Aimar V of Limoges
Encyclopedia
Aimar V Boso was the Viscount of Limoges, a petty nobleman in the Loire valley
in the Duchy of Aquitaine.
Born in Limoges
, Aimar was orphaned at a young age and raised by his relatives among the southern French aristocracy. He ruled from 1148 - 1199.
Aimar is most famously known for being a fulcrum of insurrection against King Richard I of England, who was also the Duke of Aquitaine
in right of his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine
(Richard's full title being "Richard I, By the Grace of God, King of the English, Duke of the Normans and Aquitanians, Count of the Angevins"). Aimar, like many of the fractious Aquitanian nobles, participated in sporadic rebellion against ducal authority throughout his adult life, often co-operating with Duke Richard's brothers, the Count of Angoulême
and the house of Lusignan
, though he was generally brought to heel.
It was while suppressing one of Aimar's revolts that King Richard was to meet his end. The Duke was besieging the Château de Chalus-Chabrol
, a small and scantly garrisoned castle in Limousin
, France under the control of Aimar, when he was shot by a crossbow
, possibly fired by a certain Pierre Basile. Richard was hit in the shoulder and died days later on April 6, 1199.
Aimar's disinclination to obey the Plantagenet dukes was encouraged by Bertran de Born
, a baron
and troubadour
of the Saint Martial School. A lament for the Viscomte by another troubadour, Giraut de Bornelh
, suggests that Aimar died unexpectedly. Roger of Hoveden
claims that he was killed by Philip of Cognac
, King Richard's bastard son, who thus succeeded in punishing Aimar's long career of contumacy and his role in Richard's death. This story is held as tradition, and though there is little hard evidence behind it, it was adapted by William Shakespeare
in his history play King John, where Philip, the "Bastard of Falconbridge", kills a composite of Richard's enemies described as "Lymoges, Duke of Austria".
Aimar married Sarah de Dunstanville, daughter of Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall
, at Bordeaux
in 1159.. His daughter and heiress, Marie de Limoges, married Eble V of Ventadorn
, the viscount of Ventadour.
On screen, Aimar was portrayed by actor Robert McBain
in the BBC TV drama series The Devil's Crown
(1978), which dramatised the reigns of Richard I and his father and brother.
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
in the Duchy of Aquitaine.
Born in Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
, Aimar was orphaned at a young age and raised by his relatives among the southern French aristocracy. He ruled from 1148 - 1199.
Aimar is most famously known for being a fulcrum of insurrection against King Richard I of England, who was also the Duke of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
in right of his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
(Richard's full title being "Richard I, By the Grace of God, King of the English, Duke of the Normans and Aquitanians, Count of the Angevins"). Aimar, like many of the fractious Aquitanian nobles, participated in sporadic rebellion against ducal authority throughout his adult life, often co-operating with Duke Richard's brothers, the Count of Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
and the house of Lusignan
Lusignan
The Lusignan family originated in Poitou near Lusignan in western France in the early 10th century. By the end of the 11th century, they had risen to become the most prominent petty lords in the region from their castle at Lusignan...
, though he was generally brought to heel.
It was while suppressing one of Aimar's revolts that King Richard was to meet his end. The Duke was besieging the Château de Chalus-Chabrol
Château de Chalus-Chabrol
The Château de Chalus-Chabrol is a castle in the commune of Châlus in the département of Haute-Vienne, France.The castle dominates the town of Châlus...
, a small and scantly garrisoned castle in Limousin
Limousin (province)
Limousin is one of the traditional provinces of France around the city of Limoges. Limousin lies in the foothills of the western edge of the Massif Central, with cold weather in the winter...
, France under the control of Aimar, when he was shot by a crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
, possibly fired by a certain Pierre Basile. Richard was hit in the shoulder and died days later on April 6, 1199.
Aimar's disinclination to obey the Plantagenet dukes was encouraged by Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born was a baron from the Limousin in France, and one of the major Occitan troubadours of the twelfth century.-Life and works:...
, a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
and troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
of the Saint Martial School. A lament for the Viscomte by another troubadour, Giraut de Bornelh
Giraut de Bornelh
Giraut de Bornelh , whose first name is also spelled Guiraut and whose nickname was Borneil or Borneyll, was a troubadour, born to a lower class family in the Limousin, probably in Bourney, near Excideuil...
, suggests that Aimar died unexpectedly. Roger of Hoveden
Roger of Hoveden
Roger of Hoveden, or Howden , was a 12th-century English chronicler.From Hoveden's name and the internal evidence of his work, he is believed to have been a native of Howden in East Yorkshire. Nothing is known of him before the year 1174. He was then in attendance upon Henry II, by whom he was sent...
claims that he was killed by Philip of Cognac
Philip of Cognac
Philip of Cognac was an illegitimate son of Richard I of England by an unidentified mother.Philip had reached adulthood by the end of the 1190s. His father married him to his ward, Amelia, the heiress of Cognac in Charente...
, King Richard's bastard son, who thus succeeded in punishing Aimar's long career of contumacy and his role in Richard's death. This story is held as tradition, and though there is little hard evidence behind it, it was adapted by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
in his history play King John, where Philip, the "Bastard of Falconbridge", kills a composite of Richard's enemies described as "Lymoges, Duke of Austria".
Aimar married Sarah de Dunstanville, daughter of Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Reginald de Dunstanville , Earl of Cornwall , High Sheriff of Devon, Earl of Cornwall, was an illegitimate son of Henry I of England and Lady Sybilla Corbet.Reginald had been invested with the Earldom of Cornwall by King...
, at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
in 1159.. His daughter and heiress, Marie de Limoges, married Eble V of Ventadorn
Eble V of Ventadorn
Eble V of Ventadorn was viscount of Ventadour . He was the son of Eble IV and of Sybille de la Faye...
, the viscount of Ventadour.
On screen, Aimar was portrayed by actor Robert McBain
Robert McBain
Robert McBain was an English actor, photographer and artist.He was born Robert Digby Bosher, in Wembley, Middlesex...
in the BBC TV drama series The Devil's Crown
The Devil's Crown
The Devil's Crown was a BBC television series which dramatised the reigns of three medieval Kings of England: Henry II and his sons Richard I and John....
(1978), which dramatised the reigns of Richard I and his father and brother.