Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre in Cyprus during the Third Crusade. The wedding took place on 12 May 1191 in the Chapel of Saint George at Limassol, shortly after Richard seized control of the island.
Berengaria and Richard’s sister Joan had been travelling toward the Holy Land when their ship was forced to shelter near Cyprus. Isaac Komnenos, the island’s ruler, treated the survivors of shipwrecks harshly and threatened the women. Richard landed at Limassol, defeated Isaac’s forces, and conquered Cyprus before continuing toward Acre.
The marriage was politically useful as well as personal. Berengaria was the daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre, and an alliance with Navarre could strengthen Richard’s position near Aquitaine. His mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, had helped promote the match. Berengaria was crowned queen on the same day as the wedding.
A common mistake is choosing Sicily because the couple met there before the ceremony. They did reach Messina in Sicily, but Lent prevented the marriage from taking place there. Richard and Berengaria later travelled together briefly, though the marriage remained childless and they spent much of their married life apart.