The House of Blois (), also known as The Blesevins, was a noble family that arose in the Kingdom of West Francia in the early 10th century, and whose prominent members were often named Theobald (Thibaud, Thibault, Thibaut in French).
History This lineage came from Theobald the Elder, viscount of Tours before 908. Theobald became viscount of Blois before 922. Afterwards the House of Blois accumulated the counties of Blois, Chartres, Châteaudun and as successors of Herbertians the counties of Troyes, Reims and Meaux - core of the County of Champagne, and finally the kingdom of Navarre.
The House of Blois-Champagne, which was founded by Theobold II in 1025, split into several branches. The House of Blois-Chartres, which was founded by Theobold V of Blois inherited the counties of Blois and Chartres and others in 1152. His descendants would hold the counties until the deaths of Margaret and Isabella, to which the branch became extinct in 1249. The House of Blois-Navarre, which was founded by Theobold I of Navarre, when he inherited the throne from his uncle, Sancho Garcés VI. This branch became the senior line later and eventually became extinct in 1305 with the death of Joan I of Navarre, wife of Philip IV of France. Champagne and Navarre passed to the Capetian dynasty. The House of Sancerre, was founded by Stephen I, Count of Sancerre, a younger son of Theobold II, Count of Champagne. He inherited the county on his father's death. This branch became extinct at the death of Margaret of Sancerre in 1418 or 1419. The final branch, the House of Lacarre, was founded by Juan Enriquez, the illegitimate son of Henry I of Navarre.
When Louis VII of France was greatly threatened by the vast collection of territories in the person of Henry II of England, he chose a wife from the House of Blois-Champagne (Adela of Champagne) as a counterpoise to Angevin power.
When William married the Lady of Sully, Adela, sometime after 1100, he became jure uxoris Count or Lord of Sully. This would make him establish a cadet branch in Sully. This branch would also form its own cadet branch, the House of Sully-Beaujeu, which was when Odo, the son of Gilles III, Lord of Sully, acquired the Lordship of Beaujeu.
Sometime during or past 1126, Odo I was taken over by his maternal family. He then became Lord of Champlitte, which he likely inherited from his mother, Isabella, or from the generosity of his uncle Renaud III, Count of Burgundy.Histoire des Ducs et Comtes de Champagne, Marie Henry d'Arbois de Jubainville, 1865. He in turn would establish a new cadet branch in Champlitte. This Branch would also establish its own branch, the House of Champlitte-Pontailler. Which was when William I, son of Odo I, acquired the Lordship of Pontailler.
Stephen, King of England, 1135–1154, was both a member of the House of Blois and the last Anglo-Norman King, being the grandson of William the Conqueror through his daughter Adela of Normandy.David Crouch. The Reign of King Stephen, 1135-1154, Pearson Education, Harlow, England, 2000.
A branch of the family was established in Sancerre by Stephen I, Count of Sancerre, a younger son of Count Theobald II of Champagne. This branch became extinct at the death of Margaret of Sancerre in 1418 or 1419.
Rulers
House of Blois
+FlemishCounty ofBoulogneNormanCounty ofAumaleCounties of Troyes and MeauxCounty of Blois(940-1230/49)A small partition created in 1218 at Chartres lasted until 1249, and it was inherited by the Amboise family.Barony ofSully-sur-LoireCounty ofChampagne(1st creation)(1037–1066) County ofAumale(1069–1196) County ofChampagne(2nd creation)(1089–1125)Solely at Troyes; Meaux was held by the main Blois line. Baronyof Sully(1107–1409)County ofBoulogne(1125–1170) County ofChampagne(3rd creation)(1152–1305)Union with the Kingdom of Navarre since 1234. County ofSancerre(1152–1419)Inherited by theHouse of Alsace Annexed toFranceClaimed by the Forz family, heirs of Countess Hawise, as Earl of Albemarle, in the English peerage until 1439.and re-given to theHouse ofDammartin (1224) Inherited bythe Houses of Avesnesand ChâtillonAnnexed toFranceInherited by theHouse of BourbonInherited by theLa Trémoille family
RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes Theobald I the Trickster 913Son of Theobald the Elder and Richilde928 – 975County of BloisLuitgarde of Vermandoisfour children975aged 61–62First ruler of Blois. Until 1041, the counts of Blois were also Counts of Tours. Odo I Rousselet 950Son of Theobald I and Luitgarde of Vermandois975 – 12 March 996County of BloisBertha of Burgundy983six children12 March 996aged 45–46 Children of Theobald I, divided their inheritance. Emma's property was inherited by her descendants. Emma c.950Son of Theobald I and Luitgarde of Vermandois975 – 27 December 1003County of Blois(at Chinon and Bourgueil)William IV of Aquitaine968two children27 December 1003aged 54–55Chinon and Bourgueil annexed to AquitaineRegency of Bertha of Burgundy (996-999)Left no heirs, he was succeeded by his brother Odo. Theobald II 983First son of Odo I and Bertha of Burgundy12 March 996 – 11 July 1004County of BloisUnmarried11 July 1004aged 20–21 Odo II/I of Champagne c.985Second son of Odo I and Bertha of Burgundy11 July 1004 – 15 November 1037County of Blois(with Champagne since 1022)Maud of Normandy1003/4no childrenErmengarde of Auvergnec.1005three/four children15 November 1037aged 51–52 Seized Champagne for himself, without royal approval, and kept these territories. Theobald III 1012First son of Odo II/ and Ermengarde of Auvergne15 November 1037 – 30 September 1089County of Blois(with Champagne since 1066)Gersende of Maineno childrenGundradaArbois de Jubainville (1859) Tome I, p. 504.one childAdele of Valoisc.1040four children30 September 1089Épernayaged 76–77Children of Odo II/I, divided their inheritance. Stephen IINumbered after Stephen I of Troyes. c.1015Second son of Odo II/ and Ermengarde of Auvergne15 November 1037 – 1047County of ChampagneAdeleone child1047aged 31–32Regency of Theobald III of Blois (1047-1054) In 1066, Champagne was reabsorbed in Blois. Odo inherited from marriage, later, the County of Aumale. Odo II1040Son of Stephen II and Adele1047 – 1066County of ChampagneAdelaide of Normandyc.1060one child1115Bates 2004.aged 74–751069 – 1115County of AumaleChampagne briefly annexed to Blois Stephen Henry the WiseJean Bernier, Histoire de Blois, contenant les antiquités et singularités du comté de Blois, Francois Muguet, 1682 (read online), p. 291–296. c.1045Son of Theobald III and Gundrada30 September 1089 – 19 May 1102County of BloisAdela of Normandyc.1080Chartreseleven children19 May 1102Ramlaaged 55–56Children of Theobald III, divided their inheritance. Odo left no children, and he was succeeded by his brother Hugh. Odo III 1062First son of Theobald III and Adele of Valois30 September 1089 – 1093County of ChampagneUnmarried1093aged 30–31 Hugh 1074Second son of Theobald III and Adele of Valois1093 – 1125County of ChampagneConstance of France1094one childIsabelle of Burgundy1110one child?1125aged 50–51 In 1125, after his death, his domains re-joined Blois.Champagne briefly annexed to Blois William the Simple c.1085First son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy19 May 1102 – 1107County of BloisAgnes of Sully13 November 1104five children1150aged 64–65 Deposed from the main patrimony of the family, inherited by marriage the barony of Sully-sur-Loire.1105 – 1150 Theobald IV/II the Great 1090Second son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy1107 – 10 January 1152County of Blois(with Champagne from 1125)Matilda of Carinthia1123ten children10 January 1152aged 61–62 Succeeded his deposed elder brother in Blois. Reunited Blois and Champagne in 1125. Stephen c.1070Son of Odo II and Adelaide of Normandy1115 – 1127County of AumaleHawise de Mortimerc.1100four children1127aged 56–57 His father-in-law supported him in his claimancy for the throne of England. Stephen 1092BloisThird son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy1125 – 3 May 1152County of Boulogne(jure uxoris)Countess Matilda of Boulogne1125three children25 October 1154Doveraged 61–62 Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Also King of England. William the Fat c.1100?Son of Stephen and Hawise de Mortimer1127 – 20 August 1179County of AumaleCicely FitzDuncan, Lady of Skiptonc.1130eleven children20 August 1179aged 78–79? He was also made Earl of York. Left his domains in Aumale to his only daughter, Hawise. Odo-Archambaud IIIThe numbering follows the previous Lords of Sully. 1109Son of Stephen Henry and Adela of Normandy1150 – 1164Mahaut de Beaugencythree children1164aged 54–55 Henry I the Liberal December 1127First son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia10 January 1152 – 16 March 1181County of ChampagneMaria of France1159four children16 March 1181Troyesaged 53 Children of Theobald the Great, divided their inheritance. Theobald V the Good 1130Second son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia10 January 1152 – 20 January 1191County of BloisSybil of Chateaurenaultno childrenAlix of France1164seven children20 January 1191Acreaged 60–61Regency of Alix of France (1190-1191) Stephen I 1133Third son of Theobald IV/II and Matilda of Carinthia10 January 1152 – 7 September 1191Adélais de Donzyno childrenBéatrizthree childrenAénorone child7 September 1191aged 57–58 Eustace IVThe numbering follows the previous Counts of Boulogne.1129First son of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne3 May 1152 – 17 August 1153County of BoulogneConstance of France1140no children17 August 1153Bury St Edmundsaged 23–24 Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother. William I1137Second son of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne17 August 1153 – 11 October 1159County of BoulogneIsabel de Warenne, Countess of Surrey1148no children11 October 1159Toulouseaged 21–22 Also Earl of Surrey, in the English peerage. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his sister. Maria I1136Daughter of Stephen and Matilda I of Boulogne11 October 1159 – 1170County of BoulogneMatthew, Count of Boulogne1160(annulled 1170)two children25 July 1182Montreuilaged 45–46 Abducted by her future husband, who married her. She tried to divorce him, and finally did it in 1170, but he continued to rule jointly with her in Boulogne, and the children of the couple kept their inheritance rights. Boulogne was inherited by the House of Alsace Gilles II 1133Son of Odo-Archambaud III and Mahaut de Beaugency1164 – 1193Lucie de Charenton-sur-Cherthree children1193aged 59–60 Hawise c.1140Daughter of William and Cicely FitzDuncan, Lady of Skipton20 August 1179 – 1194County of Aumale(de jure 1194–1214)William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essexc.1180no childrenWilliam de Forzc.1190one childBaldwin of Bethune1196one child11 March 1214aged 73–74 Ruled together with her husbands. In 1194, Philip II of France took Aumale to royal domain, and gave it to Renaud I, Count of Dammartin (1224). In the English peerage, the claim to the county continued, through the Earldom of Albemarle (titular): 1194-1214: Hawise, with Baldwin of Bethune (1196–1212), jure uxoris 1214-1242: William de Forz I, son of Hawise 1242-1260: William de Forz II 1260-1269: Thomas de Forz