What did the Treaty of Messina accomplish for Richard I and Joan of England?

The Treaty of Messina, signed in March 1191, was a significant diplomatic achievement for Richard I during his stay in Sicily while en route to the Third Crusade.

The treaty accomplished the following for Richard and his sister, Joan of England:

• Release and Dower: Richard successfully secured the release of his sister Joan, who had been the wife of the late King William II of Sicily and was being held by the Sicilian king, Tancred of Lecce. Additionally, the treaty ensured that Joan received her dower, which had previously been denied to her.
• Political Recognition: Richard formally acknowledged Tancred as the king of Sicily.
• Dynastic Planning: The agreement established that Richard’s nephew, Arthur of Brittany, would be recognized as Richard’s heir and provided for a future marriage between Arthur and Tancred’s daughter.

These terms were negotiated after Richard had taken the city of Messina by storm following hostile treatment from the local population, forcing Tancred to yield to his financial and political demands.12