William, Count of Sully
Encyclopedia
William, Count of Sully, also known as William the Simple (c. 1085 – c. 1150) 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. He was the older brother of Theobald II, Count of Champagne, King Stephen of England
and Henry, Bishop of Winchester.
In the absence of male issue to Henry I
, William was the eldest legitimate male heir of the line of William the Conqueror. He would thus have been the principal rival to Henry's daughter Maud to inherit the throne after Henry's death. However, he was not considered as a candidate for the English crown
. Several historians have taken the view that he was passed over because of mentally deficiency; hence his soubriquet "William the Simple". Though widely argued, this has never been clearly substantiated.
William was at first groomed to inherit the comptal throne as Count of Blois and Chartres, and was designated count shortly before his father's departure on his second crusade in 1102. However he was soon removed from wide ranging comptal duties by his mother, because of his erratic behaviour. He once assaulted and threatened to kill the Bishop of Chartres over a jurisdictional dispute. So, when her second son Theobald came of age, around 1107, Adela elevated him to the position of count of Blois-Chartres, and forced William to retire to his wife's lands in Sully.
, a woman of admirable beauty attached to the court of William's mother. The marriage of William and Agnes was a happy one and several children were born.
Their children included:
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 from 1102 to 1107, and jure uxoris
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
Count of Sully. William was the eldest son of Stephen-Henry, Count of Blois and 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...
, daughter of William the Conqueror. He was the older brother of Theobald II, Count of Champagne, King Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , 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...
and Henry, Bishop of Winchester.
In the absence of male issue to Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, William was the eldest legitimate male heir of the line of William the Conqueror. He would thus have been the principal rival to Henry's daughter Maud to inherit the throne after Henry's death. However, he was not considered as a candidate for the English crown
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...
. Several historians have taken the view that he was passed over because of mentally deficiency; hence his soubriquet "William the Simple". Though widely argued, this has never been clearly substantiated.
William was at first groomed to inherit the comptal throne as Count of Blois and Chartres, and was designated count shortly before his father's departure on his second crusade in 1102. However he was soon removed from wide ranging comptal duties by his mother, because of his erratic behaviour. He once assaulted and threatened to kill the Bishop of Chartres over a jurisdictional dispute. So, when her second son Theobald came of age, around 1107, Adela elevated him to the position of count of Blois-Chartres, and forced William to retire to his wife's lands in Sully.
Family and Children
In 1104, William married Agnes of Sully, the heiress to the lordship of Sully-sur-LoireSully-sur-Loire
Sully-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Castle:The château of Sully-sur-Loire dates from the end of the 14th century and is a prime example of medieval fortress. It was built at a strategic crossing of the Loire river...
, a woman of admirable beauty attached to the court of William's mother. The marriage of William and Agnes was a happy one and several children were born.
Their children included:
- Margaret (c. 1105–1145). She married Henry, Count of Eu, Lord of Hastings, about 1122.
- Henry de Sully, Abbot of FécampHenry de Sully, Abbot of FecampHenry de Sully was a medieval Abbot of Fécamp and Bishop-designate of Salisbury and Archbishop-elect of York.-Life:Henry was the son of William, count of Chartres the eldest brother of King Stephen of England and Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester. Henry's mother was William's wife Agnes who had...
(died 1189)