Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy
Encyclopedia
Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy (c. 1182 Château de Coucy
– 1242) was the eldest son and successor of Ralph I, Lord of Coucy
. He succeeded as Lord of Coucy
(sieur de Couci) in 1191, and held it until his death; he was also lord of Marle
and Boves
.
", and earning himself his epithet, Enguerrand le Grand, or Enguerrand "the Great".
Enguerrand had an illustrious military career, helping the King of the French Philip Augustus
reduce the French territories of the King of the English. Enguerrand campaigned in Anjou in 1205, and in 1214 fought in the French victory over an Anglo-German alliance at the Battle of Bouvines
. He was a notable member of the French force which invaded the Kingdom of England
(1216-1217) to depose King John
. He also participated in the Albigensian Crusade
.
After the death of Louis VIII of France
, Enguerrand was chief among the nobles who resisted the regency of Blanche of Castile
for her son Louis IX of France
, although he eventually returned to the royal favour. Enguerrand made his mark on the Picardy landscape by constructing Coucy Castle
, and he is said by tradition to have started the famous rhyme associated with his successors:
. Enguerrand also married into the family of King Henry III of England
, taking as his second wife the latter king's cousin, the granddaughter of Henry II of England
. He married three times.
His first wife was Beatrix de Vignory, widow of John I, Count of Roucy. They married in 1201. There are no known children from this marriage
His second wife was Matilda (or Richenza) of Saxony (1172-1208/09), the aforementioned granddaughter of Henry II, Duke of Saxony and niece of Richard the Lion-hearted. This marriage took place in 1204. There are no known children.
His third wife was Marie de Montmirall. Enguerrand cemented his powerful connections by marrying his daughter Marie de Coucy
to King Alexander II of Scotland
. Enguerrand and Marie had five children:
Enguerrand died in 1242 by falling off of his horse onto his sword. He was succeeded by his eldest son Raoul II, Lord of Coucy
.
Château de Coucy
The Château de Coucy is a French castle in the commune of Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, in the département of Aisne, built in the 13th century and renovated by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th...
– 1242) was the eldest son and successor of Ralph I, Lord of Coucy
Ralph I, Lord of Coucy
Ralph of Coucy, , lord of Coucy, lord of Marle, La Fère, Crécy , Vervins, Pinon, Landouzy , and Fontaine . He was the son of Enguerrand II, Lord of Coucy...
. He succeeded as Lord of Coucy
Coucy
Coucy is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Coucy-la-Ville, in the Aisne département, very close to* Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, in the Aisne département, location of:** Château de Coucy...
(sieur de Couci) in 1191, and held it until his death; he was also lord of Marle
Marle, Aisne
Marle is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
and Boves
Boves, Somme
Boves is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Boves is situated on the D935 and D116 road junction, on the banks of the river Avre, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-History:...
.
Biography
Enguerrand III was one of the most ambitious and powerful of all the French nobles, called by one historian "the greatest baron in all PicardyPicardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
", and earning himself his epithet, Enguerrand le Grand, or Enguerrand "the Great".
Enguerrand had an illustrious military career, helping the King of the French Philip Augustus
Philip II of France
Philip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...
reduce the French territories of the King of the English. Enguerrand campaigned in Anjou in 1205, and in 1214 fought in the French victory over an Anglo-German alliance at the Battle of Bouvines
Battle of Bouvines
The Battle of Bouvines, 27 July 1214, was a conclusive medieval battle ending the twelve year old Angevin-Flanders War that was important to the early development of both the French state by confirming the French crown's sovereignty over the Angevin lands of Brittany and Normandy.Philip Augustus of...
. He was a notable member of the French force which invaded the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
(1216-1217) to depose King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
. He also participated in the Albigensian Crusade
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
.
After the death of Louis VIII of France
Louis VIII of France
Louis VIII the Lion reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was a member of the House of Capet. Louis VIII was born in Paris, France, the son of Philip II Augustus and Isabelle of Hainaut. He was also Count of Artois, inheriting the county from his mother, from 1190–1226...
, Enguerrand was chief among the nobles who resisted the regency of Blanche of Castile
Blanche of Castile
Blanche of Castile , was a Queen consort of France as the wife of Louis VIII. She acted as regent twice during the reign of her son, Louis IX....
for her son Louis IX of France
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
, although he eventually returned to the royal favour. Enguerrand made his mark on the Picardy landscape by constructing Coucy Castle
Château de Coucy
The Château de Coucy is a French castle in the commune of Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, in the département of Aisne, built in the 13th century and renovated by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th...
, and he is said by tradition to have started the famous rhyme associated with his successors:
Je suis ni roi, ni prince aussi: Je suis le seigneur de Coucy! Neither king nor prince am I: I am the Lord of Coucy!
Relations
Through his mother Alice de Dreux, Enguerrand III was related to King Louis IX of FranceLouis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
. Enguerrand also married into the family of King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, taking as his second wife the latter king's cousin, the granddaughter of Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. He married three times.
His first wife was Beatrix de Vignory, widow of John I, Count of Roucy. They married in 1201. There are no known children from this marriage
His second wife was Matilda (or Richenza) of Saxony (1172-1208/09), the aforementioned granddaughter of Henry II, Duke of Saxony and niece of Richard the Lion-hearted. This marriage took place in 1204. There are no known children.
His third wife was Marie de Montmirall. Enguerrand cemented his powerful connections by marrying his daughter Marie de Coucy
Marie de Coucy
Marie de Coucy was the daughter of Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy and his third wife Marie de Montmirel . She was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Scotland.- Biography :...
to King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
. Enguerrand and Marie had five children:
- Raoul II, Lord of CoucyRaoul II, Lord of CoucyRaoul II, Lord of Coucy was a son of Enguerrand III and his wife Maria of Oisy. In 1246 he succeeded his father as lord of Coucy. Raoul died at the siege of El Mansoura in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade....
. Married Philippe of DammartinPhilippe of DammartinPhilippe of Dammartin was a 13th century noble woman. Philippe was the daughter of Simon of Dammartin, Count of Aumâle, Count of Ponthieu and of Montreuil and his wife Marie of Ponthieu... - Enguerrand IV, Lord de Coucy. Married 1) Margaret of Gueldres, daughter of Otto II, Count of GueldersOtto II, Count of GueldersOtto II, Count of Guelders was a nobleman from the 13th century. He was the son of Gerard III, Count of Guelders and Margaretha of Brabant.-Life:...
and 2) Joan of Flanders, daughter of Robert III, Count of Flanders. - John de Coucy
- Marie de CoucyMarie de CoucyMarie de Coucy was the daughter of Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy and his third wife Marie de Montmirel . She was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Scotland.- Biography :...
, married to King Alexander II of ScotlandAlexander II of ScotlandAlexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:... - Alix de Coucy, married Arnold III, Count of Guines
Enguerrand died in 1242 by falling off of his horse onto his sword. He was succeeded by his eldest son Raoul II, Lord of Coucy
Raoul II, Lord of Coucy
Raoul II, Lord of Coucy was a son of Enguerrand III and his wife Maria of Oisy. In 1246 he succeeded his father as lord of Coucy. Raoul died at the siege of El Mansoura in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade....
.