William IV of Ponthieu
Encyclopedia
William III Talvas was William III, Count of Ponthieu
and William IV (of the house of Belleme/Montgomery). He was Count of Ponthieu
, ruler of a small province in northern France that fell under the suzerainty of the dukes of Normandy (later also kings of England) since at least the mid 11th century. He was son and heir of John I, Count of Ponthieu (d 1191) by his third wife Beatrice de St Pol.
, also frequently called William III Talvas, and who represented the senior line of the lords of Montgomery, once trusted vassals and allies of William the Conqueror.
, the daughter of King Louis VII of France
. She was some eighteen years older than he, and was said by some to have been seduced by King Henry II of England
while betrothed to his son, King Richard the Lion-Hearted
. Richard sent her back to her brother, King Philip II of France
, refusing to marry his father's mistress.
Philip then arranged for Alys to marry William Talvas, with the intent that the couple would be childless, and he would thus gain control of Ponthieu, a small but strategically important county. However, Alys then gave birth to a daughter and heiress, Marie
, in 1197/1198. This daughter was the maternal grandmother of Eleanor of Castile
, first wife of Edward I
, King of England, to whom Ponthieu and the disputed Vexin inheritance would eventually pass as Eleanor's dowry. William Talvas died in 1221, his daughter Marie being his heiress.
.
He also participated in the Albigensian Crusade
, particulary in the Siege of Termes
in 1210.
He led the left wing of the victorious French army in the Battle of Bouvines
in 1214.
Ponthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
and William IV (of the house of Belleme/Montgomery). He was Count of Ponthieu
Ponthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
, ruler of a small province in northern France that fell under the suzerainty of the dukes of Normandy (later also kings of England) since at least the mid 11th century. He was son and heir of John I, Count of Ponthieu (d 1191) by his third wife Beatrice de St Pol.
Family history and background
His father Jean I, Count of Ponthieu (d 1191 was the son of Guy II, Count of Ponthieu (who died on the Second Crusade 1147) and grandson of William III of PonthieuWilliam III of Ponthieu
William III of Ponthieu was son of Robert II of Bellême and Agnes of Ponthieu. He is also called William Talvas....
, also frequently called William III Talvas, and who represented the senior line of the lords of Montgomery, once trusted vassals and allies of William the Conqueror.
Marriage to Alys, Countess of the Vexin
Talvas was married on August 20, 1195 to Alys, Countess of the VexinAlys, Countess of the Vexin
Alys, Countess of the Vexin was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and his second wife Constance of Castile.- Life :...
, the daughter of King 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...
. She was some eighteen years older than he, and was said by some to have been seduced by King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
while betrothed to his son, King Richard the Lion-Hearted
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
. Richard sent her back to her brother, King Philip II of France
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...
, refusing to marry his father's mistress.
Philip then arranged for Alys to marry William Talvas, with the intent that the couple would be childless, and he would thus gain control of Ponthieu, a small but strategically important county. However, Alys then gave birth to a daughter and heiress, Marie
Marie, Countess of Ponthieu
Marie of Ponthieu was the Countess of Ponthieu and Countess of Montreuil, ruling from 1221 to 1251.-Biography:Marie was the daughter of William IV of Ponthieu and Alys, Countess of the Vexin, and granddaughter of King Louis VII of France by his second wife Constance of Castile...
, in 1197/1198. This daughter was the maternal grandmother of Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
, first wife of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, King of England, to whom Ponthieu and the disputed Vexin inheritance would eventually pass as Eleanor's dowry. William Talvas died in 1221, his daughter Marie being his heiress.
Life
William was an important army commander in the Anglo-French War (1202–1214)Anglo-French War (1202–1214)
The Anglo-French War was a war between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of England. The war was mainly fought in Normandy, where John of England fought King Philip II of France for domination...
.
He also participated in the Albigensian Crusade
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
, particulary in the Siege of Termes
Termes, Aude
Termes is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
in 1210.
He led the left wing of the victorious French army in the Battle of Bouvines
Battle of Bouvines
The Battle of Bouvines, 27 July 1214, was a conclusive medieval battle ending the twelve year old Angevin-Flanders War that was important to the early development of both the French state by confirming the French crown's sovereignty over the Angevin lands of Brittany and Normandy.Philip Augustus of...
in 1214.
External links
- The First Dynasty of Ponthieu - in French
- The Dynasty of Belleme/Montgomery - in French
- Montgomery family The Montgomery Family, Earls of Shrewsbury albeit with some mistakes, attributing Robert de Belleme's sister-in-law to his first wife.