[MR] Wikipedia: Henry II, Count of Champagne and the Falling Dwarf

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today Wikipedia's "Did You Know . . ." feature tantalizes us with the
questionable death of Henry II, Count of Champagne, including the
possibility he was ignominiously killed by a falling dwarf. Got your
attention on that one, didn't I?

Henry was a major leader in the Third Crusade. From 1190 until his death on
10 September 1197 was lord (but not king) of Jerusalem, a crusader state.
Henry was heavily involved in various intrigues and controversies in both
France and the Holy Land, even making nice to the Assassins and enjoying a
cordial relationship with Salidin.

He died in a fall from a window at his palace in Acre. Henry's death was
blamed in conflicting accounts on a faulty window bar, tripping over a
carpet or a falling dwarf. To sort all this out, I have copied out the
following accounts from the footnotes of the Wikipedia biography. You get
to choose which version:

- In the earliest account, the *Chronicle of Ernoul and Bernard the
Treasurer
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronicle_of_Ernoul_and_Bernard_the_Treasurer>*,
Henry dies instantly after leaning forward through the window while washing
his hands before dinner. His valet <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valet> then
jumps out of fear of being accused of having pushed him, but survives with
a broken leg; rumors circulate that Henry was killed when the valet landed
on top of him. A tumultuous search for Henry takes place in the night until
the valet alerts the guards. Ernoul states that Henry had repeatedly asked
that that window be barred out of concern for the safety of his daughters;
the bars were added after his death.[97]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne#cite_note-FOOTNOTESacchi154%E2%80%93159-101>
- In the Colbert-Fontainebleau version of *Eracles
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eracles>*, Henry plans to assemble a fleet
to defend Jaffa and for that reason meets with Pisan envoys in his chamber,
which has at least two windows side by side, one with a grate and one
without. Henry initially leans with his back to the window with the grate,
advances to greet the Pisans, and then leans backwards through the window
without the grate; unable to find support, he falls and breaks his neck,
dying instantly.[98]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne#cite_note-FOOTNOTESacchi159%E2%80%93161-102>
 His valet is a dwarf <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_dwarf> named
Scarlet,[96]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne#cite_note-FOOTNOTERunciman198993-100>
 and he attempts to save Henry by grabbing his clothes, but falls and dies
with him. There is no frantic search because the fall is witnessed by the
Pisans, who immediately descend and recover the bodies. Henry's widow,
Isabella, tears her clothes and hair in grief and kisses his body. At the
funeral the following day, Scarlet is buried at Henry's feet.[99]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne#cite_note-FOOTNOTESacchi161%E2%80%93162-103>
- In the Lyons version of *Eracles*, the army mustered for the defense of
Jaffa gathers in the palace courtyard at daytime. Henry reviews the troops
through a barred window, but the bars give way when he leans against them
to look out and he falls into the moat <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moat>.
His dwarf, Scarlet, throws himself from the window in fear and sorrow, and
it is Scarlet's landing on top of him that kills Henry.[100]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne#cite_note-FOOTNOTESacchi163%E2%80%93166-104>
- The latest account, *Gran conquista de Ultramar
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_conquista_de_Ultramar>*, appears to try
to combine elements from the earlier versions. Henry washes his hands for
dinner with his back turned to the window, then trips on a carpet or on a
hood-shaped headdress, and falls to his death. The dwarf grabs his clothes
in an attempt to save him, but falls down with him; and then the valet
jumps out of fear of being held responsible, but survives with a broken leg.

Henry's Wikipedia article is rather long but he was a very important noble:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II,_Count_of_Champagne .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing his own crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.