House of Blois

Last updated
House of Blois
Royal house
Old Arms of Blois.svg
Arms of the House of Blois
Country West Francia
France
Navarre
England
Jerusalem
Founded906;1118 years ago (906)
Founder Theobald the Elder
Final rulerBlois: Margaret, Countess of Blois
Champagne and Navarre: Joan I of Navarre
Sully and Boisebelle: Mary, Lady of Sully and Princess of Boisebelle
Sancerre: Margaret, Countess of Sancerre
Titles
Lesser titles:
Estate(s)Blois, Champagne, Navarre, England, Sancerre, Boulogne, Aumale, etc
Dissolution1???
Cadet branches
  • House of Blois-Champagne
    • House of Blois-Chartres
    • House of Blois-Navarre
    • House of Sancerre
    • House of Lacarre
  • House of Sully
    • House of Sully-Beaujeu
  • House of Champlitte
    • House of Champlitte-Pontailler
  • House of Aumale

The House of Blois (French: [blwa] ) was a noble family that arose in the Kingdom of West Francia in the early 10th century, and whose prominent members were often named Theobald (Thibaud, Thibault, Thibaut in French).

Contents

History

This lineage came from Theobald the Elder, viscount of Tours before 908. Theobald became viscount of Blois before 922. Afterwards the House of Blois accumulated the counties of Blois, Chartres, Châteaudun and as successors of Herbertians the counties of Troyes, Reims and Meaux - core of the County of Champagne, and finally the kingdom of Navarre.

The House of Blois-Champagne, which was founded by Theobold II in 1025, split into several branches. The House of Blois-Chartres, which was founded by Theobold V of Blois inherited the counties of Blois and Chartres and others in 1152. His descendants would hold the counties until the deaths of Margaret and Isabella, to which the branch became extinct in 1249. The House of Blois-Navarre, which was founded by Theobold I of Navarre, when he inherited the throne from his uncle, Sancho Garcés VI. This branch became the senior line later and eventually became extinct in 1305 with the death of Joan I of Navarre, wife of Philip IV of France. Champagne and Navarre passed to the Capetian dynasty. The House of Sancerre, which was founded by Stephen I, Count of Sancerre, a younger son of Theobold II, Count of Champagne. He inherited the county on his father's death. This branch became extinct at the death of Margaret of Sancerre in 1418 or 1419. The final branch, the House of Lacarre, which was founded by Juan Enriquez, the illegitimate son of Henry I of Navarre.

When Louis VII of France was greatly threatened by the vast collection of territories in the person of Henry II of England, he chose a wife from the House of Blois-Champagne (Adela of Champagne) as a counterpoise to Angevin power.

When William married the Lady of Sully, Adela, sometime after 1100, he became jure uxoris Count or Lord of Sully. This would make him establish a cadet branch in Sully. This branch would also form its own cadet branch, the House of Sully-Beaujeu, which was when Odo, the son of Gilles III, Lord of Sully, acquired the Lordship of Beaujeu.

Sometime during or past 1126, Odo I was taken over by his maternal family. He then became Lord of Champlitte, which he likely inherited from his mother, Isabella, or from the generosity of his uncle Renaud III, Count of Burgundy. [1] He in turn would establish a new cadet branch in Champlitte. This Branch would also establish its own branch, the House of Champlitte-Pontailler. Which was when William I, son of Odo I, acquired the Lordship of Pontailler.

King Stephen I of England, 1135–1154, was both a member of the House of Blois and the last Anglo-Norman King, being the grandson of William the Conqueror through his daughter Adela of Normandy. [2]

A branch of the family was established in Sancerre by Stephen I of Sancerre, a younger son of Theobald II, Count of Champagne. This branch became extinct at the death of Margaret of Sancerre in 1418 or 1419.

Rulers

House of Blois

Partitions and acquisitions of Blois under Blois rule

Flemish
County of
Boulogne
Norman
County of
Aumale
Counties of Troyes
and Meaux
County of Blois
(940-1230/49) [3]
Barony of
Sully-sur-Loire
County of
Champagne

(1st creation)
(1037-1066)
      
County of
Aumale

(1069-1196)
      
County of
Champagne

(2nd creation)
(1089-1125) [4]
      
      Barony
of Sully

(1107-1409)
County of
Boulogne

(1125-1170)
      
County of
Champagne

(3rd creation)
(1152-1305) [5]
      County of
Sancerre

(1152-1419)
Inherited by the
House of Alsace
      
Annexed to
France [6]
and re-given to the
House of
Dammartin
(1224)
      
Inherited by
the Houses of Avesnes
and Châtillon
Annexed to
France
Inherited by the
House of Bourbon
Inherited by the
La Trémoille family

Table of rulers

Genealogy

Arms

House Arms
Arms of the House of Blois (ancient).svg
Ancient Arms
Old Arms of Blois.svg
Main Arms
Arms of the House of Blois-Champagne.svg
House of Blois-Chartres
Arms of the French Region of Champagne-Ardenne.svg
House of Blois-Champagne
Arms of the House of Blois-Navarre.svg
House of Blois-Navarre
Arms of the House of Sancerre.svg
House of Sancerre
Arms of the House of Sully.svg
House of Sully
Arms of the House of Sully (after 1346).svg
House of Sully (after 1346)
Arms of the House of Champlitte.svg
House of Champlitte
Arms of the House of Lacarre.svg
House of Lacarre
Other House Arms
Blason comte fr Aumale.svg
House of Aumale
Blason famille de Champlitte-Pontailler.svg
House of Champlitte-Pontailler
House Arms Variants
Arms of the House of Champlitte (variant).svg
House of Champlitte
Arms of the House of Blois-Navarre (quartered variant).svg
House of Blois-Navarre
Personal Arms
Arms of Etienne de Sancerre.svg
Stephen I of Sancerre
Arms of Etienne II de Sancerre.svg
Stephen II of Sancerre
Arms of Louis I de Sancerre.svg
Louis I of Sancerre
Arms of Jean II de Sancerre.svg
John II of Sancerre
Arms of Eudes III de Sully.svg
Odo-Archambaud III of Sully
Arms of Jean de Sully.svg
John of Sully
Arms of Jean de Sully (variant).svg
(Variant) John of Sully
Arms of Louis I de Blois.svg
Louis I of Blois
Arms of Stephen of Blois (attributed).svg
(Attributed) Stephen I of Blois
Arms of Stephen II of Blois.svg
(Attributed) Stephen II of Blois
Other Personal Arms
Coat of Arms of William I, Count of Boulogne.svg
William I of Boulogne
Arms of Jeanne de Champagne.svg
Joan I of Navarre
Blason Guy II de Pontailler.svg
Guy II of Pontailler
Tabard and coat of arms of Champagne LDAM (f. 040) Conde de Champanhe.jpg
Tabard and coat of arms of Champagne

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen, Count of Blois</span> Count of Blois from 1089 to 1102

Stephen Henry was the Count of Blois and Count of Chartres. He led an army during the First Crusade, was at the surrender of the city of Nicaea, and directed the siege of Antioch. Returning home without fulfilling his crusader vows, Stephen joined the crusade of 1101. Making his way to Jerusalem, he fought in the Second Battle of Ramla, where he was captured and later executed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theobald II, Count of Champagne</span> Count of Blois (1102–1152) and Champagne (1125–1152)

Theobald the Great (1090–1152) was count of Blois and of Chartres as Theobald IV from 1102 and was Count of Champagne and of Brie as Theobald II from 1125. Theobald held Auxerre, Maligny, Ervy, Troyes and Châteauvillain as fiefs from Odo II, Duke of Burgundy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count of Champagne</span> Historic French feudal title

The Count of Champagne was the ruler of the County of Champagne from 950 to 1316. Champagne evolved from the County of Troyes in the late eleventh century and Hugh I was the first to officially use the title count of Champagne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry I, Count of Champagne</span> Count of Champagne from 1152 to 1181

Henry I, known as the Liberal, was count of Champagne from 1152 to 1181. He was the eldest son of Count Theobald II of Champagne, who was also count of Blois, and his wife, Matilda of Carinthia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theobald I of Navarre</span> King of Navarre from 1234 to 1253

Theobald I, also called the Troubadour and the Posthumous, was Count of Champagne from birth and King of Navarre from 1234. He initiated the Barons' Crusade, was famous as a trouvère, and was the first Frenchman to rule Navarre.

Eudes, French for Odo, may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theobald</span> Name list

Theobald is a Germanic dithematic name, composed from the elements theod- "people" and bald "bold". The name arrived in England with the Normans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh, Count of Champagne</span> Late 11th century French Nobleman

Hugh was a French noble who was the first Count of Champagne. He was known for donating the valley that was used as the site for the Clairvaux Abbey and going on several pilgrimages to the Holy Land. During his second visit, Hugh de Paynes, a knight in his service, stayed in Jerusalem and established the Knights Templar. Hugh later gave up his wealth and lands to join the Templar Order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanche of Navarre, Countess of Champagne</span> Countess of Champagne

Blanche of Navarre was Countess of Champagne by marriage to Theobald III, Count of Champagne, and regent of Champagne during the minority of her son Theobald I of Navarre between 1201 and 1222.

Theobald III of Blois was count of Blois, Meaux and Troyes. He was captured in 1044 by Geoffrey II, Count of Anjou, and exchanged the County of Touraine for his freedom. Theobald used his nephew's involvement with the Norman invasion of England to gain authority over the County of Champagne. He died in 1089.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odo II, Count of Blois</span>

Odo II was the count of Blois, Chartres, Châteaudun, Champagne, Beauvais and Tours from 1004 and count of Troyes and Meaux from 1022. He twice tried to make himself a king: first in Italy after 1024 and then in Burgundy after 1032.

Stephen I (1133–1190), Count of Sancerre (1151–1190), inherited Sancerre on his father's death. His elder brothers Henry Ι and Theobald V received Champagne and Blois. His holdings were the smallest among the brothers.

Odo was count of Troyes and of Meaux from 1047 to 1066, then count of Aumale from 1069 to 1115. He was later also known as the count of Champagne and as Eudes II of Troyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matilda of Carinthia</span> Countess of Champagne

Matilda of Carinthia was a daughter of Engelbert, Duke of Carinthia and his wife Uta of Passau. She married Theobald II, Count of Champagne in 1123.

The War of the Succession of Champagne was a war from 1216 to 1222 between the nobles of the Champagne region of France, occurring within that region and also spilling over into neighboring duchies. The war lasted two years and de facto ended in 1218, but did not officially end until Theobald IV reached the age of majority in 1222, at which point his rivals abandoned their claims.

The County of Châteaudun was held in the 9th century by counts who also held the County of Blois. Theobald I created the first viscount of Châteaudun with the appointment of Geoffrey I, founder of the House of Châteaudun. The viscounts were entrusted with the government of the county of Châteaudun, records of whom are continuous from the mid-10th century. The actual rule of Châteaudun between the late 9th and the mid-10th centuries, and the relationships between the count and viscounts, is uncertain. The county was revived in 1439 when the region was recreated as the County of Dunois and granted to Jean Levieux Valois des Orléans, the illegitimate son of Louis I, Duke of Orléans, son of Charles V of France.

Counts who reigned over the county of Meaux include:

Odo/Eudes I de Champlitte the so-called Champenois, of the House of Blois and its cadet branch, the house of Champlitte. was Lord of Champlitte, Viscount of Dijon, and also a claimant to the title of Count of Champagne. He was the son of Hugh, Count of Champagne, Count of Champagne and Isabella of Burgundy, daughter of Stephen I, Count of Burgundy.

References

  1. Histoire des Ducs et Comtes de Champagne, Marie Henry d'Arbois de Jubainville, 1865.
  2. David Crouch. The Reign of King Stephen, 1135-1154, Pearson Education, Harlow, England, 2000.
  3. A small partition created in 1218 at Chartres lasted until 1249, and it was inherited by the Amboise family.
  4. Solely at Troyes; Meaux was held by the main Blois line.
  5. Union with the Kingdom of Navarre since 1234.
  6. Claimed by the Forz family, heirs of Countess Hawise, as Earl of Albemarle , in the English peerage until 1439.
  7. Arbois de Jubainville (1859) Tome I, p. 504.
  8. Numbered after Stephen I, Count of Troyes.
  9. Bates 2004.
  10. Jean Bernier, Histoire de Blois, contenant les antiquités et singularités du comté de Blois, Francois Muguet, 1682 (read online), p. 291–296.
  11. Evergates, Theodore (2007). The Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 7.
  12. 1 2 3 The numbering follows the previous Lords of Sully.
  13. The numbering follows the previous Counts of Boulogne.
  14. Allen, S.J. (2017). An Introduction to the Crusades. University of Toronto Press. p. 33.
  15. Evergates 2007, p. 36-37.
  16. Evergates 2007, p. 39.
  17. Charon, 1999, p. 127.
House of Blois
Preceded by Ruling house of England
11351154
Succeeded by