Wikipedia

House of Blois

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).

House of Blois
Royal house
Arms of the House of Blois
CountryWest Francia
France
Navarre
England
Jerusalem
Founded906; 1118 years ago (906)
FounderTheobald 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

History

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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

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House of Blois

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Partitions and acquisitions of Blois under Blois rule

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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

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Ruler Born Reign Ruling part Consort Death Notes
Theobald I the Trickster 913
Son of Theobald the Elder and Richilde 		928 – 975 County of Blois Luitgarde of Vermandois
four children 		975
aged 61-62		 First ruler of Blois. Until 1041, the counts of Blois were also Counts of Tours.
Odo I Rousselet   950
Son of Theobald I and Luitgarde of Vermandois 		975 – 12 March 996 County of Blois Bertha of Burgundy
983
six children 		12 March 996
aged 45-46 		Children of Theobald I, divided their inheritance. Emma's property was inherited by her descendants.
Emma c.950
Son of Theobald I and Luitgarde of Vermandois 		975 – 27 December 1003 County of Blois
(at Chinon and Bourgueil)		 William IV, Duke of Aquitaine
968
two children 		27 December 1003
aged 54-55
Chinon and Bourgueil annexed to Aquitaine
Regency of Bertha of Burgundy (996-999) Left no heirs, he was succeeded by his brother Odo.
Theobald II   983
First son of Odo I and Bertha of Burgundy 		12 March 996 – 11 July 1004 County of Blois Unmarried 11 July 1004
aged 20-21
Odo II/I of Champagne   c.985
Second son of Odo I and Bertha of Burgundy 		11 July 1004 – 15 November 1037 County of Blois
(with Champagne since 1022)		 Maud of Normandy
1003/4
no children

Ermengarde of Auvergne
c.1005
three/four children 		15 November 1037
aged 51-52		 Seized Champagne for himself, without royal approval, and kept these territories.
Theobald III 1012
First son of Odo II/ and Ermengarde of Auvergne 		15 November 1037 – 30 September 1089 County of Blois
(with Champagne since 1066)		 Gersende of Maine
no children

Gundrada[7]
one child

Adele of Valois
c.1040
four children 		30 September 1089
Épernay
aged 76-77 		Children of Odo II/I, divided their inheritance.
Stephen II[8] c.1015
Second son of Odo II/ and Ermengarde of Auvergne 		15 November 1037 – 1047 County of Champagne Adele
one child 		1047
aged 31-32
Regency of Theobald III, Count of Blois (1047-1054) In 1066, Champagne was reabsorbed in Blois. Odo inherited from marriage, later, the County of Aumale.
Odo II 1040
Son of Stephen II and Adele 		1047 – 1066 County of Champagne 1115[9]
aged 74-75 		Adelaide of Normandy
c.1060
one child
1069 – 1115 County of Aumale
Champagne briefly annexed to Blois
Stephen Henry the Wise[10]   c.1045
Son of Theobald III and Gundrada 		30 September 1089 – 19 May 1102 County of Blois Adela of Normandy
c.1080
Chartres
eleven children 		19 May 1102
Ramla
aged 55-56 		Children of Theobald III, divided their inheritance. Odo left no children, and he was succeeded by his brother Hugh.
Odo III 1062
First son of Theobald III and Adele of Valois 		30 September 1089 – 1093 County of Champagne Unmarried 1093[11]
aged 30-31
Hugh   1074
Second son of Theobald III and Adele of Valois 		1093 – 1125 County of Champagne Constance of France
1094
one child

Isabelle of Burgundy
1110
one child? 		1125
aged 50-51		 In 1125, after his death, his domains re-joined Blois.
Champagne briefly annexed to Blois
William the Simple   c.1085
First son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy 		19 May 1102 – 1107 County of Blois Agnes of Sully
13 November 1104
five children 		1150
aged 64-65 		Deposed from the main patrimony of the family, inherited by marriage the barony of Sully-sur-Loire.
1105 – 1150 Barony of Sully
Theobald IV/II the Great   1090
Second son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy 		1107 – 10 January 1152 County of Blois
(with Champagne from 1125)		 Matilda of Carinthia
1123
ten children 		10 January 1152
aged 61-62		 Succeeded his deposed elder brother in Blois. Reunited Blois and Champagne in 1125.
Stephen c.1070
Son of Odo II and Adelaide of Normandy 		1115 – 1127 County of Aumale Hawise de Mortimer
c.1100
four children 		1127
aged 56-57		 His father-in-law supported him in his claimancy for the throne of England.
Stephen   1092
Blois
Third son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy 		1125 – 3 May 1152 County of Boulogne
(jure uxoris)		 Matilda I, Countess of Boulogne
1125
three children 		25 October 1154
Dover
aged 61-62		 Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Also King of England.
William the Fat c.1100?
Son of Stephen and Hawise de Mortimer 		1127 – 20 August 1179 County of Aumale Cicely FitzDuncan, Lady of Skipton
c.1130
eleven children 		20 August 1179
aged 78-79?		 He was also made Earl of York. Left his domains in Aumale to his only daughter, Hawise.
Odo-Archambaud III[12] 1109
Son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy 		1150 – 1164 Barony of Sully Mahaut de Beaugency
three children 		1164
aged 54-55
Henry I the Liberal   December 1127
First son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia 		10 January 1152 – 16 March 1181 County of Champagne Maria of France
1159
four children 		16 March 1181
Troyes
aged 53 		Children of Theobald the Great, divided their inheritance.
Theobald V the Good 1130
Second son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia 		10 January 1152 – 20 January 1191 County of Blois Sybil of Chateaurenault
no children

Alix of France
1164
seven children 		20 January 1191
Acre
aged 60-61
Regency of Alix of France (1190-1191)
Stephen I   1133
Third son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia 		10 January 1152 – 7 September 1191 County of Sancerre Adélais de Donzy
no children

Béatriz
three children

Aénor
one child 		7 September 1191
Saint-Jean-d'Acre
aged 57-58
Eustace IV[13] 1129
First son of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne 		3 May 1152 – 17 August 1153 County of Boulogne Constance of France
1140
no children 		17 August 1153
Bury St Edmunds
aged 23-24		 Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
William I 1137
Second son of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne 		17 August 1153 – 11 October 1159 County of Boulogne Isabel de Warenne, Countess of Surrey
1148
no children 		11 October 1159
Toulouse
aged 21-22		 Also Earl of Surrey, in the English peerage. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his sister.
Maria I 1136
Daughter of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne 		11 October 1159 – 1170 County of Boulogne Matthew, Count of Boulogne
1160
(annulled 1170)
two children 		25 July 1182
Montreuil
aged 45-46		 Abducted by her future husband, who married her. She tried to divorce him, and finally did it in 1170, but he continued to rule jointly with her in Boulogne, and the children of the couple kept their inheritance rights.
Boulogne was inherited by the House of Alsace
Gilles II[12] 1133
Son of Odo-Archambaud III and Mahaut de Beaugency 		1164 – 1193 Barony of Sully Lucie de Charenton-sur-Cher
three children 		1193
aged 59-60
Hawise c.1140
Daughter of William and Cicely FitzDuncan, Lady of Skipton 		20 August 1179 – 1194 County of Aumale
(de jure 1194-1214)		 William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex
c.1180
no children

William de Forz
c.1190
one child

Baldwin of Bethune
1196
one child 		11 March 1214
aged 73-74		 Ruled together with her husbands. In 1194, Philip II of France took Aumale to royal domain, and gave it to Renaud I, Count of Dammartin (1224). In the English peerage, the claim to the county continued, through the Earldom of Albemarle (titular):
Aumale was annexed to the Kingdom of France
Henry II   29 July 1166
First son of Henry I and Maria of France 		16 March 1181 – 10 September 1197 County of Champagne Isabella I of Jerusalem
6 May 1192
two children 		10 September 1197
Acre
aged 31 		Left Champagne in Crusade and established there as king consort of Jerusalem. Left the regency to his mother. As regent, Maria established the patched lands of Champagne as an unified territory. With the death of Henry II in Jerusalem, she passed the county to her youngest son, Theobald.
Regency of Maria of France (1190-1197)
Regency of Alix of France (1191-1197)
Louis I   1172[14]
Son of Theobald V and Alix of France 		20 January 1191 – 14 April 1205 County of Blois Catherine, Countess of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis
1184
three children 		14 April 1205
Adrianople
aged 32-33
William I 1176
Son of Stephen I and Béatrix 		7 September 1191 – 1217 County of Sancerre Denise de Déols
no children

Marie de Charenton
one child

Eustachie de Courtenay
two children 		1217
Epirus
aged 40-41
Archambaud IV[12] c.1170
Son of Gilles II and Lucie de Charenton-sur-Cher 		1193 – 23 August 1240 Barony of Sully Alix de Brienne
1177
four children?

Perseis d'Aschères
no children

Margaret
no children 		23 August 1240
Sully-sur-Loire
aged 69-70
Theobald III   13 May 1179
Troyes
Second son of Henry I and Maria of France 		10 September 1197 – 24 May 1201 County of Champagne Blanche of Navarre
1 July 1199
Chartres
one child 		24 May 1201
Troyes
aged 22
Regency of Blanche of Navarre (1201-1222)[15] Blanche was regent for her son, and protected him in the War of the Succession of Champagne, in which Theobald's cousins claimed the county:[16]

Through Blanche, Theobald was also the heir and also through her, he would inherit the Kingdom of Navarre, from his uncle, Sancho VII of Navarre. Theobald was also an accomplished troubadour, which gave him his nickname.

Theobald IV the Troubadour

(Theobald I as King of Navarre)		   30 May 1201
Troyes
Posthumous son of Theobald III and Blanche of Navarre 		24 May 1201 – 8 July 1253 County of Champagne
(with Kingdom of Navarre since 1234)		 Gertrude of Dagsburg
1220
(annulled 1222)
no children

Agnes of Beaujeu
1222
one child

Margaret of Bourbon
12 September 1232
six children 		8 July 1253
Pamplona
aged 52
Theobald VI the Younger   1190
Blois
Son of Louis I and Catherine of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis 		14 April 1205 – 22 April 1218 County of Blois Mathilde of Alençon
c.1210
no children

Clemence de Roches
no children 		22 April 1218
La Ferté-Villeneuil
aged 27-28		 Left no heirs. He left the county to his aunts, Margaret and Isabella.
Louis I   1207
Son of William I and Marie de Charenton 		1217 – 1267 County of Sancerre Blanche de Courtenay
three children

Isabella of Mayenne
no children 		1267
aged 59-60
Margaret   c.1170
First daughter of Theobald V and Alix of France 		22 April 1218 – 12 July 1230 County of Blois
(at Blois proper)		 Hugh III of Oisy, Viscount of Cambrai
1183
no children

Otto I, Count of Burgundy
1192
two children

Walter II of Avesnes
two children 		12 July 1230
aged 59-60 		Aunts and heiresses of Theobald VI, inherited a partiitioned county. Both would leave their parts of the county to their respective daughters: Mary of Avesnes, daughter of Margaret, inherited Blois; Mahaut of Amboise, daughter of Isabella, inherited Chartres.
Isabella   c.1170
Second daughter of Theobald V and Alix of France 		22 April 1218 – 25 November 1249 County of Blois
(at Chartres)		 Sulpice III, Lord of Amboise
c.1200
two children

Jean II de Montmirail
no children 		25 November 1249
aged 78-79
Blois and Chartres were inherited, respectively, by the House of Avesnes and the Amboise family
Henry I c.1200
Son of Archambaud IV and Alix de Brienne? 		23 August 1240 – 1249 Barony of Sully Maria of Dampierre
1221
one child

Aénor de Saint-Valéry
1237
no children 		1249
aged 48-49
Henry II 1224
Son of Henry I and Maria of Dampierre 		1249 – 1269 Barony of Sully Péronelle de Joigny
(d.1282)
December 1251
three children 		1269
Tagliacozzo
aged 44-45
Regency of Margaret of Bourbon and James I of Aragon (1253-1256) Left no children. He was succeeded by his brother.
Theobald V the Younger

(Theobald II as King of Navarre)		   7 December 1239
Provins
First son of Theobald IV/I and Margaret of Bourbon 		8 July 1253 – 4 December 1270 County of Champagne
(with Kingdom of Navarre)		 Isabella of France
6 April 1255
no children 		4 December 1270
Trapani
aged 30
John I 1235
First son of Louis I and Blanche de Courtenay 		1267 – 1280 County of Sancerre Marie de Vierzon
(1259-1284)
1259
seven children 		1280
aged 44-45		 Children of Louis I, divided their inheritance.
Henry III 1254
Son of Henry II and Péronelle de Joigny 		1269 – 1285 Barony of Sully Marguerite de Bommiers
(d.1323)
1282
two children 		1285
Kingdom of Aragon
aged 30-31
Henry III the Fat

(Henry I as King of Navarre)		   3 December 1249
Champagne
Second son of Theobald IV/I and Margaret of Bourbon 		4 December 1270 – 22 July 1274 County of Champagne
(with Kingdom of Navarre)		 Blanche of Artois
February 1269
Melun
two children 		22 July 1274
Pamplona
aged 24
Regency of Blanche of Artois (1274-1284) Her marriage to the king of France determined the personal union of Navarre and Champagne to France.
Joanna I   14 January 1273
Bar-sur-Seine
Daughter of Henry III/I and Blanche of Artois 		22 July 1274 – 2 April 1305 County of Champagne
(with Kingdom of Navarre)		 Philip IV of France
16 August 1284
seven children 		2 April 1305
Vincennes
aged 32
Champagne and Navarre annexed to France
Stephen II 1252
First son of John I and Marie de Vierzon 		1280 – 16 May 1306 County of Sancerre Maria of La Marche
20 April 1289
no children 		16 May 1306
aged 53-54		 Left no children. The county passed to his brother.
Regency of Marguerite de Bommiers (1285-1296) Also tresaurer and Grand Butler of France.
Henry IV 1282
Son of Henry III and Marguerite de Bommiers 		1285 – 27 January 1336 Barony of Sully Jeanne de Vendôme
c.1305
ten children 		27 January 1336
Kingdom of Navarre[17]
aged 53-54
John II c.1260
Second son of John I and Marie de Vierzon 		16 May 1306 – 1327 County of Sancerre Louise de Beaumez
three children

Isabelle de Mauvoisin-Rosny
1323
no children 		1327
aged 66-67
Louis II 1305
Son of John II and Louise de Beaumez 		1327 – 26 August 1346 County of Sancerre Béatrix de Roucy
(d. aft.1348)
8 July 1329
seven children 		1327
aged 66-67
John c.1305
Son of Henry IV and Jeanne de Vendôme 		27 January 1336 – 1343 Barony of Sully Margaret of Bourbon
6 June 1320
three children 		1343
aged 37-38
Louis c.1325
Son of John and Margaret of Bourbon 		1343 – 1382 Barony of Sully Isabelle de Craon
1357/8
one child 		1382
aged 66-67
John III 1334
First son of Louis II and Béatrix de Roucy 		26 August 1346 – March 1402 County of Sancerre Marguerite de Marmande
(1335-1371)
two children

Constance of Saluzzo
(1345-1421)
c.1375
no children 		March 1402
aged 67-68 		Children of Louis II, divided their inheritance. With the exception of Bommiers and Vauzon, the properties of the brothers returned to the main line by lack of descendants
Robert c.1340
Second son of Louis II and Béatrix de Roucy 		26 August 1346 – 1372 County of Sancerre
(at Menetou-Salon) 		Unmarried 1372
aged 31-32
Louis (III)   1341
Sancerre
Third son of Louis II and Béatrix de Roucy 		26 August 1346 – 6 February 1402 County of Sancerre
(at Assigny) 		6 February 1402
Paris
aged 60-61
Isabella 1342
Daughter of Louis II and Béatrix de Roucy 		26 August 1346 – 1375 County of Sancerre
(at Bommiers and Vouzon)		 Pierre de Graçay
no children

Guichard of Auvergne
(d.1415)
one child 		1375
aged 32-33
Stephen (III) c.1345
Fourth son of Louis II and Béatrix de Roucy 		26 August 1346 – 1390 County of Sancerre
(at Vailly-sur-Sauldre)		 Unmarried 1390
Mahdia
aged 44-45
With the exception of Bommiers and Vauzon, the remaining properties were re-annexed to Sancerre
Maria 1365
Daughter of Louis and Isabelle de Craon 		1382 – 1409 Barony of Sully Gui VI de La Trémoille
1383
five children

Charles I, Lord of Albret
27 January 1401
four children 		1409
Pau
aged 43-44		 After her death, the barony was inherited by the La Trémoille family.
Sully inherited by the La Trémoille family
Margaret 1355
Daughter of John II and Marguerite de Marmande 		March 1402 – 1418 County of Sancerre Gérard de Chabot-Retz
(1344-1370)
1364
no children

Béraud II, Dauphin of Auvergne
27 June 1374
Riom
eight children

Jean de Saligny Lourdin
(1395-1446)
no children

Jacques de Montberon
1408
no children 		1418
aged 62-63		 After her death, the county went to the House of Bourbon.
Sancerre annexed to the property of the Capetian House of Bourbon

Genealogy

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Arms

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House Arms
 
Ancient Arms
 
Main Arms
 
House of Blois-Chartres
 
House of Blois-Champagne
 
House of Blois-Navarre
 
House of Sancerre
 
House of Sully
 
House of Sully (after 1346)
 
House of Champlitte
 
House of Lacarre
Other House Arms
 
House of Aumale
 
House of Champlitte-Pontailler
House Arms Variants
 
House of Champlitte
 
House of Blois-Navarre
Personal Arms
 
Stephen I of Sancerre
 
Stephen II of Sancerre
 
Louis I of Sancerre
 
John II of Sancerre
 
Odo-Archambaud III of Sully
 
John of Sully
 
(Variant) John of Sully
 
Louis I of Blois
 
(Attributed) Stephen I of Blois
 
(Attributed) Stephen II of Blois
Other Personal Arms
 
William I of Boulogne
 
Joan I of Navarre
 
Guy II of Pontailler
 
Tabard and coat of arms of Champagne

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b c 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
1135–1154 		Succeeded by
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