Theobald III, Count of Blois | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1012 (1012) |
| Died | 1089 (aged 76–77) |
| Noble family | House of Blois |
| Spouses | Gersende of Maine Adele of Valois |
| Issue | Philip Stephen, Count of Blois Odo V, Count of Troyes Hughes of Champagne Hawise |
| Father | Odo II, Count of Blois |
| Mother | Ermengarde of Auvergne |
Theobald III of Blois (French:Thibaut; 1012–1089) was count ofBlois,Meaux andTroyes. He was captured in 1044 byGeoffrey II, Count of Anjou, and exchanged theCounty of Touraine for his freedom. Theobald used his nephew's involvement with theNorman invasion of England to gain authority over theCounty of Champagne. He died in 1089.
Theobald was son ofOdo II, Count of Blois[1] and Ermengarde of Auvergne.[2] Upon his father's death in 1037, Theobald inherited amongst others the counties of Blois,[1]Tours,Chartres.Châteaudun andSancerre, and also inChampagne:Château-Thierry,Provins andSt. Florentin. His brotherStephen inherited the counties of Meaux, Troyes andVitry-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 ofTouraine 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 theHoly Roman Emperor, Henry III as hisliege 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]
Theobald's nephew,Odo, Count of Champagne joined the army ofWilliam the Conqueror and participated in theNorman 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 ofRalph IV of Valois. From 1074 onward, he left his sonHenry in control of Blois, Châteaudun and Chartres.[citation needed]
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]
Theobald's first wife Gersent of Le Mans,[2] daughter ofHerbert I, Count of Maine. They had:
His second wife Alix de Crepy (Adela) orAdele of Valois,[5] daughter ofRalph IV of Valois and Adélaide ofBar-sur-Aube. They had:
Theobald III, Count of Blois Born: 1012 Died: 1089 | ||
| Preceded by | Count of Troyes 1066–1089 | Succeeded by |
| Count of Meaux 1066–1089 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Count of Blois 1037–1089 | |
