Theobald III, Count of Blois

Theobald III of Blois (French: Thibaut) (1012–1089) was count of Blois, Meaux and Troyes. He was son of Odo II, Count of Blois[1] and Ermengarde of Auvergne.[2]

Theobald III, Count of Blois
Born1012
Died1089
Noble familyHouse of Blois
Spouse(s)Gersende of Maine
Gundrada
Adèle of Valois
Issue
FatherOdo II, Count of Blois
MotherErmengarde of Auvergne

Inherits Blois

Upon his father's death in 1037, Theobald inherited amongst others the counties of Blois,[1] Tours, Chartres. Châteaudun and Sancerre, and also in Champagne: Château-Thierry, Provins and St. Florentin. His brother Stephen inherited the counties of Meaux, Troyes and Vitry-le-François. By 1044, Geoffrey Martel, the Count of Anjou, was besieging Tours and Theobald responded by attempting to relieve the city.[3] They met in battle at Nouy and Theobald was captured and had to give up the county of Touraine in order to regain his freedom.[3] From then on the centre of power for the House of Blois moved to Champagne.

In 1054, Theobald recognized the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III as his liege which precipitated a meeting at Ivois between Henry I and the emperor.[4] Theobald found ways to become close to the royal court again and gained political influence and began calling himself, Count Palatine.[1]

Gains Champagne

Theobald's nephew, Odo, Count of Champagne joined the army of William the Conqueror and participated in the Norman conquest of England. Theobald used his nephew's absence and his own influence at court to gain control over Odo's possessions in Champagne.[1] He had gained a position of considerable power, which increased when he married the daughter of Ralph IV of Valois. From 1074 onward, he left his son Henry in control of Blois, Châteaudun and Chartres.

Death

Following Theobald's death in 1089, Philip I, King of France, was able to arrange for Blois and Champagne to be divided between Theobald's sons.[1]

Family and children

Theobald's first wife Gersent of Le Mans,[2] daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine, who bore him one child:

  1. Stephen, Count of Blois[2]

His second wife Alix de Crepy (Adela) or Adele of Valois,[5] daughter of Ralph IV of Valois and Adélaide of Bar-sur-Aube, bore four children:

  1. Philip, who became bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne[5]
  2. Odo,[5] who inherited possessions in Champagne (Troyes). He died in 1093, leaving the possessions to his brother Hugh.
  3. Hugh,[5] who became the first to be called count of Champagne.[6]
  4. Hawise, also known as Hawise of Guingamp, wife of Stephen, Count of Tréguier[7]

References

  1. Bouchard 2004, p. 138.
  2. Evergates 1999, p. 11.
  3. Bradbury 1992, p. 63.
  4. Weinfurter 1999, p. 107.
  5. Evergates 2007, p. 248.
  6. Evergates 2007, p. 7.
  7. Morin 2010, p. 184.

Sources

  • Bouchard, Constance Brittain (2004). "The Kingdom of the Franks to 1108". In Luscombe, David; Riley-Smith, Jonathan (eds.). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. 4, Part 2. Cambridge University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Bradbury, Jim (1992). The Medieval Siege. The Boydell Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Evergates, Theodore, ed. (1999). Aristocratic Women in Medieval France. University of Pennsylvania Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Evergates, Theodore (2007). The Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300. University of Pennsylvania Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Morin, Stéphane (2010). Trégor, Goëlo, Penthièvre. Le pouvoir des Comtes de Bretagne du XIIe au XIIIe siècle (in French). Presses Universitaires de Rennes.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Weinfurter, Stefan (1999). The Salian Century: Main Currents in an Age of Transition. University of Pennsylvania Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Theobald III, Count of Blois
Born: 1012 Died: 1089
Preceded by
Odo III
Count of Troyes
1066–1089
Succeeded by
Odo IV
Count of Meaux
1066–1089
Succeeded by
Stephen Henry
Preceded by
Odo II
Count of Blois
1037–1089
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.