The New International Encyclopædia/Berengaria

BERENGARIA, bā̇′rĕn-gä′rĭ-ȧ (?–c.1230). The Queen of Richard the Lion-hearted, King of England. She was the daughter of Sancho VI. of Navarre, and was betrothed to Richard soon after his succession to the throne, joining him in March, 1191, at Reggio in southern Italy, where the English King had arrived on his way to the Holy Land. She was married to him on May 12th at Limasol in Cyprus, and accompanied him to Acre, where the Queen remained while Richard was carrying on his campaigns against the Saracens. The English sailed from Acre in October, 1192. While Richard was a prisoner in Germany, Berengaria took up her residence in Poitou. After Richard’s release from captivity an estrangement arose between him and Berengaria, and it is doubtful whether she ever rejoined the King. She died at Le Mans, in Maine, soon after 1230, and was buried in the Church of Pietas Dei at Espan, which she had founded. Berengaria was of remarkable beauty and exceedingly accomplished for her age.