Alice of Champagne

On the death of Philip of Ibelin, the regency was taken over his brother, John of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut. Opponents of the latter supported Alice, this led to the involvement of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor who had married Alice's half-niece Isabella II of Jerusalem on the death of her mother Maria. They tried to end the regency of Ibelin. Frederick was on the Sixth Crusade at the time. John of Ibelin resigned from office, and a committee of five Cypriot barons became the regents of Cyprus.

When her father Henry II had enlisted in the Third Crusade, she was not yet married and he had stated in his will that the County of Champagne be left to his brother Theobald III, Count of Champagne unless he returned from the East. Theobald died in 1201 leaving a minor son and his wife Blanche of Navarre; however, the daughters of Henry II felt that their father could not disinherit them and would give them Champagne if he knew the sisters had children. Alice and Philippa claimed the county of Champagne. First Philippa and her husband Erard of Brienne triggered the War of Succession of Champagne, then gave up the county in 1221 but Alice did not give up. She was supported by a large number of French barons who had also drawn more or less in rebellion against Blanche of Castile for supporting Blanche of Navarre as regent. Read Less