Theobald V, Count of Blois
Encyclopedia
Theobald V of Blois also known as Theobald the Good (French: Thibaut le Bon), was Count of Blois
from 1151 to 1191. He was son of Theobald II of Champagne
and Matilda of Carinthia
. Although he was the second son, Theobald inherited Blois (including Chartres
), while his elder brother, Henry
got the more important county of Champagne.
He first married Sybil of Chateaurenault, which made him lord of Chateaurenault. Next he married Alix of France
, daughter of Louis VII of France
and his first wife Eleanor of Aquitaine
.
According to medieval Jewish sources, in 1171 Theobald was responsible for orchestrating the first blood libel
in continental Europe. As a result of a church-sponsored trial, 30 or 31 members of the Jewish community were burned at the stakehttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112387/jewish/The-Martyrs-of-Blois.htm.
Theobald lived primarily in Chartres and had its city walls renovated. After joining his brother Henry
and a number of other nobles in opposing the young king Philip II
, he reconciled with the king and supported him on the Third Crusade
. He arrived in the summer of 1190 in the Holy Land and died on 20 January 1191, during the Siege of Acre.
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...
from 1151 to 1191. He was son of Theobald II of Champagne
Theobald II of Champagne
Theobald 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....
and Matilda of Carinthia
Matilda of Carinthia
Matilda of Carinthia was the daughter of Engelbert, Duke of Carinthia and his wife Uta of Passau . She was married to Theobald II, Count of Champagne...
. Although he was the second son, Theobald inherited Blois (including 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...
), while his elder brother, Henry
Henry I of Champagne
Henry I of Champagne , known as "the Liberal", was count of Champagne from 1152 to 1181. He was the eldest son of Count Thibaut II of Champagne and his wife, Matilda of Carinthia....
got the more important county of Champagne.
He first married Sybil of Chateaurenault, which made him lord of Chateaurenault. Next he married Alix of France
Alix of France
Alix of France was the second daughter born to King Louis VII of France and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine.- Childhood :...
, daughter of Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
and his first wife Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
.
According to medieval Jewish sources, in 1171 Theobald was responsible for orchestrating the first blood libel
Blood libel
Blood libel is a false accusation or claim that religious minorities, usually Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays...
in continental Europe. As a result of a church-sponsored trial, 30 or 31 members of the Jewish community were burned at the stakehttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112387/jewish/The-Martyrs-of-Blois.htm.
Theobald lived primarily in Chartres and had its city walls renovated. After joining his brother Henry
Henry I of Champagne
Henry I of Champagne , known as "the Liberal", was count of Champagne from 1152 to 1181. He was the eldest son of Count Thibaut II of Champagne and his wife, Matilda of Carinthia....
and a number of other nobles in opposing the young king Philip II
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...
, he reconciled with the king and supported him on the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
. He arrived in the summer of 1190 in the Holy Land and died on 20 January 1191, during the Siege of Acre.
Family
Theobald and Alix had seven children:- Theobald, d. young
- Philip, d. young
- Henry, d. young
- Louis I of BloisLouis I, Count of BloisLouis I of Blois was count of Blois from 1191 to 1205. He was the son of Theobald V and Alix of France. His maternal grandparents were Louis VII of France and his first wife Eleanor of Aquitaine....
(d. 1205) - Alix, Abbess of Fontevrault
- MargaretMargaret, Countess of BloisMargaret of Blois was countess of Blois from 1218 to 1230.She was daughter of Theobald V of Blois and Alix of France...
, married Walter of Avesnes, later Countess of Blois - Isabelle (or Elizabeth) (d. 1248), to whom her nephew Theobald VI of Blois left the County of Chartres (alienated from Blois) and the lordship of Chateaurenault.