Stephen II, Count of Blois
Encyclopedia
Stephen II Henry (c. 1045 – 19 May 1102), Count of Blois
and Count of Chartres
, was the son of Theobald III, count of Blois
, and Garsinde du Maine. He married Adela of Normandy
, a daughter of William the Conqueror around 1080 in Chartres
. In 1089, upon the death of his father, he became the Count of Blois and Chartres, although Theobald had given him the administration of those holdings in 1074.
Count Stephen was one of the leaders of the First Crusade
, often writing enthusiastic letters to Adela about the crusade's progress. Stephen was the head of the army council at the Crusaders' siege of Nicaea in 1097. He returned home in 1098 during the lengthy siege of Antioch
, without having fulfilled his crusading vow to forge a way to Jerusalem. He was pressured by Adela into making a second pilgrimage, and joined the minor crusade of 1101
in the company of others who had also returned home prematurely. In 1102, Stephen was killed at the Second Battle of Ramla at the age of fifty-seven.
Lithuise
, who married Milon of Troyes, viscount of Troyes
, was possibly his sister and not his daughter, judging from the dates of her children. Unsubstantiated claim.
He had an illegitimate daughter Emma, who was the mother of William of York, archbishop of York
.
Count of Blois
The County of Blois was originally centred on Blois, south of Paris, France. One of the chief cities, along with Blois itself, was Chartres. Blois was associated with Champagne, Châtillon , and later with the French royal family, to whom the county passed in 1391...
and Count of Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
, was the son of Theobald III, count of Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
, and Garsinde du Maine. He married Adela of Normandy
Adela of Normandy
Adela of Normandy also known as Adela of Blois and Adela of England was, by marriage, Countess of Blois, Chartres, and Meaux. She was a daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders...
, a daughter of William the Conqueror around 1080 in Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
. In 1089, upon the death of his father, he became the Count of Blois and Chartres, although Theobald had given him the administration of those holdings in 1074.
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, often writing enthusiastic letters to Adela about the crusade's progress. Stephen was the head of the army council at the Crusaders' siege of Nicaea in 1097. He returned home in 1098 during the lengthy siege of Antioch
Siege of Antioch
The Siege of Antioch took place during the First Crusade in 1097 and 1098. The first siege, by the crusaders against the Muslim city, lasted from October 21, 1097, to June 2, 1098. The second siege, against the crusaders who had occupied it, lasted from June 7 to June 28, 1098.-Background:Antioch...
, without having fulfilled his crusading vow to forge a way to Jerusalem. He was pressured by Adela into making a second pilgrimage, and joined the minor crusade of 1101
Crusade of 1101
The Crusade of 1101 was a minor crusade of three separate movements, organized in 1100 and 1101 in the successful aftermath of the First Crusade. It is also called the Crusade of the Faint-Hearted due to the number of participants who joined this crusade after having turned back from the First...
in the company of others who had also returned home prematurely. In 1102, Stephen was killed at the Second Battle of Ramla at the age of fifty-seven.
Family and children
Stephen and Adela's children were:- William, Count of SullyWilliam, Count of SullyWilliam, Count of Sully, also known as William the Simple was Count of Blois and Count of Chartres from 1102 to 1107, and jure uxoris Count of Sully. William was the eldest son of Stephen-Henry, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy, daughter of William the Conqueror...
(d.1150), Count of Chartres married Agnes of Sulli (d. aft 1104) and had issue. - Theobald II, Count of ChampagneTheobald II of ChampagneTheobald the Great was Count of Blois and of Chartres as Theobald IV from 1102 and was Count of Champagne and of Brie as Theobald II from 1125....
- Odo, died young.
- Stephen, King of EnglandStephen of EnglandStephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
- Lucia-MahautLucia-MahautLucia-Mahaut of Blois , known as Matilda or Maud, was daughter to Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy. She was married to Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester. Both she and her husband joined William Adelin, heir to King Henry I of England aboard the White Ship...
, married Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of ChesterRichard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of ChesterRichard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester was the son of Hugh, 1st Earl of Chester and Ermentrude of Clermont.-Early life:...
. Both drowned on 25 November 1120. - Agnes, married Hugh III of Le Puiset
- EléonoreEléonore of BloisEleanor of Blois was a daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois, and of Adela of Normandy. She married Raoul I of Vermandois and became mother of Hugh II of Vermandois , count of Vermandois and of Valois, then monk in 1160...
(d. 1147) married Raoul I of Vermandois (d. 1152) and had issue; they were divorced in 1142. - Alix (c. 1100 – 1145) married Renaud III of Joigni (d. 1134) and had issue
- LithuiseLithuise of BloisLithuise of Blois was born in Blois, Centre, Loir-et-Cher, France to Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy. She is also known as Adela. She was married Milo I of Montlhéry. Their marriage was a result of a treaty negotiated by Lithuise's mother, Adela of Normandy. Milo was to support Adela...
(d. 1118) married Milo de BraiMilo I of MontlhéryMilo I the Great was lord of Montlhéry from 1095 until his death. He was the son of Guy I of Montlhéry and Hodierna of Gometz.The identify of his first wife is unknown. His second wife was Lithuise, daughter of Stephen, Count of Blois...
, Viscount of Troyes (divorced 1115) - Henry, Bishop of WinchesterHenry of BloisHenry of Blois , often known as Henry of Winchester, was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death.-Early life and education:...
- Humbert, died young.
Lithuise
Lithuise of Blois
Lithuise of Blois was born in Blois, Centre, Loir-et-Cher, France to Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy. She is also known as Adela. She was married Milo I of Montlhéry. Their marriage was a result of a treaty negotiated by Lithuise's mother, Adela of Normandy. Milo was to support Adela...
, who married Milon of Troyes, viscount of Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
, was possibly his sister and not his daughter, judging from the dates of her children. Unsubstantiated claim.
He had an illegitimate daughter Emma, who was the mother of William of York, archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
.