Raoul I Dit Le Vaillant Ou Le Borgne, Comte de Vermandois

From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page for Northern France:

RAOUL [I] "le Vaillant" de Vermandois, son of HUGUES [I] Comte de Vermandois & his wife Adelais Ctss de Vermandois ([1094]-13 Oct 1152, bur Priory of Saint-Arnoul de Crépy).

The Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis names (in order) "Radulfum comitem Veromandie et Henricum de Chauni et Simonem episcopum Noviomensem" as the sons of "Hugonem Magnum [et] Adelaide comitissa Veromandensium"[1403]. Named with his brother Henri by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that their father "Hugo magnus Crispeii comes" left his lands to them before departing on the First Crusade[1404]. Robert of Torigny records that "Rodulfus filius eius" succeeded in 1102 on the death of "Hugo Magnus"[1405].

He succeeded his father in 1102 as Comte de Vermandois, and his mother in 1117.

"Adela…Viromandorum comitissa, filius…meus Radulphus" renounced their claim to certain serfs in favour of the abbey of Compiègne Saint-Corneille, with the consent of "filiorum meorum Radulphi, Henrici, Symonis", by charter dated 1114[1406].

He lost an eye at the siege of the château of Livry in early 1129.

Louis VI King of France appointed him seneschal of France in Nov 1131.

He allied himself with Queen Adélaïde, the Queen mother, in 1138 against her son King Louis VII and Suger, but was reconciled with the king in 1139.

His repudiation of his first wife triggered war with Champagne and excommunication by the Pope, although the divorce was finally accepted by the church in 1148.

Robert of Torigny records the death in 1152 of "Radulfus de Perrona comes Viromandorum", specifying that he appointed "Galeranni comitis Mellenti nepotis sui" as guardian of his infant children[1407]. The necrology of the Priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs records the death "III Id Oct" of "Rodulfus comes"[1408].

m firstly ([1120], divorced 1142 on the grounds of consanguinity) ELEONORE de Blois, daughter of ETIENNE de Blois & his wife Adela of England. Kerrebrouck names Eleonore, daughter of Comte Etienne III, as the first wife of Raoul Comte de Vermandois[1409] but the primary source on which this is based has not yet been identified. After her repudiation she found refuge with her brother Thibaut IV Comte de Champagne who declared war on her husband and appealed to Pope Innocent II who excommunicated him. Ctss Eléonore appeared in person before Pope Eugene III at Reims 21 Mar 1148, but the Pope confirmed the annulment of her marriage[1410].

m secondly (1142) AELIS [Petronille] d'Aquitaine, daughter of GUILLAUME X Duke of Aquitaine [GUILLAUME VIII Comte de Poitou] & his first wife Eléonore de Châtellerault ([1125]-after 24 Oct 1151, bur St Arnould in Crépy). The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines specifies that "Alienor Guilielmi filia comits Pictavorum et Aquitanie ducis" had two sisters one of whom married "Radulfus…comes Perone et Veromandie", although he does not name either of them[1411].

The Historiæ Tornacenses record the wife of "Radulfem comitem" as "germanam Alienore regine Francorum" but also do not name her[1412]. Robert of Torigny refers to the mother of the infant children of "Radulfus de Perrona comes Viromandorum" as "iuniore filia Willelmi ducis Aquitanorum" but he does not name her either[1413].

The Chronique de Guillaume de Nangis names "Eléonore et Pétronille" as the two daughters of "Guillaume comte de Poitou et prince d'Aquitaine", recording in 1142 that Pétronille married "Raoul comte de Vermandois" after he repudiated his first wife[1414].

m thirdly (1152) as her third husband, LAURETTA de Flandre, widow firstly of IWAN Graaf van Aalst and secondly of HENDRIK II Duke of Limburg, daughter of THIERRY Count of Flanders & his first wife Swanhilde --- ([1120]-Abbaye de Voorst, near Brussels 1170). The Flandria Generosa names "Laurentiam" as the only daughter of "comitissa etiam Suanildis", specifying that her marriage with "dux de Lemburg" was terminated on grounds of consanguinity, that she subsequently married "Iwanus de Alst", and after the latter's death "Rodulfo comiti Peronensi" and "comiti de Namur", although this switches her first and second husbands[1415]. She married fourthly (before 1159, divorced 1163) as his first wife, Henri "l’Aveugle" Comte de Namur et de Luxembourg.

Comte Raoul [I] & his second wife had three children:

1. ELISABETH de Vermandois (1143-Arras 28 Mar 1183, bur Amiens Cathedral). The Annales Blandinienses record the marriage of "Philippus filius suus [=Theodericus comes]" with "filiam Rodulfi comitis Peronensis"[1416]. The Flandria Generosa names "Ysabelem filiam comitis Viromandensis" wife of "Philippus"[1417]. The De Genere Comitum Flandrensium, Notæ Parisienses names "Elisabeth comitisse Flandrie et Lyenordis comitisse Viromandensis" as children of "Radulfus [filius comitis Hugonis li Maines]"[1418]. She succeeded her brother in [1167] as Ctss de Vermandois et de Valois on his resignation of the county due to illness[1419]. Ralph de Diceto records that "Philippus comes Flandrensis" killed "Walterum de Fontibus…II Id Aug", in 1175 from the context, "so it is said" for having committed adultery with "Isabella comitissa"[1420]. The Flandria Generosa records the death in 1182 of "Elisabeth comitissa" specifying that she was buried "Attrebati in ecclesia beate Maria"[1421]. m (Beauvais 1156) as his first wife, PHILIPPE de Flandres, son of THIERRY I Count of Flanders & his second wife Sibylle d'Anjou (-at Acre 1 Jul 1191, bur Abbaye de Clairvaux, Jura). He succeeded in [1167] as Comte de Vermandois, by right of his wife. He succeeded his father in 1168 as PHILIPPE Count of Flanders. On the death of his wife, Count Philippe refused to relinquish the counties of Vermandois and Valois to her successor, which triggered war with France, settled by the transfer of the territories under the Treaty of Boves in Jul 1185, ratified at Amiens 20 Mar 1186, although Count Philippe was permitted to retain the title Comte de Vermandois for life[1422].

2. RAOUL [II] de Vermandois (1145-17 Jun 1176, bur Abbaye de Longpont). The Flandria Generosa names "Radulfum fratrem eiusdem uxoris sue [=Ysabelem filiam comitis Viromandensis, uxor Philippi", specifying that he "elephantine infirmitatem incurrerat" and was expelled from Vermandois[1423]. He succeeded his father in 1152 as Comte de Vermandois et de Valois. He caught leprosy in [1163] and was obliged to resign his county to his sister and her husband, although he continued to bear the title[1424]. m ([1160], non-consummated, separated) as her first husband, MARGUERITE de Flandre, daughter of THIERRY I Count of Flanders & his second wife Sibylle d'Anjou ([1145]-15 Nov 1194). She separated from her husband due to his illness[1425]. She married secondly (Apr 1169) Baudouin de Hainaut, who succeeded in 1171 as Baudouin V Comte de Hainaut. and in 1191 as Baudouin VIII Count of Flanders. She succeeded her brother 1191 as MARGUERITE I Ctss of Flanders.

3. ELEONORE de Vermandois ([1148/49]-[19/21] Jun 1213, bur Abbaye de Longpont). The De Genere Comitum Flandrensium, Notæ Parisienses names "Elisabeth comitisse Flandrie et Lyenordis comitisse Viromandensis" as children of "Radulfus [filius comitis Hugonis li Maines]"[1426]. The Chronicon Hanoniense names "Aenoram Radulphi comitis Viromandie filiam" as wife of "Godefridum [filium Alidis comitissa Hanonensis…cum viro Balduino comite]", and in a later passage refers to her subsequent marriages to "Willelmo comiti Nivernensi…[et] Matheo comiti Boloniensi…[et] comiti Bellimontis in Francia Matheo"[1427]. Robert of Torigny records the marriage in 1170 of "uxorem eius [=Willermo comite Nivernensi] sororem…comitissæ Flandrensis" and "Mathæus frater Philippi comitis Flandrensium comes Boloniæ"[1428]. She claimed the succession to Vermandois on the death of her sister in 1183. "Elienor…comitissa Bellomontis et heres Viromandie" donated property to the abbey of Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp for the soul of "[comitis Philippi Flandrensis] uxoris sue sororis mee Elyzabeth…et Mathei comitis Bellomontis mariti mei, Henricique iunioris regis Anglie consanguinei mei et maritorum quis prius habui" by charter dated 1184[1429]. Under the Treaty of Amiens, agreed with Philippe II King of France 20 Mar 1186, Eléonore retained Valois and part of Vermandois, calling herself from that time Ctss de Valois. "Elyenor…comitissa Bellomontis et…comitis Perone Radulfi filie" donated property to the abbey of Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp by charter dated 1189[1430]. Following the death of her brother-in-law Philippe Count of Flanders, a final settlement was agreed with the king who was to inherit all her territories if she died without issue and from 1192 she succeeded as Ctss de Vermandois[1431]. In accordance with the agreement of 1192, the king of France inherited all her titles and properties on her death. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "XII Kal Jul" of "Alienordis comitissa Crespeiensis"[1432]. m firstly (1162) GODEFROI de Hainaut Graaf van Oostrevant, son of BAUDOUIN IV “le Bâtisseur” Comte de Hainaut & his wife Alice de Namur (1147-Mons 7 Apr 1163, bur église Sainte-Waudru). m secondly (1164) GUILLAUME [IV] Comte de Nevers et d'Auxerre, son of GUILLAUME [III] Comte de Nevers et d'Auxerre & his wife Ida of Carinthia ([1145]-Acre 24 Oct 1168, bur Bethlehem). m thirdly (1171) as his second wife, MATHIEU de Flandre, Comte de Boulogne, son of THIERRY I Count of Flanders & his second wife Sibylle d'Anjou ([1137]-killed in battle Driencourt 25 Dec 1173, bur Abbaye de Saint-Josse). m fourthly (1175) as his first wife, MATHIEU [III] Comte de Beaumont-sur-Oise, son of MATHIEU [II] Comte de Beaumont-sur-Oise & his first wife Mathilde de Châteaudun (-21 or 24 Nov 1208, bur Priory of Lay).

References:

[1368] Hugonis Floriacensis, Liber qui Modernorum Regum Francorum continet Actus 10, MGH SS IX, p. 389. [1369] WT I. XVII, p. 45. [1370] Orderic Vitalis, Vol. V, IX, p. 31, and Kerrebrouck, P. Van (2000) Les Capétiens 987-1328 (Villeneuve d'Asq), p. 537. [1371] Alexeiad, Book 10, p. 313. [1372] Runciman (1978), Vol. 1, pp. 142-4. [1373] Albert of Aix (RHC), Liber II, Cap. VII-VIII, pp. 304-5. [1374] Albert of Aix (RHC), Liber II, Cap. IX, p. 305. [1375] Runciman, S. (1978) A History of the Crusades (Penguin Books), Vol. 1, p. 250. [1376] Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1102, p. 124. [1377] Runciman, S. (1978) A History of the Crusades (Penguin Books), Volume 2, p. 27. [1378] Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis 7, MGH SS XIII, p. 253. [1379] Compiègne Saint-Corneille, Tome I, XXXIV, p. 70. [1380] Kerrebrouck, P. Van (2000) Les Capétiens 987-1328 (Villeneuve d'Asq), p. 538. [1389] Considered the latest possible birth date of Elisabeth considering the birth of her first two known children in 1104. [1394] Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis 7, MGH SS XIII, p. 253. [1399] Kerrebrouck (2000), pp. 538-9. [1403] Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis 7, MGH SS XIII, p. 253. [1404] Orderic Vitalis, Vol. V, IX, p. 31. [1405] Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1102, p. 124. [1406] Compiègne Saint-Corneille, Tome I, XXXIV, p. 70. [1407] Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1152, p. 263. [1408] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Prieuré de Saint-Martin-des-Champs, p. 463. [1409] Kerrebrouck (2000), p. 539. [1410] Kerrebrouck (2000), pp. 539-40. [1411] Chronica Albrici Monachi Trium Fontium 1152, MGH SS XXIII, p. 841. [1412] Historiæ Tornacenses IV.5, MGH SS XIV, p. 343. [1413] Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1152, p. 263. [1414] Guillaume de Nangis, pp. 18 and 24. [1415] Flandria Generosa 32, MGH SS IX, p. 324. [1416] Annales Blandinienses 1157, MGH SS V, p. 29. [1417] Flandria Generosa (Continuatio Bruxellensis), MGH SS IX, p. 325. [1418] De Genere Comitum Flandrensium, Notæ Parisienses MGH SS, p. 257. [1419] Flandria Generosa (Continuatio Bruxellensis), MGH SS IX, p. 325. [1420] Ex Radulfi de Diceto imaginibus historiarum, RHGF XIII, p. 198. [1421] Flandria Generosa (Continuatio Claromariscensis) 4, MGH SS IX, p. 327. The date "28 Mar" is inserted in the margin by the editor. [1422] Kerrebrouck (2000), pp. 106 and 542. [1423] Flandria Generosa (Continuatio Bruxellensis), MGH SS IX, p. 325. [1424] Kerrebrouck (2000), p. 541. [1425] Kerrebrouck (2000), p. 541. [1426] De Genere Comitum Flandrensium, Notæ Parisienses MGH SS, p. 257. [1427] Gisleberti Chronicon Hanoniense, MGH SS XXI, pp. 509 and 514. [1428] Robert de Torigny, Vol. II, p. 20. [1429] Ourscamp Notre-Dame CCXLIX, p. 180. [1430] Ourscamp Notre-Dame CCXLVII, p. 149. [1431] Kerrebrouck (2000), p. 540. [1432] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Abbaye de Saint-Denis, p. 320.
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From the Wikipedia page on Ralph I, Count of Vermandois: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_I,_Count_of_Vermandois

Ralph I of Vermandois (French: Raoul Ier "le Vaillant") (1085 – 14 October 1152), Count of Vermandois. He was son of Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, and Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois.

(French Wikipedia says he was born about 1094, and died on 13 October 1152. He was Comte de Vermandois et Valois from 1102-1152, and was also known as Raoul de Crepy.)

His paternal grandparents were Henry I of France and Anne of Kiev. His maternal grandparents were Herbert IV of Vermandois and Adele of Valois.

His only paternal uncle was Philip I of France. Through him Raoul was a first cousin of Louis VI of France and a first cousin, once removed of Louis VII of France.

Ralph served as the seneschal of France during the reign of his cousin Louis VII.

(French Wikipedia says that he lost an eye during the taking of Livry Castle in 1129. In 1130, at Coucy he mortally wounded Thomas de Marle, Sire of Coucy, the same who had killed his brother Henry (1091-1130), Seigneur de Chaumont-en-Vexin. In November 1131, King Louis VI named him Seneschal of France.)

Under pressure from Queen consort Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis allowed him to repudiate his wife Eléonore of Blois in favor of Eleanor's sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine.

(This is in conflict with French Wikipedia, that says that Louis VI died in 1137, during which time Raoul served as regent. His appointment was because the Queen Mother Adelaide de Savoy feared her dowry would be taken by the state. However, under Louis VII, the repudiation and divorce takes place. Eleanor of Blois complains to her brother Thibaut IV, Comte de Blois et Champagne, causing him to raise arms against King Louis VII, who allowed the divorce.)

This led to a war with Theobald II of Champagne, who was the brother of Ralph's first wife Eleonore. The war lasted two years (1142–44) and ended with the occupation of Champagne by the royal army.

Ralph and Petronilla were excommunicated by Pope Innocent II for their illegitimate marriage.

(According to French Wikipedia: Pope Innocent II ordered not only the annulment of the marriage, but excommunicated the newlyweds and the bishops that blessed their union. Pope Eugenius, Innocent's successor, accepts the annulment at a council held in Rheims in 1148.)

(When Louis VII sets out for the Second Crusade, Raoul is left in charge of France as regent, along with Abbot Suger. When Louis VII returns, Raoul, who was then a widower with Petronilla, is allowed to remarry in 1152 to Laurette d'Alsace (c.1125-1151?), daughter of Thierry de Alsace, Count of Flanders.)

Family and children

Ralph was married three times:

First, he was married in 1125 (French Wikipedia says 1120) with Eléonore of Blois, daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois, and Adele of England. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1140. They had one son:

1. Hugh II "The Monk", count of Vermandois and Valois, resigned his titles in 1160 and became a monk, canonized 1177 (b. Amiens, 9.4.1127 - d. Caerfroy Cloister, near Paris, 4.11.1212).

Second, he was married in 1140 with Petronilla of Aquitaine (daughter of William X of Aquitaine and sister of Eleanor of Aquitaine); in 1151 their marriage was dissolved (French Wikipedia says she died). They had two children:

1. Elizabeth (Isabelle Mabile) (1143–1183), married Philip d'Alsace, Count of Flanders 2. Ralph II, count de Vermandois and Valois (1145–1167), married Margaret of Lorraine, later countess of Flanders.

Third, he was married in 1152 with Laurette of Flanders, daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Swanhilde. They had one daughter:

1. Eleonore, countess of Vermandois and Valois, renounced her titles in 1214 in favor of the French Crown and became a nun (b. 1152 - d. aft.1222).

She married five times: 1.(probably) Godfrey of Hainaut, Count of Ostervant (d. 1163). 2.before 1167 Count William IV of Nevers. 3.ca 1170 Matthew of Alsace. 4.ca 1175 Count Matthew III of Beaumont-sur-Oise. 5.ca 1210 Stephen II of Blois, Lord of Châtillon-sur-Loing .

Raoul, Count of Vermandois 1102–1152 Preceded by Hugh I Succeeded by Hugh II

 (Redirected from Raoul I of Vermandois) Raoul I of Vermandois (French: Raoul Ier "le Vaillant"; English, Ralph of Vermandois) (1085 – 14 October 1152), Count of Vermandois. He was son of Hugh of Vermandois and Adele of Vermandois. His paternal grandparents were Henry I of France and Anne of Kiev. His maternal grandparents were Herbert IV of Vermandois and Adele of Valois. His only paternal uncle was Philip I of France. Through him Raoul was a first cousin of Louis VI of France and a first cousin, once removed of Louis VII of France. Raoul served as the seneschal of France during the reign of his cousin Louis VII. Under pressure from Queen consort Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis allowed him to repudiate his wife Eléonore of Blois in favor of Eleanor's sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine. This led to a war with Theobald II of Champagne, who was the brother of Raoul's first wife Eleonore. The war lasted two years (1142–44) and ended with the occupation of Champagne by the royal army. Raoul and Petronilla were excommunicated by Pope Innocent II for their illegitimate marriage. [edit]Family and children

Raoul was married three times: First, he was married in 1125 with Eléonore of Blois, daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1140. They had one son: Hugh II "The Monk", count of Vermandois and Valois, resigned his titles in 1160 and became a monk, canonized 1177 (b. Amiens, 9.4.1127 - m. Caerfroy Cloister, near Paris, 4.11.1212). Second, he was married in 1140 with Petronilla of Aquitaine; in 1151 their marriage was dissolved. They had two children: Elizabeth Mabile, countess of Vermandois and Valois (b. 1143 - d. Arras, 28 March 1183), married Philip I of Lorraine, count of Flanders. Raoul II, count of Vermandois and Valois (b. 1145 - d. of leprosy, 1167). married Margaret of Lorraine, later countess of Flanders. Third, he was married in 1152 with Laurette of Flanders, daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Swanhilde. They had one daughter: Eleonore, countess of Vermandois and Valois, renounced her titles in 1214 in favor of the French Crown and became a nun (b. 1152 - d. aft.1222). She married five times: (probably) Godfrey of Hainaut, Count of Ostervant (d. 1163). before 1167 Count William IV of Nevers. ca 1170 Matthew of Lorraine, Count of Boulogne. ca 1175 Count Mathieu III of Beaumont-sur-Oise. ca 1210 Etienne II of Blois, Lord of Chatillon-sur-Loing .

Raoul Ier de Vermandois[1], dit le Vaillant ou le Borgne, connu aussi sous le nom de Raoul de Crépy, né vers 1094, mort le 13 octobre 1152, fut comte de Vermandois et de Valois de 1102 à 1152. Sommaire [masquer]

   * 1 Biographie

   * 2 Unions et descendance

   * 3 Liens externes

   * 4 Notes et références

Biographie [modifier]

Fils d'Adélaïde de Vermandois et d'Hugues Ier le Grand, fils du roi Henri Ier de France, il est cousin germain du roi Louis VI le Gros. Il apporte son soutien à ces derniers contre les barons rebelles à l'autorité royale.

Ayant perdu un œil au cours de la prise du château de Livry en 1129, l'année suivante, au siège de Coucy, il blesse mortellement Thomas de Marle, sire de Coucy, celui-la même qui avait tué son frère Henri (1091-1130), seigneur de Chaumont-en-Vexin. En novembre 1131, le roi Louis VI le fait sénéchal[2].

Peu après la mort de Louis VI en 1137, il soutient[3] temporairement la cause de la reine mère Adèle de Savoie qui craignait voir sa dot utilisée au service de l'État par son fils Louis VII aidé de l'abbé Suger.

Dévoué à la couronne, Louis VII lui propose la sœur de sa femme Aliénor d'Aquitaine, Pétronille d'Aquitaine (v. 1125 † 1151). Pour pouvoir l'épouser, Raoul répudie en 1142 sa première épouse Éléonore de Blois. L'épouse délaissée se plaint alors auprès de son frère Thibaut IV, comte de Blois et de Champagne, qui se rebelle à son tour contre le roi de France. Le pape Innocent II intervient en annulant ce mariage et excommunie les nouveaux époux ainsi que les évêques qui ont consenti à bénir leur union. Le pape Eugène III qui succède à Innocent II légitime[4] ce nouveau mariage au concile tenu à Reims en 1148.

Pendant l'absence de Louis VII parti pour la deuxième croisade, en 1145, Raoul reste en France en qualité de régent du royaume avec Suger. Après le retour de Louis VII, Raoul devenu veuf de Pétronille, sa seconde épouse, se remarie en 1152 avec Laurette d'Alsace (v. 1125 † 1151), fille de Thierry d'Alsace, comte de Flandre. Unions et descendance [modifier]

1) Vers 1120, il épouse en premières noces Éléonore de Blois, fille d'Étienne II de Blois et d'Adèle d'Angleterre et a :

   * Hugues II (1127-1212), comte de Vermandois et de Valois.

2) En 1142, il épouse Pétronille d'Aquitaine, fille de Guillaume X d'Aquitaine et sœur d'Aliénor d'Aquitaine, il a :

   * Élisabeth (1143-1183), comtesse de Vermandois et de Valois, mariée à Philippe d'Alsace, comte de Flandre

   * Raoul II (1145-1167), comte de Vermandois et de Valois.

   * Éléonore de Vermandois (1148/1149 - 1213)

Précédé par Raoul Ier de Vermandois Suivi par Hugues Ier Armoiries Vermandois.svg comte de Vermandois Hugues II Liens externes [modifier]

   * Le comte de Vermandois Raoul IV de Crépy

Notes et références [modifier]

  1. ↑ Raoul le Vaillant sur le site généalogique FMG [archive]

  2. ↑ Liste des sénéchaux de France sur le site du Service historique du Gouvernement français [archive]

  3. ↑ Jean Flori, Aliénor d'Aquitaine, 2004, p. 56

  4. ↑ Louis Duval-Arnould, Les dernières années du comte lépreux Raoul de Vermandois (v. 1147-1167...) et la dévolution de ses provinces à Philippe d'Alsace [archive], Bibliothèque de l'école des chartes, 1984, volume 142, p. 81

Dernière modification de cette page le 31 octobre 2010 à 13:13.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_I,_Count_of_Vermandois Ralph I, Count of Vermandois From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) Ralph I of Vermandois.jpg

Ralph I of Vermandois (French: Raoul Ier "le Vaillant") (1085 – 14 October 1152), Count of Vermandois. He was son of Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, and Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois.

His paternal grandparents were Henry I of France and Anne of Kiev. His maternal grandparents were Herbert IV of Vermandois and Adele of Valois.

His only paternal uncle was Philip I of France. Through him Raoul was a first cousin of Louis VI of France and a first cousin, once removed of Louis VII of France.

Ralph served as the seneschal of France during the reign of his cousin Louis VII. Under pressure from Queen consort Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis allowed him to repudiate his wife Eléonore of Blois in favor of Eleanor's sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine. This led to a war with Theobald II of Champagne, who was the brother of Ralph's first wife Eleonore. The war lasted two years (1142–44) and ended with the occupation of Champagne by the royal army.

Ralph and Petronilla were excommunicated by Pope Innocent II for their illegitimate marriage. [edit] Family and children

Ralph was married three times:

   * First, he was married in 1125 with Eléonore of Blois, daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1140. They had one son:

         o Hugh II "The Monk", count of Vermandois and Valois, resigned his titles in 1160 and became a monk, canonized 1177 (b. Amiens, 9.4.1127 - m. Caerfroy Cloister, near Paris, 4.11.1212).

   * Second, he was married in 1140 with Petronilla of Aquitaine; in 1151 their marriage was dissolved. They had two children:

         o Elizabeth (Isabelle Mabile) (1143–1183), married Philip, Count of Flanders

         o Ralph II, count de Vermandois and Valois (1145–1167), married Margaret of Lorraine, later countess of Flanders.

   * Third, he was married in 1152 with Laurette of Flanders, daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Swanhilde. They had one daughter:

         o Eleonore, countess of Vermandois and Valois, renounced her titles in 1214 in favor of the French Crown and became a nun (b. 1152 - d. aft.1222). She married five times:

  1. (probably) Godfrey of Hainaut, Count of Ostervant (d. 1163).

  2. before 1167 Count William IV of Nevers.

  3. ca 1170 Matthew of Alsace.

  4. ca 1175 Count Matthew III of Beaumont-sur-Oise.

  5. ca 1210 Stephen II of Blois, Lord of Châtillon-sur-Loing .

Preceded by Hugh I Count of Vermandois 1102–1152 Succeeded by Hugh II This page was last modified on 31 October 2010 at 12:13.