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Birth:          ABT 1138 of Wroclaw, Poland
Death:          16 Jun 1185 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richeza_of_Poland,_Queen_of_Castile
Richeza of Poland (also known as of Silesia) (Polish: Ryksa Polska or Slaska) (c. 
1140 – 16 June 1185) was a Polish princess of the House of Piast in the Silesian 
branch. By her marriages she was Queen consort of León and Castile, Countess of 
Provence, and Countess of Everstein.

Richeza was the third child and only daughter of Wladyslaw II the Exile, High Duke of 
Poland and ruler of Silesia, by his wife Agnes of Babenberg, daughter of Margrave 
Leopold III of Austria and half-sister of King Conrad III of Germany.[1]
Life[edit]

Queen of Castile and León[edit]

Born and raised for the first years of her life in Poland, Richeza accompanied her 
parents and brothers into exile in 1146. They established themselves first in Bohemia 
and later in Germany under the care of King Conrad III, who gave his deposed 
brother-in-law the Saxon district of Altenburg as his residence.

In 1151 came the news that the King Alfonso VII of León and Castile wanted to make 
an alliance with the Kingdom of Germany through a wedding. Richeza, niece of King 
Conrad III, was the most attractive candidate available. Between October and 
December 1152 Richeza and King Alfonso VII were married. Her first child, Ferdinand, 
was born in the city of Toledo one year later, in 1153. Two years later, in 1155, 
Richeza gave birth to her second child, Sancha. King Alfonso VII died suddenly in the 
middle of the war against the Moors in Sierra Morena on 21 August 1157. Apparently, 
Infante Ferdinand died soon before his father.[2]

Countess of Provence[edit]

The late king divided his domains between his two surviving sons born from his first 
marriage to Berenguela of Barcelona: Sancho III obtained Castile and Ferdinand II 
received León. The relationship between Richeza and her stepsons wasn't good, 
especially after King Sancho III declared war on Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of 
Barcelona, father of Alfonso (later King of Aragon), who was betrothed to Richeza's 
daughter Sancha. The unstable relations of King Ferdinand II with the Holy Roman 
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (cousin of Richeza) and the Antipope Victor IV added 
further difficulties to the Dowager Queen, who finally decided to move to the Kingdom 
of Aragon in 1159.

At the court of Aragon, Richeza met Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence, nephew 
of Count of Barcelona. Although they soon fell in love, their union would be clearly 
political. Ramon Berenguer II supported Victor IV against Pope Alexander III, who, in 
turn, supported King Louis VII of France. The county of Provence was in a strategic 
location, between France and the Italian Peninsula. Frederick Barbarossa also wanted 
to win to his side Count Ramon Berenguer IV, who entered in an alliance with the 
kings of France, Castile and León. In contrast, Ramon Berenguer II, soon cousin by 
marriage of the Emperor, gained prestige and could face the pretentions of Count 
Hugh of Baux, who had just received the Imperial Provence as a fief.

Premarital negotiations lasted almost a year and a half. Between January and October 
1161 Richeza and Count Ramon Berenguer II were finally married. They had only one 
daughter, Douce of Provence, born ca. 1162. Ramon Berenguer II was killed during 
the siege of Nice in 1166.

Soon after her second husband's death, plans for a new marriage for Richeza began. 
Apparently, she was betrothed to Raymond V, Count of Toulouse, by her cousin the 
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa around 1166; at the same time, the now Countess 
Douce II of Provence was engaged to the future Raymond VI. Count Raymond V 
wanted with this engagement to become more closely to the Hohenstaufen dynasty 
and took full control over the County of Provence. However, the firm opposition of 
King Alfonso II of Aragon (Richeza's future son-in-law) soon cancelled both betrothals, 
and with the help of the Genoese, began a war against Raymond V that lasted eight 
years.

Some sources stated that in fact Richeza and Raymond V were married, however this 
event is refuted by the majority of modern historians.

Countess of Everstein[edit]

By 1167, Richeza married her third and last husband, Count Albert III of Everstein, 
who fought at the side of Frederick Barbarossa in his wars against the Guelphs. She 
moved to Germany with her new husband. From this union were born two sons, Counts 
Albert IV and Konrad II of Everstein.[3]

Little is known about the later life of Richeza. She died in 1185.

Parents
____ Wladislav II "The Exile" (1105 - 30 May 1159)
OF AUSTRIA (BABENBERG) Agnes (ABT 1111 - 24 Jan 1163)

Siblings
OF POLAND (OF SILICIA) Richeza (Richilde) (Ryksa) (ABT 1138 - 16 Jun 1185)

Marriage To ____ Alfonso VII "Pierre-Raimund" (1 Mar 1105 - 21 Aug 1157)
    m. 1152 his 2d

Notes

Parents
DE BOURGOGNE Raymond (ABT 1070 - 24 May 1107)
ALFONSEZ OF CASTILE AND LEON Urraca (ABT 1082 - 8 Mar 1126)

Children by ____ Alfonso VII "Pierre-Raimund" 1 Mar 1105 - 21 Aug 1157
____ Sancha (Sanchia) (21 Sep 1154 - 9 Nov 1208)

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