Richard de Canville

Biography

Richard de Canville (born 1142 in Stanton Harcourt; died 1191 in Saint-Jean-d'Acre) was an Anglo-Norman cross knight and governor of Cyprus.

### Family Background

He was the son of another Richard de Canville († 1176 Apulia County), a small seigneur, and Millicent, widow of Robert Marmion. His maternal grandfather's cousin was Adelaide de Louvain († 1151), second wife of Henry of England.

### Origin

Richard de Canville came from an Anglo-Norman family originally from Canville-la-Rocque in Normandy. He inherited possessions at Little Stretton in Leicestershire and Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire, which were likely passed down to him by his mother.

Participation in the Third Crusade

After his father's death in 1176, Richard entered the service of King Henry II as a younger son. He took part in the coronation of his son Richard I at Westminster Abbey in 1189. On June 18, 1190, at Chinon Castle, Richard was appointed alongside Robert de Sablé and Guillaume de Forz to oversee King Richard's fleet sailing for the Holy Land.

Governorship of Cyprus

In 1191, he was appointed governor of Cyprus jointly with Robert of Thornham.

Death

Richard de Canville died later in the same year (1191) at the Siege of Acre.