Page:The Queens of England.djvu/79

BERENGARIA, CONSORT OF RICHARD THE FIRST. Berengaria was a princess of Navarre, and a descendant of that Sancho the Third, styled the Great, who, about the year 980, was King of Navarre and Arragon. He married Nugna, the heiress of Castile, and by this accession of territory became so powerful that he aspired to be denominated the Emperor of Spain. But upon his death his dominions were divided among four of his children; and his transitory acquisition, which, if it could have been bequeathed in its integrity to a resolute successor, might have been beneficial, was productive of no permanent results. Sancho the Sixth, surnamed the Wise, was the parent of Berengaria. Her brother, Sancho the Strong, appears to have been precisely the character to have attracted the partiality of Richard Cceuer de Lion ; and accordingly we are not surprised to find that a close friendship existed between them. In addi- tion to his bravery, which in itself was a tie for the English prince, Sancho possessed a strong predilection for Provencal poetry of which Richard was an enthusiastic admirer. As Duke of Guienne, Richard was a near neighbor of the court of Navarre, and had ample opportunities of cementing his friendship for the brother, and of originating an affection for the sister. Probably, during the familiar intercourse arising from some sojourn at the castle of her father, Richard con- tracted his passion for Berengaria ; and it is affirmed that, fierce, ungovernable, licentious, and wayward as he was, spite of the many noble qualities of his nature, for a time he really passionately loved her. Whether this love was wholly merited does not unequivocally appear ; but we are told that she was gentle, beautiful, and instructed. While novelty existed, this pleasing princess must have made some strong impression on his volatile heart ; for during nearly 6 5