Henry III, Count of Bar

Who was Henry III, Count of Bar?

Henry III of Bar was Count of Bar from 1291 to 1302. He was the son of Theobald II, Count of Bar and Jeanne de Toucy.

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 Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine. He was preparing to go on crusade when his father died.

In 1284 Joan I of 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 II, Holy Roman Emperor, he was wounded in fighting, and died soon afterwards.