Guy II of Dampierre

Castle chapel of Moëslains.

Guy was the eldest son of William I of Dampierre and Ermengarde of Toucy, lady of Champlay and daughter of Ithier III de Toucy and Elisabeth of Joigny.[1]

During the lifetime of his father, he received the Lordship of Moëslains and maybe the viscounty of Troyes. During this time, he signed charter under the name of Guy de Moëslains.

Around 1174, he succeeded his father as Lord of Dampierre, Saint-Dizier and Saint-Just. Like his father before him, he is also named constable of Champagne, but this position was not hereditary.[2][3]

In 1189, he participated in the Third Crusade as a member of an advance party who initiated the Siege of Acre in the fall of the year.[4][5][6] After the departure of King Philip Augustus, he stayed in Holy Land and fought in the Battle of Arsuf. He came back at Dampierre in late 1192.[5] His name and arms are in the Salles des Croisades of the Palace of Versailles[7]

Church of Dampierre.

In 1194, he fought with the King Philip Augustus against the English and he was in the battle of Fréteval the 5 July 1194 into the rearguard that covered the escape of the King. In 1202, he participated at the conquest of Normandy and fought in the battle of Mirebeau, the siege of Château Gaillard and the catch of Falaise, Caen, Bayeux and Rouen.[8][9]

In 1199, for service rendered, the King gave him the Lordship of Montluçon.[10]

In 1210, he was sent at the head of a royal army sent by King Philip Augustus to confiscate the lands of Count Guy II of Auvergne.[11] He took Nonette, the castle of Tournoël and Riom in December 1213, and removed Guy of Auvergne from power. He was named by the King constable of Auvergne and managed the county for him. [11][12]

He also fought in the battle of Bouvines the 27 July 1214 and his participation was decisive in the French victory.[13]

During the war of the Succession of Champagne, he supported the Countess-Regent Blanche of Navarre and her son Theobald against the pretender Erard of Brienne-Ramerupt and his wife Philippa of Champagne.[14]

Guy died the 18 January 1216 and was buried in Saint-Laumer Abbey at Blois.[15]

Castle of Dampierre.

In the year 1196 he married Mathilde of Bourbon, daughter of Archambaud de Bourbon and Alix of Burgundy, and had seven children:[1]

• Archambaud of Dampierre, Lord of Bourbon and Montluçon after his father's death.
• William II of Dampierre, Lord of Dampierre, Saint-Dizier and Moëslains after his father's death.
• Guy III of Dampierre, Lord of Saint-Just after his father's death.
• Philippa Mahaut of Dampierre, married in 1205 to Guigues IV, Count of Forez.
• Marie of Dampierre, married around 1201 to Hervé of Vierzon. Then widowed, she married secondly in 1220 to Henri I de Sully.
• Joan of Dampierre.
• Margaret of Dampierre.

Mathilde of Bourbon was a granddaughter of Archambault VII, Lord of Bourbon. Her father died before her grandfather, leaving him without a male heir. Consequently, she inherited Bourbon and thus the House of Dampierre acquired the Lordship of Bourbon.

Before her wedding with Guy, Mathilde of Bourbon was divorced from Gaucher IV de Mâcon, with whom she has one daughter.