Henri de Bar
From Ex illis wiki
(B. 1259, 50 years old in 1309)
Count of Bar (1291-1303), King of Champagne (1303-)
Henri de Bar is a French lord who possesses the county of Bar in western France. He has married Edward I’s daughter, Eleanor of England, to oppose the wedding of Philippe IV and Jeanne de Navarre, who is also Countess of Champagne, a county over his. He hates the King of France and looks for a way to displease him.
In 1302, after the Battle of Kortrijk which weakened the kingdom of France, Henri takes advantage of the situation and decides to proclaim the independence of his county. Sensing that the lack of reaction from Philippe shows that France has no money to subdue rebel lords, Henri de Bar attacks the neighbour county of Champagne and conquers it. The Countess of Champagne, and Queen of France, has to flee to survive. She abandons the county to Henri who proclaims himself King of Champagne. Pope Clemens V denies him the right to be king and excommunicates him. However, this title gives him a certain prestige among the European world.
By 1309, Henri de Bar is planning to attack Reims, the seat of French kings' coronation. At this moment, it is Charles de Valois' territory, but it could quickly change. And after Reims, Henri is going to launch his army on Paris to seize the French Crown.
