Isembert de Châtelaillon
Encyclopedia
Isembert de Châtelaillon, or Isembard de Castrum Allionis, also Isembert the Last, also spelled Isambert, was a French nobleman and the master of the city of Châtelaillon in Charente-Maritime
, a territory which covered the area between the Sèvre river in the north and the Charente river
in the south and included Ré island and Aix island but not Oléron island, in the early 12th century. Isambert, like all the Lords of Châtelaillon was a vassal of the Duke of Aquitaine
and Count of Poitou
. The Châtelaillon lineage is thought to have been founded by Alon, who gave his name to Castrum Alionensis (linguistically deformed into "Châtelaillon").
Isembert was a descendant of the powerful Isembert I of Châtelaillon who became prosperous through wine and salt trade, and sponsored the development of monasteries. Isembert I built the monastery of Ile d'Aix in 814, which was later invaded by the Normans
and became one of their strongholds.
Isembert was also the son of Eble II of Châtelaillon, who was known for his depredation of local monasteries and was twice excomunicated as a consequence. Eble II had occupied the island of Oléron to the ire of Pope Urban II
, who in 1096 threatened William IX of Aquitaine
of spoliation if he did not force his vassal Eble to return the island to the monastery of the Trinity of Vendôme, headed by Abbot Geoffrey.
Isembert was vanquished by Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine
in 1130, leading to the subsequent destruction of his harbour of Châtelaillon. This indirectly led to the emergence of La Rochelle
as a substitute harbour in the Pertuis d'Antioche
coastal area.
Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime is a department on the west coast of France named after the Charente River.- History :Previously a part of Saintonge, Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, a territory which covered the area between the Sèvre river in the north and the Charente river
Charente River
The Charente is a 381 km long river in southwestern France.Its source is in the Haute-Vienne département at Chéronnac, a small village near Rochechouart. It flows through the departments of Haute-Vienne, Charente, Vienne and Charente-Maritime...
in the south and included Ré island and Aix island but not Oléron island, in the early 12th century. Isambert, like all the Lords of Châtelaillon was a vassal of the Duke of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
and Count of Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
. The Châtelaillon lineage is thought to have been founded by Alon, who gave his name to Castrum Alionensis (linguistically deformed into "Châtelaillon").
Isembert was a descendant of the powerful Isembert I of Châtelaillon who became prosperous through wine and salt trade, and sponsored the development of monasteries. Isembert I built the monastery of Ile d'Aix in 814, which was later invaded by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and became one of their strongholds.
Isembert was also the son of Eble II of Châtelaillon, who was known for his depredation of local monasteries and was twice excomunicated as a consequence. Eble II had occupied the island of Oléron to the ire of Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
, who in 1096 threatened William IX of Aquitaine
William IX of Aquitaine
William IX , called the Troubador, was the Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou between 1086 and his death. He was also one of the leaders of the Crusade of 1101...
of spoliation if he did not force his vassal Eble to return the island to the monastery of the Trinity of Vendôme, headed by Abbot Geoffrey.
Isembert was vanquished by Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine
William X of Aquitaine
William X , called the Saint, was Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, and Count of Poitou between 1126 and 1137. He was the son of William IX by his second wife, Philippa of Toulouse....
in 1130, leading to the subsequent destruction of his harbour of Châtelaillon. This indirectly led to the emergence of La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
as a substitute harbour in the Pertuis d'Antioche
Pertuis d'Antioche
The Pertuis d'Antioche is a strait on the Atlantic coast of Western France, located between the two islands Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron and the continental coast, between the cities of La Rochelle and the naval arsenal of Rochefort...
coastal area.