Berengaria of Navarre

The account of Berengaria's life ends here, but the few known facts about her raise more questions than answers. An unanswered question relates to her marriage, which gives no evidence that her husband ever had any deeper attachment for her than total indifference.

The simple fact is that Berengaria was chosen by Eleanor of Aquitaine to be the wife of her son Richard the Lionheart. Berengaria married Richard in 1191, when he was 36 and she was in around 22-25 years of age. Judged against custom of the time, their marriage came surprisingly late in life for both of them. Royal and noble first weddings usually occurred in one’s middle teens to assure production of several heirs (preferably male warriors), who would provide continuance of dynastic estates. Richard and Berengaria’s marriage lasted eight years until Richard’s death in 1199. Even though she had many remaining potential child bearing years, Berengaria did not marry again, and she had no recorded children or stillbirths, Berengaria possibly was barren, or her marriage to Richard may never have been consummated. Incredible as it seems, the latter possibility may be true. At no point in Richard’s life did he show anything but disinterested unconcern for Berengaria before, and during their marriage.

Many historians conclude that Richard’s indifference to his wife signifies to that the Lionheart had a deviant sexual orientation. Documented records of Richard's adolescent infatuation and behavior also suggest underlying homosexual attraction for young Prince Philip Augustus of France, when the two princes were teenage friends in the French court in Paris. A similar innuendo is offered for adult King Richard’s very close bond of friendship during the Third Crusade with his...

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...ng it was all romantic fantasy.

Loretta Young, a breathtakingly lovely statuesque blond, always took pride in being remembered for her role as Berengaria. One asks, “Why should plain petite brunette Berengaria not have the privilege of being remembered as being like Loretta Young?”

It probably makes little difference and causes no harm (except as violation to history) for so-called, theatrical historical-fantasies, to play only for enjoyment with no concern for factual accuracy. It is well known that audiences prefer history to be presented, as it ought to be, rather than the way shabby events usually take place in reality. For myself, although I know better, I always think of Berengaria as a flawless stately Nordic princess, which makes it difficult for me to understand why Richard was not pierced by Cupid’s arrow and thereby much more attentive to his wife.