Henry III, Count of Bar

Henry III of Bar (Henri III de Bar, 1259-Naples, September 1302) was Count of Bar from 1291 to 1302. He was son of Thibault II of Bar and Jeanne de Toucy.

Life

His introduction to military life came as he was made a knight in a conflict between his father and the Bishop of Metz. He then served Ferry III of Lorraine. He was preparing to go on crusade when his father died.

In 1284 Jeanne de Navarre, countess of Champagne, had married the future Philip IV of France, making the county of Bar adjacent to the French royal domain. Henry's reaction was a marriage to Eleanor, daughter of Edward I of England. When war broke out in short order between France and England, Henry was drawn in. The fighting ceased after the 1301 Treaty of Bruges. Under its terms, Henry gave up some fortresses and paid homage to Philip for part of his lands, then called the Barrois mouvant. He also undertook to fight in Cyprus against the Muslim forces.

Henry therefore made his way to the Kingdom of Naples. In assisting Charles II of Naples against the invading forces of Frederick I of Sicily, he was wounded in fighting, and died soon afterwards.

Family

He married at Bristol on 20 September 1283 Eleanor of England (1269-1298), daughter of Edward I of England, and Eleanor of Castile. Their children were :
*Edward I of Bar (1284-1336), comte de Bar
* Eleanor (b. 1285), who married Llewelyn ap Owain
* Jeanne (1295-1361), who married John de Warenne, 8th Earl of Surrey. The marriage was annulled 1315. Jeanne became regent of Bar from 1354.

ource

* Georges Poull (1994), "La Maison souveraine et ducale de Bar"