Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu
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Enguerrand II was the son of Hugh II
count of Ponthieu
. He assumed the county upon the death of his father on November 20, 1052.
The Ponthievin alliance with duke William
of Normandy
had earlier been secured by the marriage of Enguerrand's sister, to duke William's uncle, William of Talou
. Enguerrand was married to duke William's sister, Adelaide
, by whom he had 3 children. However, because of some consanguinity there, or another infraction not now known, Enguerrand was excommunicated at the papal council held at Reims
in October 1049.
William of Talou had built a strong castle at Arques
, and from it (in 1053) he defied his nephew the youthful duke of Normandy: as "family", the comital house of Ponthieu supported the rebellion.
Duke William put Arques under siege, and then remained mobile with another force in the countryside nearby. He was aware that Normandy was being threatened by the armies of King Henry
of France
— who wanted to bring his young, former vassal to heel; and that Normandy's erstwhile allies from Ponthieu
would also be coming to break the siege of Arques. Young count Enguerrand led a Ponthievin army of relief into the Talou and arrived first: but duke William successfully ambushed them on October 25, 1053 and Enguerrand was killed (legend says, within sight and sound of the walls of Arques, from which his sister witnessed the demise of her brother). Upon learning of this serious reverse, the vacillating Henry withdrew his forces at once back across the Norman border. William of Talou was compelled to surrender Arques and was banished for life. (Alternatively, the story goes that king Henry reinforced Arques, and duke William lured part of the French army, including Enguerrand and the Ponthievins, away by a feigned flight, then turned on them and won a battle: Henry then withdrew, forcing the surrender of Arques not long after.)
Enguerrand's only son (or possibly his brother by one account), Guy I
became count of Ponthieu in his place.
Hugh II of Ponthieu
Hugh II of Ponthieu was count of Ponthieu and lord of Abbeville, the son of Enguerrand I of Ponthieu. Evidently Hugh II was the half brother of Guy, who became the bishop of Amiens; Fulk, who became the abbot of Forest l'Abbaye; and Robert...
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 :...
. He assumed the county upon the death of his father on November 20, 1052.
The Ponthievin alliance with duke William
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
had earlier been secured by the marriage of Enguerrand's sister, to duke William's uncle, William of Talou
William of Talou
William of Talou was the son of duke Richard II of Normandy and Papia from Envermeu. His brother was Mauger, who became archbishop of Rouen in 1037...
. Enguerrand was married to duke William's sister, Adelaide
Adelaide of Normandy
Adelaide of Normandy was the sister of William the Conqueror.She was the daughter of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy. Different chroniclers writing in the Gesta Normannorum Ducum call her sister of William the Conqueror either by the same mother or by different mothers...
, by whom he had 3 children. However, because of some consanguinity there, or another infraction not now known, Enguerrand was excommunicated at the papal council held at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
in October 1049.
William of Talou had built a strong castle at Arques
Arques
Arques may refer to the following places in France:* Arques, Aude, in the Aude département* Arques, Aveyron, in the Aveyron département* Arques, Pas-de-Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
, and from it (in 1053) he defied his nephew the youthful duke of Normandy: as "family", the comital house of Ponthieu supported the rebellion.
Duke William put Arques under siege, and then remained mobile with another force in the countryside nearby. He was aware that Normandy was being threatened by the armies of King Henry
Henry I of France
Henry I was King of France from 1031 to his death. The royal demesne of France reached its smallest size during his reign, and for this reason he is often seen as emblematic of the weakness of the early Capetians...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
— who wanted to bring his young, former vassal to heel; and that Normandy's erstwhile allies from 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 :...
would also be coming to break the siege of Arques. Young count Enguerrand led a Ponthievin army of relief into the Talou and arrived first: but duke William successfully ambushed them on October 25, 1053 and Enguerrand was killed (legend says, within sight and sound of the walls of Arques, from which his sister witnessed the demise of her brother). Upon learning of this serious reverse, the vacillating Henry withdrew his forces at once back across the Norman border. William of Talou was compelled to surrender Arques and was banished for life. (Alternatively, the story goes that king Henry reinforced Arques, and duke William lured part of the French army, including Enguerrand and the Ponthievins, away by a feigned flight, then turned on them and won a battle: Henry then withdrew, forcing the surrender of Arques not long after.)
Enguerrand's only son (or possibly his brother by one account), Guy I
Guy I of Ponthieu
Guy I of Ponthieu was born sometime in the mid to late 1020s. He was the son of Count Enguerrand II and the grandson of Hugh II.-Caught between William of Normandy and Henry I of France:...
became count of Ponthieu in his place.