heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

374 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
time in Europe. He founded the University of Naples,
and was a writer
and translator of books, but not exactly suited for domestic happiness.
His first act after the wedding was to degrade his son Henry, and
imprison him in a castle in Apulia, where he died seven years afterwards.
He was a freethinker, a patron and friend of alchemists and astrologers,
and treated all that Isabella had been brought up to reverence, with biting
sarcasms and contemptuous blasphemies. His personal
life was grossly
immoral, and his palace little better than a harem, where the Empress
was expected to occupy the position of an eastern sultana. His reign
of intestine troubles, frequent wars, and incessant discord with
was a series
the Holy See, by which he was eventually excommunicated.
three children
Isabella had
a daughter who died an infant, and a son Henry, who did
not long survive her. She died December, 1344, in giving
birth to another
daughter, Margaret, who lived to marry Albert Lantgrave, of Thuringen,
whose descendant of the fourth generation was made Elector of Saxony,
and his offspring were the progenitors of the house of Saxe-Cobourg and
Gotha, from which our Queen is descended. In 1245, Frederick himself
was deposed, and died five years afterwards: it was said, poisoned by his
illegitimate son Manfred, who, professing to govern the kingdom during
the minority of Isabella's surviving son, endeavoured to establish his
own authority.
RICHARD EARL OF CORNWALL, KING OF THE ROMANS.
Discord and dissensions ensued, and the Pope, Innocent I., tried to
tempt Richard Earl of Cornwall, the younger brother of Henry III., with
the kingdom of Sicily, which Frederick had inherited from his mother
Constance. He was wise enough to decline an honour which his brother
foolishly accepted for his second son Edmond. But afterwards, not warned
by the troubles which eventually ensued therefrom, perhaps his wife,
Senchia of Provence (see page 378)) ambitious to be, like her two sisters, a
queen, prompted him to this step, which seems contrary to his natural character,
Richard allowed himself to be chosen King of the Romans, which
seemed to render his succession infallible to the Imperial throne and to
;
him I allot the shield bearing the single-headed eagle (plate 8).
In 1258
he went over to Germany with a noble train, and was crowned with his
wife upon Ascension Day, May 27th, King of the Romans and Almain,
at Aix-la-Chapelle, by Conrad Archbishop of Cologne. On his great seal
he pompously describes himself:
" Richardus Dei Gratia Romanorum Rex
" Semper Augustus." No doubt his great wealth for it is said that he
could spend 100 marks a day, i.e. 66 i$s. 4