Ebalus of Aquitaine
Encyclopedia
Ebalus or Ebles Manzer or Manser (c. 870 – 935) was Count of Poitou and Duke of Aquitaine
on two occasions: from 890 to 892 and from 902 (Poitou) and 927 (Aquitaine) to his death.
Ebles was an illegitimate son of Ranulf II of Aquitaine
. "Manzer" or "Mamzer" was a shameful designation that meant bastard, son of a prostitute, or illegitimate. It appears that Ebles did not mind his name, and his "illegitimacy became a part of his style."
Upon the death of his father (who was poisoned), Ebles assumed his father’s mantle and acquired the role of Count of Poitou. But Ebles could not hold onto the title for long. Aymar, a descendant of one of Ramnulf II’s predecessedors, challenged Ebles right to rule, as Ebles was merely a bastard son. In 892, Aymar, who was supported by Eudes of France, successfully overthrew Ebles, and Ebles fled to the safety of his father’s allies, Count Gerald of Aurillac and William the Pious
, count of Avergne and Duke of Aquitaine. William the Pious
had taken Ebles under his care and assured the boy’s education after the death of Ebles’ father.
In 902, Ebles, with the assistance of William the Pious
, a distant relative, conquered Poitiers while Aymar was away, and restablished himself in his former position. Charles III
, who knew Ebles as a childhood companion, then formally invested Ebles with the title, Count of Poitou. Ebles would hold this title until this death.
The comital title was the only one to which he ever had legitimate investiture. Ebles allotted the abbey of Saint-Maixent
to Savary, Viscount of Thouars, who had been his constant supporter. He restructured Poitou by creating new viscounties in Aulnay
and Melle
and dissolved the title and position of Viscount of Poitou upon the death of its holder, Maingaud, in 925.
In 904, he conquered the Limousin
.
In 911 he, with two other French commanders were aligned in opposition to Rollo
, a Danish invader who had plundered the countryside. Ebles and the other two commanders intended to lead their armies in defense of the city of Chartes. Part of Rollo’s army camped on a hill (Mont-Levis) north of the city, while the rest were stationed on the plains outside Chartes.
On Saturday, July 20, 911, the battle between the French and Danish armies commenced. "Rollo and his forces were shamefully routed, smitten, as the legend tells, with corporeal blindness. A panic assuredly fell upon the heroic commander, a species of mental infirmity discernible in his descendants: the contagious terror unnerved the host. Unpursued, they dispersed and fled without resistance." At the end of the day, 6,800 Danes lay dead on the field of battle.
Ebles was somewhat slow in arriving at Chartres, so he was unable to "take his due share in the conflict." His victorious partners proudly boasted of their success, and mocked Ebles and his tardy army. To redeem his honor and quiet the ridicule, Ebles accepted a challenge to confront the remant of the Danish army that remained camped on the Mont-Levis. But instead of driving the Danes away, Ebles’ army was defeated soundly. "In the dark of the night, the Northmen, sounding their horns and making a terrible clamour, rushed down the mount and stormed" Ebles camp. Ebles fled and hid in a drum in a fuller’s workshop. His cowardice and dishonor was derided in a popular French ballad of the Plantagenet age.
When Ebles’ benefactor, William the Pious
, died, William was succeeded as Duke of Aquitaine by William the Younger
. In 927, William the Younger
died, and he left his title to his brother Acfred; but Acfred did not live even a year. Acfred made Ebles his heir, and in 928 Ebles assumed the titles Duke of Aquitaine, Count of Berry, Count of Auvergne, and Velay
In 929, King Rudolph started trying to reduce the power of Ebles. He withdrew from him access to Berry, then in 932 he transferred the titles of Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne to the Count of Toulouse, Raymond Pons
. Moreover, the territory of La Marche, which was under the control of the lord of Charroux
, vassal of Ebles, was transformed into an independent county.
. Some sources believe that Adele was the same person as Edward's daughter, Ælfgifu, but that the confusion equating Ælfgifu to Adele arose from the fact that English historians did not recognize her name after it was translated into French. She has also been called Adela, Adele, Alaine, or Aliana.
Ebalus had two children by Adele:
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Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
on two occasions: from 890 to 892 and from 902 (Poitou) and 927 (Aquitaine) to his death.
Ebles was an illegitimate son of Ranulf II of Aquitaine
Ranulf II of Aquitaine
Ranulf II was Count of Poitou from 866 and Duke of Aquitaine from 887...
. "Manzer" or "Mamzer" was a shameful designation that meant bastard, son of a prostitute, or illegitimate. It appears that Ebles did not mind his name, and his "illegitimacy became a part of his style."
Upon the death of his father (who was poisoned), Ebles assumed his father’s mantle and acquired the role of Count of Poitou. But Ebles could not hold onto the title for long. Aymar, a descendant of one of Ramnulf II’s predecessedors, challenged Ebles right to rule, as Ebles was merely a bastard son. In 892, Aymar, who was supported by Eudes of France, successfully overthrew Ebles, and Ebles fled to the safety of his father’s allies, Count Gerald of Aurillac and William the Pious
William I of Aquitaine
William I , called the Pious, was the Count of Auvergne from 886 and Duke of Aquitaine from 893, succeeding the Poitevin ruler Ebalus Manser. He made numerous monastic foundations, most important among them the foundation of Cluny Abbey on 11 September 910.William was the son of Bernard II of...
, count of Avergne and Duke of Aquitaine. William the Pious
William I of Aquitaine
William I , called the Pious, was the Count of Auvergne from 886 and Duke of Aquitaine from 893, succeeding the Poitevin ruler Ebalus Manser. He made numerous monastic foundations, most important among them the foundation of Cluny Abbey on 11 September 910.William was the son of Bernard II of...
had taken Ebles under his care and assured the boy’s education after the death of Ebles’ father.
In 902, Ebles, with the assistance of William the Pious
William I of Aquitaine
William I , called the Pious, was the Count of Auvergne from 886 and Duke of Aquitaine from 893, succeeding the Poitevin ruler Ebalus Manser. He made numerous monastic foundations, most important among them the foundation of Cluny Abbey on 11 September 910.William was the son of Bernard II of...
, a distant relative, conquered Poitiers while Aymar was away, and restablished himself in his former position. Charles III
Charles the Simple
Charles III , called the Simple or the Straightforward , was the undisputed King of France from 898 until 922 and the King of Lotharingia from 911 until 919/23...
, who knew Ebles as a childhood companion, then formally invested Ebles with the title, Count of Poitou. Ebles would hold this title until this death.
The comital title was the only one to which he ever had legitimate investiture. Ebles allotted the abbey of Saint-Maixent
Saint-Maixent
Saint-Maixent is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
to Savary, Viscount of Thouars, who had been his constant supporter. He restructured Poitou by creating new viscounties in Aulnay
Aulnay
Aulnay is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Aulnay, Aube, in the Aube département* Aulnay, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime département* Aulnay, Vienne, in the Vienne département...
and Melle
Melle
-Places:Belgium* Melle, Belgium, a gemeente in East Flanders, FlandersFrance* Melle, Deux-Sèvres, a commune in Poitou-Charentes* Mellé, Ille-et-Vilaine, a commune in BrittanyGermany* Melle, Germany, a Stadt in Osnabrück Landkreis, Lower Saxony...
and dissolved the title and position of Viscount of Poitou upon the death of its holder, Maingaud, in 925.
In 904, he conquered the Limousin
Limousin (province)
Limousin is one of the traditional provinces of France around the city of Limoges. Limousin lies in the foothills of the western edge of the Massif Central, with cold weather in the winter...
.
In 911 he, with two other French commanders were aligned in opposition to Rollo
Rollo of Normandy
Rollo , baptised Robert and so sometimes numbered Robert I to distinguish him from his descendants, was a Norse nobleman of Norwegian or Danish descent and founder and first ruler of the Viking principality in what soon became known as Normandy...
, a Danish invader who had plundered the countryside. Ebles and the other two commanders intended to lead their armies in defense of the city of Chartes. Part of Rollo’s army camped on a hill (Mont-Levis) north of the city, while the rest were stationed on the plains outside Chartes.
On Saturday, July 20, 911, the battle between the French and Danish armies commenced. "Rollo and his forces were shamefully routed, smitten, as the legend tells, with corporeal blindness. A panic assuredly fell upon the heroic commander, a species of mental infirmity discernible in his descendants: the contagious terror unnerved the host. Unpursued, they dispersed and fled without resistance." At the end of the day, 6,800 Danes lay dead on the field of battle.
Ebles was somewhat slow in arriving at Chartres, so he was unable to "take his due share in the conflict." His victorious partners proudly boasted of their success, and mocked Ebles and his tardy army. To redeem his honor and quiet the ridicule, Ebles accepted a challenge to confront the remant of the Danish army that remained camped on the Mont-Levis. But instead of driving the Danes away, Ebles’ army was defeated soundly. "In the dark of the night, the Northmen, sounding their horns and making a terrible clamour, rushed down the mount and stormed" Ebles camp. Ebles fled and hid in a drum in a fuller’s workshop. His cowardice and dishonor was derided in a popular French ballad of the Plantagenet age.
When Ebles’ benefactor, William the Pious
William I of Aquitaine
William I , called the Pious, was the Count of Auvergne from 886 and Duke of Aquitaine from 893, succeeding the Poitevin ruler Ebalus Manser. He made numerous monastic foundations, most important among them the foundation of Cluny Abbey on 11 September 910.William was the son of Bernard II of...
, died, William was succeeded as Duke of Aquitaine by William the Younger
William II of Aquitaine
William II the Young was the Count of Auvergne and Duke of Aquitaine from 918 to his death, succeeding his uncle William I....
. In 927, William the Younger
William II of Aquitaine
William II the Young was the Count of Auvergne and Duke of Aquitaine from 918 to his death, succeeding his uncle William I....
died, and he left his title to his brother Acfred; but Acfred did not live even a year. Acfred made Ebles his heir, and in 928 Ebles assumed the titles Duke of Aquitaine, Count of Berry, Count of Auvergne, and Velay
In 929, King Rudolph started trying to reduce the power of Ebles. He withdrew from him access to Berry, then in 932 he transferred the titles of Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne to the Count of Toulouse, Raymond Pons
Raymond Pons of Toulouse
Raymond Pons was the Count of Toulouse from 924. He was the last head of his house to rule in Toulouse before the power passed to his cousins the counts of Rouergue....
. Moreover, the territory of La Marche, which was under the control of the lord of Charroux
Charroux
Charroux may refer to:places in France* Charroux, Allier, commune in the department of Allier* Charroux, Vienne, commune in the department of Vienne* Charroux Abbey, in Charroux, Viennepeople*Robert Charroux, French writer...
, vassal of Ebles, was transformed into an independent county.
Marriage and issue
Ebles' first wife was Aremburga, whom he married before 10 Oct 892. His second wife was Emilienne, whom he married in 911. When Emilienne died in 913, Ebles married Adele the following year. Adele has been commonly referred to as the daughter of Edward the ElderEdward the Elder
Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...
. Some sources believe that Adele was the same person as Edward's daughter, Ælfgifu, but that the confusion equating Ælfgifu to Adele arose from the fact that English historians did not recognize her name after it was translated into French. She has also been called Adela, Adele, Alaine, or Aliana.
Ebalus had two children by Adele:
- Ebalus, Bishop of Limoges and Treasurer of St. Hilary of Poitiers
- William III of AquitaineWilliam III of AquitaineWilliam III , called Towhead from the colour of his hair, was the "Count of the Duchy of Aquitaine" from 959 and Duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the Count of Poitou from 935 and Count of Auvergne from 950...
married GerlocGerlocGerloc , baptised in Rouen as Adela in 912, was the daughter of Rollo, first duke of Normandy, and his wife, Poppa of Bayeux. She was the sister of Duke William Longsword....
, daughter of Rollo of NormandyRollo of NormandyRollo , baptised Robert and so sometimes numbered Robert I to distinguish him from his descendants, was a Norse nobleman of Norwegian or Danish descent and founder and first ruler of the Viking principality in what soon became known as Normandy...
Sources
- Lewis, Archibald R. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718-1050. http://libro.uca.edu/lewis/sfc11.htm http://libro.uca.edu/lewis/sfc12.htm
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