Henry IV of Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
Henry IV called the Blind (l'Aveugle or der Blinde), was count of Luxembourg from 1136 and count of Namur from 1139 until his abdication in 1189. He was the son of Godfrey I of Namur and Ermesinda, daughter of Conrad I of Luxembourg.
He inherited the counties of La Roche
and Durbuy
from his cousins Henry II of Durbuy and Henry of Laroche. When another cousin, Conrad II of Luxembourg, died he was granted that county by the Emperor Lothair II, who thus prevented its passing to the French count of Grandpré
. At the same time he also inherited the advocacies
of the abbeys of Saint-Maximin
at Trier
and Saint-Willibrod at Echternach
. This was the cause of many conflicts with the archbishop of Trier. Three years later, he inherited Namur from his father.
In 1141, he helped Alberon II, Bishop of Liège take Bouillon
with Renaut I of Bar
. In 1147, he gave up Saint-Maximin, but he regained it on the death of the Archbishop Albero de Montreuil
in 1152. The new archbishop, Hillin von Fallemanien, exchanged the rights over the abbeys with the town of Grevenmacher
in 1155. In 1157, he married Laurette (d.1175), daughter of Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders
, and Margaret of Clermont. They separated in 1163. Left without child, he designated his brother-in-law Baldwin IV of Hainault, husband of his sister Alice of Namur
, as his heir. When Baldwin died in 1171, he designated Baldwin V. Baldwin V and Henry carried out two wars, in 1170 and 1172, with Henry III of Limburg
.
In 1171, Henry married a second time, this time to Agnes, daughter of Henry I, Count of Guelders and Agnes of Arnstein. Heirless still, he repudiated her in 1184, but fell seriously ill and rejoined her. In September 1186, a girl, Ermesinde
, was born to them. This birth called into question the plan of succession, as Henry considered his promise to Baldwin null. Henry, then 76 years old, pledged his daughter in marriage to Henry II of Champagne
. Baldwin still claimed his inheritance. It was then decided that Baldwin would inherit Namur, Ermesinde Durbuy and La Roche, and Luxembourg (fief masculin) would revert to the Empire.
The fiefs were dispensed in 1189 and after the planned marriage between Ermesinde
and the count of Champagne was cancelled Henry bethrothed her instead to Theobald I of Bar
. He entered into a war with Henry of Limburg and was defeated on 1 August 1194 at Neuville
on Mehaigne
. He died two years later in Echternach
.
He inherited the counties of La Roche
La Roche
La Roche may refer to:*Hoffmann-La Roche*La Roche College*Sophie von La Roche, a German writer-Places:*Belgium**La Roche-en-Ardenne, a small town in the Ardennes*Switzerland**La Roche, Fribourg**Roche, Vaud*France...
and Durbuy
Durbuy
Durbuy is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 10,633 inhabitants. The total area is 156.61 km², giving a population density of 67.9 inhabitants per km²....
from his cousins Henry II of Durbuy and Henry of Laroche. When another cousin, Conrad II of Luxembourg, died he was granted that county by the Emperor Lothair II, who thus prevented its passing to the French count of Grandpré
Grandpré
Grandpré may refer to:*A. Jean de Grandpré*Louis-Philippe de Grandpré*Mary GrandPré*Grandpré, Ardennes, a commune in northern France...
. At the same time he also inherited the advocacies
Advocatus
An advocatus, or advocate, was generally a medieval term meaning "lawyer". The term was also used in continental Europe as the title of the lay lord charged with the protection and representation in secular matters of an abbey, known more fully as an advocatus ecclesiae.-Middle Ages:The office is...
of the abbeys of Saint-Maximin
Saint-Maximin
Saint-Maximin is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Saint-Maximin, in the Gard département* Saint-Maximin, in the Isère département* Saint-Maximin, in the Oise département...
at Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
and Saint-Willibrod at Echternach
Echternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
. This was the cause of many conflicts with the archbishop of Trier. Three years later, he inherited Namur from his father.
In 1141, he helped Alberon II, Bishop of Liège take Bouillon
Bouillon
Bouillon is a municipality in Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Luxembourg Province.The municipality, which covers 149.09 km², had 5,477 inhabitants, giving a population density of 36.7 inhabitants per km².- History :...
with Renaut I of Bar
Renaut I of Bar
Reginald I was Count of Bar . Barrois, during the Middle Ages, was the territory of the counts and dukes of Bar, in the eastern part of present-day France, bordering Lorraine....
. In 1147, he gave up Saint-Maximin, but he regained it on the death of the Archbishop Albero de Montreuil
Albero de Montreuil
Albero de Montreuil was Archbishop of Trier from 1131 to 1152. He is the subject of the Gesta Alberonis.Albero was born near Toul, in Lorraine. After acquiring some dignities in the churches of Toul and Verdun, he was made Archdeacon and Provost of St. Arnulf at Metz...
in 1152. The new archbishop, Hillin von Fallemanien, exchanged the rights over the abbeys with the town of Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
in 1155. In 1157, he married Laurette (d.1175), daughter of Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, and Margaret of Clermont. They separated in 1163. Left without child, he designated his brother-in-law Baldwin IV of Hainault, husband of his sister Alice of Namur
Alice of Namur
Alice of Namur was the heiress of Namur when her brother Henry IV of Luxembourg died childless in 1196. She was the wife of Baldwin IV Count of Hainault...
, as his heir. When Baldwin died in 1171, he designated Baldwin V. Baldwin V and Henry carried out two wars, in 1170 and 1172, with Henry III of Limburg
Henry III of Limburg
Henry III was the duke of Limburg and count of Arlon from 1165 to his death. He was the son and successor of Henry II and Matilda of Saffenberg....
.
In 1171, Henry married a second time, this time to Agnes, daughter of Henry I, Count of Guelders and Agnes of Arnstein. Heirless still, he repudiated her in 1184, but fell seriously ill and rejoined her. In September 1186, a girl, Ermesinde
Ermesinde of Luxembourg
Ermesinde of Luxembourg , also known as Ermesinde of Namur, was the Countess of Luxembourg, Laroche and Durbuy between 1197 and 1247. She was the only child of Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg and Namur, and his second wife Agnes of Guelders.Prior to her birth, her aging father Henry IV had designated...
, was born to them. This birth called into question the plan of succession, as Henry considered his promise to Baldwin null. Henry, then 76 years old, pledged his daughter in marriage to Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne was count of Champagne from 1181 to 1197, and King of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197, although he never used the title of king.- Early Life and Family :...
. Baldwin still claimed his inheritance. It was then decided that Baldwin would inherit Namur, Ermesinde Durbuy and La Roche, and Luxembourg (fief masculin) would revert to the Empire.
The fiefs were dispensed in 1189 and after the planned marriage between Ermesinde
Ermesinde of Luxembourg
Ermesinde of Luxembourg , also known as Ermesinde of Namur, was the Countess of Luxembourg, Laroche and Durbuy between 1197 and 1247. She was the only child of Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg and Namur, and his second wife Agnes of Guelders.Prior to her birth, her aging father Henry IV had designated...
and the count of Champagne was cancelled Henry bethrothed her instead to Theobald I of Bar
Theobald I of Bar
Jean Theobald I of Bar was count of Bar from 1190 until his death, and a count of Luxemburg from 1197 until his death. He was the son of Reginald II of Bar and his wife Agnès de Champagne...
. He entered into a war with Henry of Limburg and was defeated on 1 August 1194 at Neuville
Neuville
-Communes in France:*Neuville, Corrèze, in the Corrèze département*Neuville, Puy-de-Dôme, in the Puy-de-Dôme département*Neuville-au-Bois, in the Somme département*Neuville-au-Cornet, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
on Mehaigne
Mehaigne
The Mehaigne is a river in Belgium. It is a left tributary to the Meuse River. Its source is at La Bruyère province of Namur, at an elevation of 180 meters....
. He died two years later in Echternach
Echternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
.