Gauthier III, Count of Brienne

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_III,_Count_of_Brienne

Walter III of Brienne (died June 14, 1205) was the Count of Brienne 1191–1205, Prince of Taranto, Duke of Apulia, and Count of Lecce, and titular King of Sicily 1201–1205.

In 1200 he married Maria, daughter of Tancred of Sicily and sister and heiress of the deposed king William III of Sicily. Her precise name is unclear but has been given variously as Mary, Elvira, Albiria, Albinia, or Blanche. She died after 1216. At the time of their marriage, she and her family were exiles in France, trying to find allies to reclaim the Kingdom of Sicily from the young King Frederick. As her husband, Walter was recognized by Pope Innocent III as Prince of Taranto, Duke of Apulia, and Count of Lecce. After the Battle of Agnella in 1201, he took the title of King of Sicily. In 1204, he was besieged in the fortress of Terracina by Diepold of Vohburg and lost an eye to an arrow, but he broke the siege and put Diepold to flight. On June 11, 1205, he was ambushed by a sally of Diepold's while besieging him at Sarno and mortally wounded. He died in German hands on June 14, 1205, and was buried at the church of St. Maria della Foce in Sarno.

In 1205, his widow gave birth to his son, Walter IV of Brienne; but he received only the County of Brienne, his Sicilian inheritance having been confiscated because of his father's rebellion.

His daughter Anais married Balian I Grenier, Lord of Sidon, and was also a mistress of Frederick II.

His widow Elvira married secondly Giacomo Sanseverino, Count of Tricario, and thirdly Tigrini Guidi, Count of Modigliano (or Count Palatine in Tuscany?)

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He tried unsuccessfully to retake the duchy of Athens from the Catalan Company in 1231, his failure due in large part to the neutrality adopted by Venice in the conflict[424]. He took part in the civil war in Cyprus against the supporters of Emperor Friedrich I King of Germany. He fought at the battle of Gaza 18 Oct 1244, but was captured and taken in chains to Cairo[425]. William of Tyre (Continuator) records that "Gautier le cuens de Briene" was captured in battle in 1244 and later died in prison[426]. Matthew Paris records that "nobilis comes Gualterus" was held in squalor in a Saracen prison

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/CHAMPAGNE%20NOBILITY.htm#GauthierII...

-http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/chambrien.htm#GauthierIIIBriennedie...

GAUTHIER [III] de Brienne, son of ERARD [III] Seigneur de Brienne & his wife Agnes de Montbéliard [Montfaucon] (-Jun 1205). "Erardus Brenensium comes…Agnetis uxoris mee et Galterii filii mei" donated property to Basse-Fontaine by charter dated 1185[112]. "Erardus Brenensium comes" donated property to Basse-Fontaine with the consent of "Agnetis uxoris mee et Galteri et Guillelmi filiorum meorum" by charter dated 1186[113]. He succeeded his father in [1190/91] as Comte de Brienne. He is named by William of Tyre (Continuator), who also specifies his parentage and says that he married "l'ainz née fille dou roi Tancre" although he does not name his wife[114]. "Willelmus de Briena dominus de Paceio" confirmed donations to Fontenay by charter dated 1192, witnessed by "Galterii fratris mei comitis de Briena…"[115]. He was granted the titles Principe di Tarento and Conte di Lecce by the Pope on condition of swearing allegiance to Friedrich von Hohenstaufen King of Sicily[116]. Ignoring his oath, he claimed the throne of Sicily de iure uxoris and launched attacks in southern Italy, encouraged by his mother-in-law. William of Tyre (Continuator) records that he was defeated at Barletta[117]. He was captured before he could cross to Sicily[118]. The Annales Ceccanenses record that in 1199 "comes Gualterius Francigena" came and expelled "Diopoldum" from the castle and defeated him in battle[119]. The Thomas Tusci Gesta Imperatorum et Pontificum records that he was killed "a comite Tybaldo Theotonico"[120], which presumably refers to Diepold Markgraf von Vohburg. He died in prison[121].

m (Melun 1200) as her first husband, ELVIRA [Albinia] of Sicily, daughter of TANCRED King of Sicily & his wife Sibilla --- (-after 1216). The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the marriage in 1201 of "Galterus comes Briennensis filius Eardi comitis" and "Tancredi filiam regis Sicilia et Sibilie regine Apulie"[122]. Villehardouin records that "Gautier de Brienne" had married "King Tancred's daughter" before he joined the Fourth Crusade, but does not name her[123]. William of Tyre (Continuator) records that Gauthier de Brienne married "l'ainz née fille dou roi Tancre" although he does not name his wife[124]. The Thomas Tusci Gesta Imperatorum et Pontificum names (in order) "Alberia, Constantia et Madania" as the three daughters of "Tancredus [rex Siciliæ]" & his wife, naming the first husband of "Alberia vel Alceria" as "comes Gualterius de Brenna, frater regis", her second husband as "Iacobo comiti de Tricario", and her third husband "comiti Tigrino palatino comiti in Tuscia", specifying that her third marriage was arranged by "papa Honorius" and that her dowry was "comitatum Licie et Montis Iscaliosi in regno Apulie"[125]. Her marriage was arranged by Philippe II King of France, with a view to her husband reclaiming Sicily from the Hohenstaufen[126]. She married secondly (after Jun 1205) Giacomo Sanseverino Conte di Tricario. She married thirdly Tigrino, Palatino, Conte di Toscana.

Comte Gauthier [III] & his wife had one child: