Henry I of Cyprus

Henry I (French: Henri; 3 May 1217 – 18 January 1253), called the Fat, was the king of Cyprus from 1218 until his death. Noted for his obesity, Henry was a pliant king who relied heavily on his kin from the powerful Ibelin family.

Henry was the son of King Hugh I, whom he succeeded as an infant. His mother, Alice of Champagne, held the regency during his minority, but her uncles Philip and John of Ibelin wielded power. Emperor Frederick II also claimed the right to rule Cyprus during Henry's minority, leading to a long war with the Ibelins, which dominated the first part of Henry's reign. The Ibelins prevailed and retained a leading role after Henry reached the age of majority in 1232.

In 1246, Henry succeeded his mother as regent of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the name of his kinsman King Conrad II. He appointed John of Ibelin's son Balian to rule the mainland state in his name. In 1248 he sailed with King Louis IX of France to Egypt on the Seventh Crusade, but returned to Cyprus shortly after, leaving his men to serve under Louis. He died in 1253 and was succeeded by his infant son, Hugh II.