Richeza of Poland, Queen of Castile

Richeza of Poland
Queen consort of León and Castile Countess of Provence Countess of Everstein
Born	c. 1140
Died	16 June 1185 (aged 44–45)
Spouse	Alfonso VII of León and Castile Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Provence Albert III, Count of Everstein
House	House of Piast
Father	Władysław II the Exile
Mother	Agnes of Babenberg

Richeza of Poland (also known as of Silesia) (Polish: Ryksa Polska or Śląska) (c. 1140 – 16 June 1185) was a Polish princess of the House of Piast in the Silesian branch. By her marriages she was Queen consort of León and Castile, Countess of Provence, and Countess of Everstein.

Richeza was the third child and only daughter of Władysław II the Exile, High Duke of Poland and ruler of Silesia, by his wife Agnes of Babenberg, daughter of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and half-sister of King Conrad III of Germany.

Born and raised for the first years of her life in Poland, Richeza accompanied her parents and brothers into exile in 1146. They established themselves first in Bohemia and later in Germany under the care of King Conrad III, who gave his deposed brother-in-law the Saxon district of Altenburg as his residence.

In 1151 came the news that the King Alfonso VII of León and Castile wanted to make an alliance with the Kingdom of Germany through a wedding. Richeza, niece of King Conrad III, was the most attractive candidate available. Between October and December 1152 Richeza and King Alfonso VII were married. Her first child, Ferdinand, was born in the city of Toledo one year later, in 1153. Two years later, in 1155, Richeza gave birth to her second child, Sancha. King Alfonso VII died suddenly in the middle of the war against the Moors in Sierra Morena on 21 August 1157. Apparently, Infante Ferdinand died soon before his father.

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