Matilda I, Countess of Nevers or Mathilde de Courtenay, or Mahaut de Courtenay, (1188–1257), was a ruling countess ofNevers,Auxerre andTonnerre. She was the only daughter ofPeter II of Courtenay and ofAgnes of Nevers, born from theCapetian House of Courtenay, she was married toHervé IV of Donzy and then toGuigues IV of Forez.
By his marriage toAgnes of Nevers,Peter II of Courtenay, a cousin of KingPhilip II Augustus, became Count of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre in 1184. Four years later, the couple became the parents of a daughter, Matilda.[1]
In 1198, Matilda's father was caught up in a dispute withHervé IV of Donzy which concerned the possession of thechâteau de Gien. Hervé succeeded in defeating his opponent atCosne-sur-Loire and captured him.[2] Through the mediation of Philip II Augustus, the parties came to an agreement in 1199. To recover his freedom, Peter had to give his daughter Matilda in marriage to Hervé de Donzy and cede him the county of Nevers. The marriage was closed in October 1199, probably on the 20th. It was agreed that the counties of Auxerre and Tonnerre would become the property of Hervé at the death of Peter II.
In 1209, Hervé and Matilda founded the monastery of Bellary and the Abbey of Notre-Dame de l'Épeau in 1211, a year before obtainingPope Innocent III's consent to the marriage held in 1205 and was only granted in 1212. They richly endowed their religious establishments.
Following her father's death, Matilda inherited the counties of Auxerre and Tonnerre.[3] Hervé, who was on theFifth Crusade, returned to Europe immediately on the news, and was successful in getting Peter's counties under his control. Two years later, Matilda and Hervé's daughter Agnes was married to Guy IV de Châtillon, Count of Saint-Pol.
Hervé de Donzy died on 22 January 1223, at Saint-Aignan.[4] His death has been attributed to poison.[4] Four years later, Matilda marriedGuigues IV of Forez.[5]
Very popular because of her generosity, she signed acharter of postage to the deputies sent byAuxerre on August 15, 1223 atChâteau de Druyes. The charter granted freedoms and enfranchisement to the inhabitants of Auxerre and marked the birth of their commune; it was confirmed by Pierre de Courtenay in 1188. She founded the abbey of Notre-Dame of the Reconfort ofSaizy forCistercian nuns in 1235 and increased its allocation in 1244.
In 1257, she confirmed that Château de Druyes, where she frequently resided, became the property ofReigny Abbey. That same year she exchanged her mill at Pont-Cizeau with the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Nevers, with a rent of 100sous.
She died on July 29, 1257[6] at the castle ofCoulanges-sur-Yonne, and was buried in the abbey Notre-Dame of the Reconfort of Saizy. Her great-granddaughterMatilda II succeeded her as Countess of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre.
From her first marriage with Hervé de Donzy:
From her second marriage withGuigues IV de Forez:
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