paris, however he returns finding his son was already dead and buried , unfortunately, Louis of France died due to a mysterious disease, however a few months, Philippe Auguste is also found dead as well, it was due to grief of his son’s death.
Eleanor of Brittany was unpleased at first at the hands of her groom and told herself that a life as a nun was better than her marrying Frederick.
But it was nothing Eleanor of Brittany needed to be a happy bride so was her sister, Matilda who is waiting for a choice of groom for her as she will also be a disposed as a diplomatic bride to make truces in the troubles started by their relatives.
Matilda of Brittany, asked her mother Constance, she asked who will be her own groom when she grow up, her mother, Constance told Matilda that she is worried about the well being of her sister Eleanor in Austria, but she can’t do anything for her but only watch as Eleanor was married to Frederick.
Matilda of Brittany asked Constance
Will we ever see Eleanor again?
Constance told Matilda that it might never happen.
Constance told to shift the topic to the recent death of Philippe Augustus causing a power vacuum in France...
Matilda told herself that she is interested in marrying a King
Constance of Brittany told her to think of other things since that thing would not most likely happen.
Constance of Brittany told her daughter that she herself is now engaged to marry a relative of previous husband...she would not tell Matilda who is he because she does not want Matilda to know yet.
A few months later...Constance of Brittany remarries to Henry of Champagne, a relative of her deceased husband.
The nobles of France were asking themselves?
Who will be the King of France?
They evaluated the merits and the lands and thought that the best fitting is the man who holds Half of France - Richard the Lionheart, him being as one of the future kings happened due to Marie of Champagne helping him get some of the nobles want him as the King of France and aside from that, he had support from his relatives.
Marie of Champagne supported Richard till the end so did his relatives in Champagne, however, did this meant the end of the Capets.
The Lionheart wondered....can he actually play the part...can he be elected as the King of France...did he have support.
His older sister, Marie of Champagne told her surrogate child and younger sibling that he would not need to worry about his own disposition as a candidate to the position of the King of France because she will support him no matter what because he is like a child to her.
Marie of Champagne was quite uncertain whether her support was enough for Richard to be the King of France since he is a candidate and many nobles are vying for the position.
Marie of Champagne drank some wine and told herself..
Is my support enough..
Alice of France came to the room of Marie of Champagne and told Marie about her repudiation by Richard the Lionheart...however Marie of Champagne was unfazed of what Alice has said..
Marie of Champagne told Alice that she could possibly find love again and this time she would succeed finding it..
Eleanor of Aquitaine was happy of the developments about her own son, Richard of Aquitaine, since he is now one of the people of being considered to be the King of France.
Richard the Lionheart promised that if he becomes the King of France, the Plantagenet holdings in the continent would be absorbed to the Royal domain while England would be given to John.