Theoderic | |
|---|---|
| Count of Flanders | |
 Seal effigy | |
| Born | c. 1099 |
| Died | 17 January 1168(1168-01-17) (aged 68–69) |
| Buried | Abbey ofWatten |
| Noble family | Alsace |
| Spouses | Margaret of Clermont (or Swanhilde) Sibylla of Anjou |
| Issue | Laurette Philip I, Count of Flanders Matthew of Alsace Margaret I, Countess of Flanders Gertrude of Flanders, Countess of Savoy Matilda Peter |
| Father | Theoderic II, Duke of Lorraine |
| Mother | Gertrude of Flanders |
Theoderic (Dutch:Diederik,French:Thierry,German:Dietrich;c. 1099 – 17 January 1168), commonly known asThierry of Alsace, was the fifteenthcount of Flanders from 1128 to 1168. With a record of four campaigns in theLevant and Africa (including participation in theSecond Crusade, the failed 1157–1158 siege of theSyrian cityShaizar, and the 1164invasion of Egypt), he had a rare and distinguished record of commitment to crusading.
Theoderic was the youngest son of DukeTheoderic II of Lorraine andGertrude, daughter of CountRobert I of Flanders.[1] After the murder of his cousin,Charles the Good, in 1127, Theoderic claimed theCounty of Flanders, but another cousin,William Clito, became count instead with the support of KingLouis VI of France.[2] William's politics and attitude towards the autonomy of Flanders made him unpopular,[2] and by the end of the yearBruges,Ghent,Lille, andSaint-Omer recognized Theoderic as a rival count. Theoderic's supporters came from theImperial faction of Flanders.
Louis VI of France had Raymond of Martigné, theArchbishop of Reims, excommunicate Theoderic.[3] Louis VI then besieged Lille, but was forced to retire whenHenry I of England, William Clito's uncle, transferred his support to Theoderic.[2] However, Theoderic wasdefeated at Axspoele and fled to Bruges.[2] He was forced to flee Bruges as well, and went toAalst, where he was soon under siege from William,Godfrey I of Leuven, and Louis VI. The city was about to be captured when William died on 28 July 1128 from an infected wound sustained during the siege, leaving Theoderic as the only claimant to the seat.
Theoderic set up his government in Ghent and was recognized by all the Flemish cities as well as King Henry, who had his Flemish lords in England swear fealty to him. Theoderic himself swore homage to Louis VI after 1132,[4] in order to gain the French king's support againstBaldwin IV, Count of Hainaut, who had advanced his own claim on Flanders.
In 1132, his wife, Suanhilde, died, leaving only a daughter. In 1139, he went on pilgrimage to thecrusaderKingdom of Jerusalem, and marriedSibylla of Anjou, daughter of KingFulk of Jerusalem and the widow of William Clito; a very prestigious marriage. This was the first of Theoderic's four pilgrimages to theHoly Land. While there he also led a victorious expedition againstCaesarea Phillippi, and fought alongside his father-in-law in an invasion ofGilead. He soon returned to Flanders to put down a revolt in the Duchy ofLower Lotharingia, ruled at the time byGodfrey III of Leuven.
Theoderic joined theSecond Crusade in 1147. He led the crossing of theMaeander River inAnatolia and fought at the Battla of Attalya in 1148, and after arriving in the crusader Kingdom he participated in theCouncil of Acre, where the ill-fated decision to attackDamascus was made.
Theoderic participated in theSiege of Damascus, led by his wife's half-brotherBaldwin III of Jerusalem, and with the support of Baldwin,Louis VII of France, andConrad III of Germany, he lay claim to Damascus. However, the native crusader barons preferred one of their own nobles,Guy I Brisebarre, lord ofBeirut. According toWilliam of Tyre, the resulting dispute contributed to the final failure of the siege: 'for the local barons preferred that the Damascenes should keep their city rather than to see it given to the count', and so did all they could to ensure the siege collapsed.[5] Therefore, William continues, many contemporaries blamed Theoderic for the ultimate failure of the Second Crusade (though it is notable that William himself declines to say whether he believed Theoderic responsible).
During his absence, Baldwin IV of Hainaut invaded Flanders and pillagedArtois; Sibylla reacted strongly and hadHainaut pillaged in response. The Archbishop of Reims intervened and a treaty was signed. When Theoderic returned in 1150, he took vengeance on Baldwin IV atBouchain, with the aid ofHenry I, Count of Namur andHenry II of Leez,Bishop of Liège. In the subsequent peace negotiations, Theoderic gave his daughterMarguerite in marriage to Baldwin IV's son, the futureBaldwin V, Count of Hainaut.
In 1156, Theoderic had his eldest son married toElizabeth of Vermandois, daughter and heiress ofRaoul I of Vermandois.[6] In 1156, he returned to the Holy Land, this time with his wife accompanying him. He participated in Baldwin III's siege ofShaizar in 1157,[7] but the fortress remained in Muslim hands when a dispute arose between Theoderic andRaynald of Châtillon over who would possess it should it be captured.[8] He returned to Flanders 1159 without Sibylla, who remained behind to become a nun at the convent ofSt. Lazarus inBethany. Their sonPhilip had ruled the county in their absence, and he remained co-count after Theoderic's return. In 1164, Theoderic returned once more to the Holy Land. He accompanied KingAmalric I, another half-brother of Sibylla, toAntioch andTripoli. He returned home in 1166, and adopted adate palm as his seal, with a crown oflaurels on the reverse.
Thierry died on 17 January 1168 and was buried in the Abbey ofWatten, between Saint-Omer andGravelines. His rule had been moderate and peaceful; the highly developed administration of the county in later centuries first began during these years. There had also been great economic and agricultural development, and new commercial enterprises were established; Flanders' greatest territorial expansion occurred under Theoderic.
Thierry's first wife,Margaret of Clermont (or Swanhilde), died in 1132, leaving only one daughter:
Theoderic secondly marriedSibylla of Anjou, daughter ofFulk V of Anjou andErmengarde of Maine,[9] and former bride ofWilliam Clito. Their children were:
Thierry, Count of Flanders Born:c. 1099 Died: 17 January 1168 | ||
| Preceded by | Count of Flanders 1128–1168 | Succeeded by |
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