The Ramnulfids , or the House of Poitiers , were a French dynasty of Frankish origin ruling the County of Poitou and Duchy of Aquitaine in the 9th through 12th centuries. Their power base shifted from Toulouse to Poitou . In the early 10th century, they contested the dominance of northern Aquitaine and the ducal title to the whole with the House of Auvergne . In 1032, they inherited the Duchy of Gascony , thus uniting it with Aquitaine. By the end of the 11th century, they were the dominant power in the southwestern third of France. The founder of the family was Ramnulf I , who became count in 835.
28-550: Ramnulf's son, Ramnulf II , claimed the title of King of Aquitaine in 888, but it did not survive him. Through his illegitimate son Ebalus he fathered the line of dukes of Aquitaine that would rule continuously from 927 to 1204, from the succession of William III to the death of Eleanor , who brought the Ramnulfid inheritance first to Louis VII of France and then to Henry II of England . Several daughters of this house achieved high status. Adelaide married Hugh Capet and
56-543: A few Franks, in order to be accepted [as king]. Upon hearing this, Ranulf, duke of the greater part of Aquitaine, with his supporters came to him, bringing with him the child, Charles, the son of King Louis; and he swore to him who was worthy of it [i.e., Odo], as did the boy... So the king returned from Aquitaine to France [in June] because of the Norsemen. Ranulf founded the viscountcy of Thouars at about this time, as part of
84-427: A fortress at Passavant to control it. He married Elvis, but they had no children together, however Aimery was a natural son, of Haimon Aymon Dinan, born about 975, who was Lord of Dinan, dit Vicomte, Comte Domnonia. 997-1004: Savary III . Son of Herbert I. He married twice: from the first marriage he had Geoffroy II; from the second marriage Hugues was born about 995. Having taken a field belonging to Lusignan, Savary
112-461: A larger movement to create viscounts with powers over regional fortresses to man them against the Vikings . This biography of a French peer or noble is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Viscountcy of Thouars The first viscounts of Thouars appeared at the end of the 9th century, somewhat earlier than those of Châtellerault , Lusignan , etc. They represented
140-631: A marriage between the daughter of Raoul and Hugh de Lusignan by offering the latter the widow of Parthenay Josselin I (who had left an infant son). But in fact, the Duke arranged for that marriage to fail too, which caused a war between the Viscount of Thouars on one hand and the Sire de Lusignan, and even the duke on the other. The Vicomte Raoul died at the end of 1014 while ravaging the lands of Hugh de Lusignan. 1015-1055: Geoffroy II . Son of Savary III. He
168-485: Is wife of Hugues de Lusignan, Raoul and his uncle, said Maule. At that time we can measure the extent of Viscount of Thouars by fiefs under its control. These are Bressuire, Gifted, Passavant, the Argenton Chateau, Airvault, La Foret sur Sevre, Montaigu, La Roche sur yon, Till, Châteaumur, Pouzauges, Les Essarts, Lezay, Commequiers, and more. Like many of his contemporaries, Viscount Herbert went to Palestine,
196-961: The Annales Fuldenses definitively give him this title, saying "Ranulf then set himself up as king" ( Deinceps Rannolfus se regem haberi statuit ). He is recorded to have taken custody of Charles , the young son of Louis the Stammerer and he certainly did not recognise Odo as king. The Annales Vedastes record that in 889 Post nativitatem vero Domini cum paucis Francis Aquitaniam perrexit, ut eos sibi sociaret. Quo audito, Ramnulfus, dux maximae partis Aquitaniae, cum sibi faventibus venit ad eum, adducens secum Karolum puerum, filium Hludowici regis; et iuravit illi quae digna fuerunt, simul et de ipso puerulo. . . Aquitanos itaque rex ex parte receptos, festinavit propter Nortmannos redire in Franciam. After Christmas [888], [Odo] went to Aquitaine with
224-431: The count of Poitou (also the duke of Aquitaine ) in the territory he had enfeoffed to them. The family of the viscounts of Thouars doubtless originated in the surroundings of Poitiers where they held lands in the 10th century. At this era, they were patrons of the abbeys at Saint-Cyprien de Poitiers, Saint-Jouin de Marnes (15 km to the south of Thouars), Saint-Florent de Saumur and Saint-Martin de Tours . In
252-487: The 11th century, following Geoffrey II of Thouars 's marriage to Agnes of Blois , they added to this list the abbeys of Bourgueil and Marmoutier . Before 876–903: Geoffroy I . His successors Savary and Aimery are likely his sons or his nephews. 903-929: Savary I . A follower of the Count of Poitou Ebles Manzer . He participated in meetings held by the Count of Poitiers. In 903 Ebles rewarded him by giving him
280-587: The authority of the Abbey of Saint Maixent. 929-936: Aimery I . Brother of Savary I, he owned property near Poitiers and was admitted to the Abbey of Saint Maixent (which was very rich). He married Aremburge, and they had two sons, Savary II and Aimery II. 936-943: Savary II . Son of Aimery I; he had no sons. 943-960: Aimery II . Son of Aimery I. He was a faithful ally of his suzerain Geoffroy Grisegonnelle , Count of Anjou, who awarded him
308-436: The centre for the art of poetry and song in the vernacular; the troubadour tradition was born and raised there. The Peace and Truce of God were fostered and the ideal of courtly love invented. The House of Poitiers produced many Dukes of Aquitaine , who were officially titled Counts of Poitiers . This line became extinct in the male-line in 1137, and in the female-line in 1204 with the death of Eleanor of Aquitaine , who
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#1732765188743336-621: The first time in 1098. He left with his brother Geoffrey in 1102 as part of the crusade led by the Duke William IX of Aquitaine . His banner was golden strewn with fleur de lys Azure, Gules franc area. These arms have remained those of his house, they then become those of the city of Thouars . Many pilgrims died during the journey from Constantinople in Jerusalem . Although Herbert wanted to go back to France, he died in Jaffa in 1104. He
364-628: The goods Chavagne near the monastery of Saint Maixent to Faye near the Abbess and Bressuire Miss south of Thouars. In 955 he donated land, the Abbess Faye always to the benefit of the Abbey Saint Bonneval lès Thouars. Aimery II married Eleanor by 935, with whom he had a son, Herbert I. Abt 960–987: Herbert I . Son of Aimery II. Geoffroy Grisegonnelle, Count of Anjou, appears as suzerain and protector of Viscount Herbert (it will be
392-598: The kingdom of Cyprus, and thus founded the second House of Lusignan. The lineage of the House of Poitiers became extinct in 1487 with the death of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus . Ranulf II of Aquitaine Ranulf II (also spelled Rannoux , Rannulf , Ramnulf , and Ranulph ) (850 – 5 August 890) was Count of Poitou from 866 and Duke of Aquitaine from 887. On the death of Charles the Fat in 888, he styled himself King of Aquitaine and did so until 889 or his death, after which
420-483: The same, however, vis-à-vis his son Aimery III). About 973, Geoffroy was in possession of the strengths of Loudun and Mirebeau and then encircled the area of the Vicomte of Thouars. Herbert married in 956 Aldéarde (or Hildegarde), daughter Cadelon I, Viscount of Aunay ( Aulnay, Charente-Maritime ) and Sénégonde. Herbert and Aldéarde had several children: Aimery III, Savary III, Raoul I, Thibault and Geoffroy. Aldéarde
448-618: The title fell into abeyance. Ranulf was a son of Ranulf I and Adeltrude of Maine . He married an Ermengard (died 935) and by her had a son, Ranulf III , who succeeded him in Poitiers. His illegitimate son Ebalus succeeded him in Aquitaine and upon the death of Ranulf III, in Poitiers too. Ranulf may have been selected as a king by the Aquitanian nobles, for they accepted King Odo of France in 892 only after Ranulf's death. Only
476-681: Was a firm vassal of the Count Poitiers, but he was also a vassal of the Count of Anjou Fulk III Nerra , who was very present in this part of Poitou. Viscount Thouars assisted in 992 Fulk against the Britons for the possession of the County of Nantes and especially during the Battle of Conquereuil . Fulk awarded custody of Nantes Aimery during the minority of small Comte Judicaël . In 994, however, Aimery away lasting alliance Angevine and Fulk built
504-501: Was always in conflict with his neighbor Hugh IV of Lusignan. 1004-1015: Raoul I . Son of Herbert I. With his wife called Aremburge (or Ascelin), he had two children, Thibault Aimery and Aldegarde (Audéarde, Aldiarde), wife of Hugh IV of Lusignan . The Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitiers William the Great practiced a policy of balance (with a lot of duplicity) between Raoul and the Sire de Lusignan to neutralize them. William wrecked
532-507: Was buried near the church of Saint Nicolas de Jaffa. He married 1095 to Agnes with whom he had two sons: Herbert and Aimery VI. 1104-1123: Geoffroy III . Son of Aimery IV. He was married in 1094 to Ameline. 1123-1127: Aimery V . Son of Geoffroy III. He was married to Agnes , daughter of William IX of Aquitaine 1127-1139: Aimery VI . Son of Herbert II. He was married to Mathilde d'Aquitaine. 1139-1151: William I . Son of Aimery V. 1151-1173: Geoffroy IV . Son of Aimery V. He
560-482: Was by her first marriage Queen of France, and by her second marriage, Queen of England. A branch of the House of Poitiers settled in the Holy Land, founded by Raymond of Poitiers (1115–1149), a younger son of William IX of Aquitaine, from whom descended the last princes of Antioch and counts of Tripoli. Henry of Antioch (d. 1276), son of Bohemond IV of Antioch, married Isabella of Lusignan (d. 1264), heiress of
588-444: Was famous for a mishap which happened around the year 980. Having had an affair with the Count of Poitiers William IV of Poitiers , it was exposed to the vengeance of the latter's wife, Emma de Blois . Emma took revenge by bullying her rival during a meeting. Emma took refuge in the castle of Chinon, where she waited for her husband to forgive this action. 987-997: Aimery III . Son of Herbert I and Aldéarde (or Hildegarde) Aunay. He
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#1732765188743616-418: Was married Aenor de Lusignan, daughter of Hugh VII of Lusignan and Saracena de Lezay. He married one of his younger sons, Guy of Thouars , to Constance, Duchess of Brittany . Geoffroy's granddaughter by Guy and Constance, Alix would become Duchess of Brittany in her own right. Alix would be the only member of the House of Thouars to hold this ducal crown. 1173-1226: Aimery VII . Son of Geoffroy IV. He
644-450: Was married Alix de Mauleon, daughter of Savary de Mauleon I and Belleassez Pouzauges Dame de Pareds. 1242-1246: Aimery VIII . Son of Aimery VII. He was married to Beatrix Machecoul Lady of La Roche sur Yon (widow of William de Mauleon Lord Talmond). 1246-1256: Aimery IX . Son of Guy I. He was married to Marguerite de Lusignan , widow of Raymond VII Count of Toulouse . 1256-1269: Renaud or Reginald of Thouars . Son of Guy I. He
672-607: Was married to Agnes de Blois, daughter of Eudes I of Blois and Berthe de Bourgogne. 1055-1093: Aimery IV . Son of Geoffroy II. He is one of the proven Companions of William the Conqueror . His first wife was Aregarde, daughter of Geoffrey de Mauleon and sister of Raoul de Mauleon. His second wife was Ameline. 1093-1104: Herbert II . Son of Aimery IV. He died at the First Crusade in Jaffa ( Palestine ) in 1104. He
700-471: Was married to Agnes de Laval, daughter of Baron Guy V de Laval and Agathe. Then he married his second wife Mary. 1226-1229: Hugues I . Son of Geoffroy IV. He was married to Marguerite de Vihiers. In 1236, his widow, Marguerite, would marry Pierre Mauclerc , the widowed husband of Alix of Thouars (the granddaughter of Geoffrey IV of Thouars above). 1229-1233: Raymond I . Brother of Aimery VII and Hugues I. 1233-1242: Guy I . Son of Aimery VII. He
728-798: Was married to Eleanor of Soissons. 1269-1274: Savary IV . Son of Guy I. He was married to Agnes de Pons. 1274-1308: Guy II . Son of Aimery IX. He was married to Marguerite de Brienne. 1308-1332: Jean I . Son of Guy II. He was married to Blanche de Brabant. 1332-1333: Hugues II . Son of Guy II. He was married to Jeanne de Beaucay. 1333-1370: Louis I . Son of Jean I. He was married to Jeanne de Dreux , daughter of John of Dreux and Péronelle de Sully. Then he married his second wife, Isabella of Avaugour widow of Geoffroy de Chateaubriand VIII . 1370–1397: Péronelle . Daughter of Louis I. She married twice: first to Amaury IV de Craon ; following his death in 1376, she married Tristan Rouault de Boleménard . In 1469 king Louis XI of France awarded
756-533: Was the son of Aimery IV and Ameline. He immediately succeeded his father Aimery IV. On February 10, 1096, Bishop Peter of Poitiers restores Airvault Abbey, with the agreement of Herbert, Viscount of Thouars, son of the late Viscount Aimery. On December 7, 1099, his family surrounding Arbert at the dedication of the Church of St. Nicolas de la Chaise, started by his father and has been completed; then found him with his brother Geoffrey, told Tiffauges, its Sister Hildegard
784-644: Was thus the first Queen of France in the era of the Direct Capetians . Agnes married Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor , and ruled as regent for her son, the young Henry IV . The most illustrious woman was certainly Aquitaine's ruler Eleanor, whose marriage to Henry II of England crafted the Angevin Empire which was to cause so much discord between France and England . The Ramnulfid house did much to encourage art, literature, and piety. Under William V , William IX , and William X , Aquitaine became
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