Counts of Blois
(Redirected fromCount of Blois)
| Count of Blois | |
|---|---|
  Arms of theHouse of Blois | |
| Creation date | 832 |
| Created by | Louis the Pious |
| Peerage | Nobility of France |
| First holder | William, Count of Blois |
| Last holder | Gaston, Duke of Orléans |
| Subsidiary titles |
|
| Status | Dissolved |
| Extinction date | 1660 |
| Seat(s) | Château of Blois |
During the Middle Ages, thecounts of Bloiswere among the most powerfulvassalsof theKing of France.
This title of nobility seems to have been created in 832 byEmperor Louis the PiousforCount William,the youngest son ofAdrian, Count of Orléans.Over a few decades, the county was gathered to theroyal lands of Franceuntil the end of the 9th century, before being relegated to the status ofviscount.
From its autonomy around 940 to the definitive integration to theDukedom of Orleansin 1397, the county was directed by the son of the last viscount's descendants,Theobald I.His descendants, calledHouse of Bloisended up related to a large number of European noble families.
In 1397, the title was ceded byCount Guy IIin the favor ofDuke Louis I of Orléans,who was the second son ofKing Charles V.The very last hereditary count of Blois was his grandson,Duke Louis II,who annexed the county to theCrown lands of Francewhen he was crowned King of France in 1498 under the name ofLouis XII.
The title reappeared in 1626 whenDuke Gaston of Orléanswas offered a newly independentCounty of BloisfromOrléans,butKing Louis XIVrefused this favor to his brother,Duke Philippe,when he received the traditionalapanagein 1660.
Carolingian county (832–c.900)
[edit]It is likely, but not certain, that the title of count of Blois was granted before the year 832.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William of Orléans (died in 834) |
832–834 | None | Son of CountAdrian of Orléans,he was invested with the title offirst Count of Bloisby KingLouis the Pious,[1]being his father's vassal. By 834, he allied with KingPepin I of Aquitaineso that the latter could recover his kingdom, which had been given to his half–brother, KingCharles II.[2]The mission was successful, but William died, with no descendants. His brother Odo was appointed as his heir but died the same day. | |
|
Robert the Strong (c. 815 – Sept. 866) |
834–866 | Margrave of Neustria Count of Orléans Count of Tours Count of Anjou Count of Auxerre Count of Nevers |
Supposed son of CountRobert III of Wormsand Waldrade, the last daughter of CountAdrian,who would have inherited the county as a dowry following the death of her two brothers and her husband in the war against KingCharles II.He inherited the county ofOrléansaround 860 following the fall of Count William of Orléans, uncle of the previous one.[1] |
| Hugh the Abbot (died in 886) |
866–886 | Margrave of Neustria Count of Paris Count of Orléans Count of Tours Count of Anjou Count of Auxerre Count of Nevers |
Son of CountConrad I of AuxerreandAdelaide of Tours,he wasRobert the Strong's sworn enemy before his death, but he inherited his possessions and raised Robert's two orphaned sons,OdoandRobert I.[3] | |
|
Odo (died in 898) |
886–888 | King of the Franks Margrave of Neustria Count of Paris Count of Orléans Count of Tours Count of Anjou |
Eldest son ofRobert the Strong,electedKing of the Franksby 888, he decided to pass on his other titles to his brotherRobert I. |
|
Robert I (died in 923) |
888 – c. 900 | Margrave of Neustria Count of Paris Count of Orléans Count of Tours |
Younger brother of the previous one, he was not elected King when his brother died in 898. He focused on the counties ofParisandOrléans,and he decided to gradually delegate the management ofBlésois,TouraineandAnjoutoviscounts.[4] |
Viscounts during the Robertian era (before 900–940)
[edit]| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garnegaud (died after 906) |
before 896– after 906 | Count of Chartres | Garnegaud and his wife Helena have no known heirs. As the Thibaldians were present in Blois in the 920s, this would place Garnegaud's death in the 910s. | |
| Theobald the Elder (c. 890 – died in 940) |
before 921–940 | Viscount of Tours | He was made Viscount of Tours in 909, then Viscount of Blois. He married Richilde. |
House of Blois (956–1230)
[edit]| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theobald I of Blois, akaTheobald the Trickster (c. 910–977) |
940–977 | Count of Tours Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Lord ofProvins Lord ofChinon Lord ofSaumur |
Son ofTheobald the Elderand Richilde. He was a fathful vassal ofHugh the Greatwhich entrusted him with a vast county around 940 including Tours, Blois, Chartres and Châteaudun. He marriedCountess Luitgarde of Vermandois.During the infancy ofHugh Capet(956–960), Theobald became autonomous and get close to the Carolingian KingLothair II.Theobald enforced many territories or build many fortresses likeVierzon,Sancerre,Chinon,Saumur,Beaugency,andProvins. | |
|
Odo I of Blois (c. 950 – died in 996) |
977–996 | Count of Tours Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count ofProvins Count ofReims Count ofBeauvais Count of Dreux |
Second son ofCount Theobald IandLuitgarde,he succeeded to his father after his brother's death inNormandy.He attackedCount Bouchard I of Vendôme,aKing Hugh Capet's ally, and conqueredMelun.He bought his alleagence to the King by giving the county ofDreuxto him. He married theCarolingianBertha of Burgundy. |
|
Theobald II of Blois (c. 983 – 11 July 1004) |
996–1004 | Count of Tours Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count ofProvins Count ofReims Count ofBeauvais |
Elder son ofCount Odo I,her reign was mainly supervized byhis mother,who remarriedKing Robert II.The King took backToursfromCount Fulk III of Anjou,but Theobald died due to exhaustion on the way back from Rome in 1004, when he was 19. |
|
Odo II of Blois (c. 985 – 15 Nov. 1037) |
1004–1037 | Count of Tours Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count ofProvins Count ofReims Count ofBeauvais Count ofSancerre Count of Meaux Count of Troyes |
Younger brother ofCount Theobald II,he declared war to all his neighbors, and refused to give back his dowry (half of the county ofDreux) toDuke Richard II of Normandy.He continued to fight againstCount Fulk III of Anjou,and finally won against him, but he was defeated in his turn inPontlevoybyCount Herbert I of Maine.By 1022, he inherited the county ofTroyesandMeauxfromhis cousin,and gathered theBlois-Champagneterritory. Since he was also son ofBertha of Burgundy,he claimed his succession rights over theKingdom of Arlesfrom 1032 onwards, but he was killed next toBar-le-Duc5 years later. |
|
|
Theobald III of Blois, orTheobald I of Champagne (c. 1019 – Sept. 1089) |
1037–1089 | Count of Tours Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count ofProvins Count ofReims Count ofBeauvais Count ofSancerre Count of Meaux Count of Troyes Lord ofChâteau-Thierry |
Elder son ofCount Odo II,who transmitted him the county, but Theobald refused to recognizeKing Henry I's legitimacy. As a result, the King took the county ofToursback to give it to his ally,Count Geoffrey IV of Anjou,after the battle of Nouy of 1044. He gathered again his father's territories ofBloisandChampagneby getting rid of his cousin,Count Odo,and established Champagne as a proper county. He married Gersent of Le Mans, the daughter of his father's foe.[5] |
|
Stephen II of Blois,or Stephen Henry of Blois (c. 1045 – died in 1102) |
1089–1102 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count ofProvins Count ofSancerre Count of Meaux Count ofReims |
Elder son ofCount Theobald III,he marriedAdela of Normandy,who was actuallyWilliamthe Conqueror's daughter. Under his wife's influence, he was among the first noblemen in responding toPope Urban II's call for theFirst Crusade.With other Counts, he fell out of favor when they left theSiege of Antioch,but Count Stephen found a more honorable death at theSecond battle of Ramla of 1102.His second son wasStephen, King of England(1135–1154). |
|
Theobald IV of Blois, orTheobald II of Champagne akaTheobald the Great (c. 1090/1095 – 10 Jan. 1152) |
1102–1152 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count of Troyes Count of Champagne Lord ofSancerre |
First son ofCount Stephen IIandAdela of Normandy,his reign was managed by his mother until his majority. He faced upheavals from his vassalHugh III of Le Puiset.Whenhis unclewent to theHoly Land,he inherited theCounty of Champagne.He was approached by the Norman barons to becomeKing of England,who also called on him to become theirDukebut, in the end, his brotherStephenwas chosen in 1135. Instead, he turned the Champagne into a powerful county, and founded theChampagne fairs. |
|
|
Theobald V of Blois akaTheobald the Good (1130 – died in 1191) |
1152–1191 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun |
When his fatherCount Theobald IVdied, his territories were split between his sons, among which Theobald received thecounty of Bloisand theChampagnewas offered toHenry.Theobald tried to conquerVendômeand took part ofHenry the Young King's rebellion to reconquerTours.He marriedPrincess Aliceand, as a consequence, entered into the royal family of France. With his nephewCount Henry II of Champagne,he joined theThird Crusade,but was killed during theSiege of Acrein 1191. |
|
Louis I of Blois (1171 – 14 April 1205) |
1191–1205 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Duke ofNicaea |
Son ofCount Theobald V,whom he beneathed the county from. He married LadyCatherine of Clermontwho was the heiress of the county ofClermont.He was also part of theFourth Crusade,and was made in 1204 Duke ofNicaea,Anatolia.He was killed the following year, during theBattle of Adrianople,on April 14. |
|
Theobald VI of Blois (1190–1218) |
1205–1218 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Count of Clermont |
Unique son ofCount Louis,he inherited both counties of Blois and Clermont. He gotleprosywhen he travelled toSpain,and died in 1218 while being recluse and having no descendant. The counties of Blois, Chartres, and Châteaudun were split between his aunts,Lady MargaretandLady Isabelle. |
|
Margaret of Blois (1170 – Sept. 1230) |
1218–1230 | Countess ofChâteaudun | Third daughter ofCount Theobald VandPrincess Alice,she inherited the counties of Blois and Châteaudun when her nephew died. Her husband,Lord Walter II of Avesnes,was thejure uxorisCount during her life. |
House of Avesnes (1230–1241)
[edit]Title held byHouse of Avesnes.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mary of Blois (c. 1200 – 1241) |
1230–1241 | Countess ofChâteaudun Lady of Avesnes Lady ofBohain Lady ofGuise |
Daughter ofCountess MargaretandLord Walter II of Avesnes,she inherited all her parents' domains, and thus became Countess of Blois and Châteaudun, and Lady of Avesnes, Bohain, and Guise. She marriedCount Hugh I of St Polwho was thejure uxorisCount during her reign. |
House of Châtillon (1241–1397)
[edit]Title held byHouse of Châtillon.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
John I of Châtillon (died in 1279) |
1241–1279 | Count of Chartres Count ofChâteaudun Lord of Avesnes Lord ofGuise |
Son ofCountess MaryandCount Hugh,he was Count of Blois, then Count of Dunois and Chartres, and Lord of Avesnes and Guise. |
|
Joan of Châtillon (c. 1253 – 29 Jan. 1292) |
1279–1292 | Countess of Chartres Countess ofChâteaudun Lady ofGuise |
Daughter ofCount JohnandLady Alix of Britanny.She sold thecounty of ChartrestoKing Philip IV,and died a few years later. Her holdings were transmitted to her cousin,Hugh. |
|
Hugh II of Châtillon (9 April 1258 – 1307) |
1292–1307 | Count ofChâteaudun | Grandson ofCountess Marythrough his father,Count Guy III of St Pol,he renounced to thecounty of St Polwhen he receivedthat of Bloisby 1292. |
|
Guy I of Châtillon (1298–1342) |
1307–1342 | Count ofChâteaudun Lord ofFréteval Lord ofChâteau-Renault |
Son ofCount Hugh IIand Béatrice of Dampierre, he was part of the beginning of theHundred Years' Warwhen it broke out in 1337, along with his brother-in-law,King Philip VI. |
|
|
Louis II of Châtillon (1320–1346) |
1342–1346 | Count ofChâteaudun Lord ofFréteval |
Son ofCount GuyandMargaret of Valois,he beneathed the county of Blois and Dunois, but died during thebattle of Crécy,in northern France. |
|
|
Louis III of Châtillon (bef. 1340–1372) |
1346–1372 | Count ofChâteaudun Count of Soissons Lord ofFréteval |
Son ofCount Louis I,he succeeded to his father when he was a child, so her mother was regent during his reign's first years. He died with no heirs and devolved by his wills the counties of Blois and Avesnes to his brother, John. |
|
John II of Châtillon (1340–1381) |
1372–1381 | Count ofChâteaudun Count of Soissons Lord ofFréteval |
Brother ofCount Louis II,he died with no heirs after losing theWar of the Guelderian Succession. |
|
|
Guy II of Châtillon (1346 – 22 Dec. 1397) |
1381–1397 | Count ofChâteaudun Lord ofFréteval |
Brother of the two precedent Counts, he was born a few months afterhis fater's death. He inherited the counties of his brother John II and all his close family's remaining territories: Blois, Châteaudun, Soissons, and Avesnes. By 1360, he was taken prisoner by theEnglishas a consequence oftreaty of Brétigny.His release costed him the county of Soissons. In 1374, he married his cousin Marie of Namur, with whom he had a son,Lord Louis III,who died in 1391. Therefore, Guy took the decision the give his titles toDuke Louis I of Orléans(even though there were closer heirs in the House of Blois-Châtillon). From 1391 to his death, he remained the usufructuary count of Blois. |
House of Orléans (1397–1498, 1626–1660)
[edit]Even though the rights on the county were given toDuke Louis I of Orléans,Bloisianwas not immediately integrated into theCrown Land.As a results, Dukes of Orléans also did hold the title of Count of Blois, until 1498 when Duke Louis II becameKing Louis XII.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Louis I of Orléans (13 March 1372 – 23 Nov. 1407) |
1397–1407 | Duke of Orléans Duke of Touraine Count of Valois Count of Soissons Count of Angoulême Count ofVertus |
Second son ofKing Charles V,Orléanaisis given to him as anapanagein 1392, then he received the full rights onBloisianwhenCount Guy IIdied in 1397. He was assassinated on the Duke of Burgundy's order,Johnthe Fearless. |
|
Charles of Orléans (24 Nov. 1394 – 5 Jan. 1465) |
1407–1465 | Duke of Orléans Count of Valois Count of Soissons |
Son of the precedent one. After a journey inEngland,he marriedMarie of Cleves,settled in thechâteau of Bloisthen inTourswhere he nogotiated atrucein 1444 which eventually would end up theHundred Years' War. |
|
Louis II of Orléans, thenLouis XII of France (27 June 1462 – 1st Jan. 1515) |
1465–1498 | Duke of Orléans Count of Valois King of France(after 1498) |
Son of the precedent one. Born in thechâteau of Blois,he went toAmboisewhenKing Charles VIIIdied in 1498. He was immediately crowned under the name Louis XII. As a consequence, theduchy of Orléanscame back to the Crown's lands, and the entire King's court moved toBlois. |
On August 6, 1626, after a failed conspiracy in Nantes,Duke Gastonreluctantly accepted to marry the wealthy ladyDuchess Marie of Montpensier,asCardinal Richelieuwanted him to do. As a gift, he received theduchies of Orléansand ofChartres,plus thecounty of Blois.
| Portrait | Name | Reign | Other titles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gaston of Orléans (24 April 1608 – 2 Feb. 1660) |
1626–1660 | Duke of Orléans Duke of Valois Duke of Anjou Duke of Chartres Lord ofMontargis |
Second son ofKing Henry IV,the county was gifted to him as anapanageonce he marriedMarie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensierin 1626. |
When Gaston died, hisOrléans-based apanage came back to the Crown.King Louis XIVdecided to give it to his own younger brother,Duke Philippe,exceptedBloisian(and so thechâteauxofBloisandChambord) as well asLanguedoc.Therefore, the county became definitively part of French territory.
References
[edit]- ^abMerlet 1900,p. 14.
- ^Michel-Jean-François Ozeray (1834).Histoire générale, civile et religieuse de la cité des Carnutes et du pays Chartrain, vulgairement appelé la Beauce, depuis la premiere migration des Gaulois jusqu'à l'année de Jésus-Christ 1697, époque de la dernière scission de notre territoire par l'établissement du diocese de Blois - Volume 2(in French). p. 111.ISBN978-1271144358..
- ^Michel-Jean-François Ozeray (1834).ibid(in French). p. 114.ISBN978-1271144358.
- ^Hélène Noizet (2007).La fabrique de la ville: espaces et sociétés à Tours (ixe – xiiie siècle)(in French). p. 101.ISBN978-2-85944-572-0.
- ^Evergates 1999,p. 11.
Sources
[edit]- Evergates, Theodore, ed. (1999).Aristocratic Women in Medieval France.University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Merlet, Rene (1900).Les Comtes de Chartres de Chateaudun et de Blois, aux IX et X siecles(in French). Impriemerie Garnier.