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  • 1160-1180: Queen consort of France
  • AKA: Adelaide of Blois

Alice de Champagne was born circa 1140 in Blois, France to Theobald II de Champagne (c1088-1152) and Mathilde von Spanheim (c1107-c1160) and died 4 June 1206 Paris, France of unspecified causes. She married Louis VII de France (1120-1180) 1160 JL in France.

Bibliography

Adela of Champagne (French: Adèle; c. 1140 – 4 June 1206), also known as Adelaide, Alix and Adela of Blois, was Queen of France as the third wife of Louis VII. She was regent of France from 1190 to 1191 while her son Philip II participated in the Third Crusade.

Early life

Adela was the third child and first daughter of Theobald II, Count of Champagne and Matilda of Carinthia, and had nine brothers and sisters. She was named after her paternal grandmother Adela of Normandy. When Louis VII's second wife, Constance of Castile, died in childbirth in 1160, he was devastated and became convinced that he would die young as well, fearing that the country would fall into chaos as he had no male heir. As he was desperate for a son, King Louis married 20-year-old Adela of Champagne five weeks later, on 13 November 1160. Adela's coronation was held the same day. She went on to give birth to Louis VII's only son, Philip II, and to the future Byzantine empress Agnes.

Queenship

The marriage between Adela and Louis VII served as a peace treaty between one of King Louis’ most rebellious vassals, Theobald II of Champagne who was an incredibly powerful feudal lord of France. The marriage was a way to ensure peace between the crown and Theobald.[1] At the time of the marriage, the king was still mourning the death of his Spanish wife. This grief was very public on the part of the king, but Adela was praised greatly for conquering his heart "bit by bit". It took five years for Adela to give birth to Louis VII's only son, the future Philip Augustus, also called Philip "Dieu-Donne" or "God-given" because his birth was long-awaited by a kingdom that had enjoyed a long unbroken lineage of undisputed male heirs to the throne. Philip's birth meant the continuing rule of Capetian monarchs in France.[1]

Adela was active in the political life of the kingdom, along with her brothers Henry I, Theobald V, and William of the White Hands. Henry and Theobald were married to daughters of Louis VII and his first wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.[2] Adela and her brothers kept their political power base after the succession of her son to the throne in September 1180. She initially attempted to assume regency in a potential minor regency, as her son the king was only fifteen years old, but as he was deemed to be old enough to rule on his own, she did not succeed.[3]

Widowhood

Adela and her brothers, Henry I of Champagne, Theobald V of Blois, Stephen I of Sancerre, and William White Hands, felt their position threatened when the heiress of Artois, Isabella of Hainault, married Adela's son Philip in April 1180. Adela formed an alliance with Hugh III of Burgundy and Philip I of Flanders, and even tried to interest Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. War broke out in 1181, and relations became so bad that Philip attempted to divorce Isabella in 1184. He called a council at Sens for the purpose of repudiating her. According to Gislebert of Mons, Isabella then appeared barefooted and dressed as a penitent in the town's churches to gain public support, which convinced Philip to change his mind. He gradually developed genuine respect and love for Isabella and was devastated by her early death in March 1190.

Philip appointed Adela as regent of France several months later before he left the country on the Third Crusade. She acted as regent for her son together with the arch bishop of Reims from the departure of her son in 1190 until his return in 1191.[3] She participated in the founding of many abbeys.

Queen Adela died on 4 June 1206 in Paris and was buried in the church of Pontigny Abbey near Auxerre. Upon learning of her death, Philip reportedly refused to speak to anyone for two days afterwards.

Family

Following the death of Constance of Castile, Louis VII married Alice de Champagne (1140-1206) in 1160. Adèle was the daughter of Count Theobald II of Champagne, and the marriage was seen as a political alliance between France and Champagne. Adèle was known for her piety and good works, and she had a positive influence on Louis VII's reign. Adèle died in 1206, long after Louis VII's death.

  1. Philip II Augustus - Successor King of France
  2. Agnes (1171 – after 1204),[4] married 1) Alexius II Comnenus (1180–1183), 2) Andronicus I Comnenus (1183–1185), then 3) Theodore Branas (1204)[5]




Children


Offspring of Louis VII de France (1120-1180) and Alice de Champagne
Name Birth Death Joined with
Philip II of France (1165-1223) 21 August 1165 Gonesse 14 July 1223 Mantes-la-Jolie Isabelle de Hainaut (1170-1190)
Ingeborg of Denmark (1175-1236)
Agnes von Andechs (c1180-1201)
Alix de Vexin (c1170-c1220) 1170 1220 William IV of Ponthieu (1179-1221)
Agnes Capet (1171-1240) 1171 1240 Alexios II Komnenos (1169-1183)
Andronikos I Komnenos (c1118-1185)
Theodoros Branas (-aft1218)



Siblings


Offspring of Theobald II de Champagne (c1088-1152) and Mathilde von Spanheim (c1107-c1160)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Henri Ier de Champagne (c1126-1181) December 1127 17 March 1181 Troyes, France Marie Capet (1145-1198)
Marie de Champagne (c1130-c1177) 1130 1177 Eudes II de Bourgogne (1118-1162)
Thibaut V de Blois (1130-1191) 1130 20 January 1191 Sybil of Chateaurenault
Alice Capet (1150-1199)
Elisabeth de Champagne (1130-) 1130 Roger of Sicily (1118-1148)
Guillaume Gouët (-c1170)
Étienne I de Sancerre (1133-1191) 1133 1191 Acre Alix de Donzy (1135-1163)
Mathilde
Guillaume de Champagne (1135-1202)
Mathilde de Champagne (-1184) 1184 Rotrou IV du Perche (-1191)
Agnès de Champagne (1138-1207) 1138 1207 Renaud II de Bar (1115-1170)
Alice de Champagne (1140-1206) 1140 Blois, France 4 June 1206 Paris, France Louis VII de France (1120-1180)
Margaret de Champagne


Offspring of Theobald II de Champagne (c1088-1152) and unknown parent
Name Birth Death Joined with
Hugh de Champagne (c1136-1171)


Ancestry

Alice de Champagne is a direct descendant of Rollo of Normandy (860-932), William I of England (1027-1087) and Charlemagne (747-814) via a great many noble families of Europe in her ancestry.

See Also

Contemporary Resources

The best contemporary resources about the life of King Louis VII of France include:

  1. The Chronicle of Geoffrey of Vigeois - Geoffrey of Vigeois was a contemporary chronicler who lived during the reign of Louis VII. His chronicle provides a detailed account of the political and military events of Louis VII's reign, including his participation in the Second Crusade.
  2. The History of William of Tyre - William of Tyre was a 12th-century historian who wrote extensively about the Crusades. His work provides valuable insights into the political and religious context of Louis VII's involvement in the Second Crusade.
  3. The Letters of Peter the Venerable - Peter the Venerable was a Benedictine abbot who corresponded with Louis VII during his reign. His letters provide a glimpse into the religious and intellectual life of the period, as well as Louis VII's relationship with the Church.
  4. The Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir - While not a contemporary source, this biography of Louis VII's first wife provides valuable insights into their relationship, as well as the political and cultural context of the period.
  5. The Life and Times of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux by James Cotter Morison - This biography of Saint Bernard, who was a key figure in Louis VII's reign, provides insights into the religious and intellectual life of the period, as well as the role of the Church in politics.

References

Research Notes

Adelheid van Blois Champagne (Alice van Blois Champagne)

Burgerlijke staat

Geboren circa 1140 Gestorven op 4 juni 1206 - Parijs , leeftijd bij overlijden: mogelijkerwijze 66 jaar oud Begraven - Fontigny Bloedverwantschap : 0,08% Ouders

Theobald IV le Grand van Blois 1090-1152 Mathilde van Karintie 1108/1110-1160 Huwelijken en kinderen

Gehuwd op 13 november 1160 met Lodewijk VII van Frankrijk ca 1120-1204 (Ouders : Lodewijk VI Le Gros (de Dikke) van Frankrijk ca 1081-1137 & Adelheid (Alix) van Savoye ca 1100-ca 1154) ( Wijziging: 23 Juli 1999), en hun kinderen: Philips II Augustus Augustus van Frankrijk 1165-1223 Alix van Frankrijk ca 1170-ca 1220 Agnes van Frankrijk ca 1171-ca 1240 Broers en zusters

Henri I 'le Liberal' van MEAUX van Blois ca 1126-1181 Theobald V de Goede, le Bon van Blois ca 1127-ca 1191 Maria van Blois Champagne ca 1128-1190 Elisabeth van Blois ca 1130-ca 1170 Etienne van Blois ca 1133-ca 1191 Agnes van Blois ca 1138-ca 1197 Adelheid van Blois Champagne ca 1140-1206 Mathilde van Blois ca 1140-ca 1190


Bronnen: - persoon: Frans Roelvink (Midvorsten) - gezin: GOL(KlaasJansen)

French royaltyWp globe tiny
Preceded by
Constance of Castile (c1140-1160)
Queen consort of France
1164–1180
Succeeded by
Isabella of Hainault


Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General
  • Frans Roelvink (Midvorsten), Gol(KlaasJansen)



Bergsmit, Rtol, Phlox, Thurstan, MainTour

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