Philip of Dreux
Encyclopedia
Philip of Dreux (1158–1217) was a French nobleman, Bishop of Beauvais, and figure of the Third Crusade
.
He was an active soldier, an ally in the field of Philip Augustus, the French king and his cousin, making him an opponent in campaigns in France and elsewhere of Richard I of England
. He was in also in demand as a priest, to make and break marriages. He presided over that of Conrad of Montferrat
at the siege of Acre, marrying him to Isabella I of Jerusalem, daughter of Amalric I, whose divorce he had approved. He was also party to the divorce of Philip Augustus from Ingeborg of Denmark
.
, and brother of Robert II of Dreux
.
He first campaigned in Palestine in 1180, in an expedition headed by Henry II of Champagne
and Peter of Courtenay
. This attack on Saladin
's holdings was ineffectual.
Robert II and Philip of Dreux arrived with forces in Palestine in 1189.
Richard Lionheart bore him a consistent enmity after the Crusade; Philip of Dreux had been one of those relaying the rumour that Richard was responsible for the killing of Conrad of Montferrat. Subsequently Philip had gone to Germany, when Richard was imprisoned, to advocate against setting him free. There, Philip encouraged Richard's captors to treat him poorly, earning the lifelong hatred of Richard, who considered him "a robber and an incendiary".
He was captured by Angevin forces under the mercenary leader Mercadier
in a Normandy campaign, in 1197. Richard was still refusing to release him a year later, and again early in 1199. When Peter of Capua
(who was trying to enlist Richard for the Fourth Crusade
) insisted that Richard release Philip, Richard exploded and threatened to castrate Peter, so intense was his hatred of his prisoner Philip. Pope Celestine III
was unsympathetic to Philip, confined at Rouen
and then, after an escape attempt, at Chinon
. He was freed only after Richard’s death in 1199, with John of England
agreeing to exchange him for the captured bishop-elect of Cambrai in 1200.
In 1210 he was in action against the Cathars in southern France, with Renaud de Mouçon, bishop of Chartres, in support of Simon de Montfort
.
He drew support from Philip Augustus in his conflict against Renaud de Dammartin
, leading to Renaud's 1212 alliance with John. Philip was later a combatant on the victorious French side in 1214 at the Battle of Bouvines
. He took a mace to William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, at an important moment in the battle, leading to the Earl’s capture.
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
.
He was an active soldier, an ally in the field of Philip Augustus, the French king and his cousin, making him an opponent in campaigns in France and elsewhere of Richard I of England
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...
. He was in also in demand as a priest, to make and break marriages. He presided over that of Conrad of Montferrat
Conrad of Montferrat
Conrad of Montferrat was a northern Italian nobleman, one of the major participants in the Third Crusade. He was the de facto King of Jerusalem, by marriage, from 24 November 1190, but officially elected only in 1192, days before his death...
at the siege of Acre, marrying him to Isabella I of Jerusalem, daughter of Amalric I, whose divorce he had approved. He was also party to the divorce of Philip Augustus from Ingeborg of Denmark
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of France
Ingeborg was a Danish-born queen consort of France.She was a daughter of Valdemar I of Denmark and Sofia of Minsk. Her maternal grandparents were Volodar of Minsk and Richeza of Poland...
.
Life
He was son of Robert I of DreuxRobert I of Dreux
Robert I of Dreux, nicknamed the Great , was the fifth son of Louis VI of France and Adélaide de Maurienne. Through his mother he was related to the Carolingians and to the Marquess William V of Montferrat.In 1137 he received the County of Dreux as an appanage from his father...
, and brother of Robert II of Dreux
Robert II of Dreux
Robert II of Dreux , Count of Dreux and Braine, was the eldest surviving son of Robert I, Count of Dreux, and Agnes de Baudemont, countess of Braine, and a grandson of King Louis VI of France....
.
He first campaigned in Palestine in 1180, in an expedition headed by Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne was count of Champagne from 1181 to 1197, and King of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197, although he never used the title of king.- Early Life and Family :...
and Peter of Courtenay
Peter of Courtenay
Peter of Courtenay was emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople from 1216 to 1217.He was a son of Peter I of Courtenay , the youngest son of Louis VI of France and his second Queen consort Adélaide de Maurienne...
. This attack on Saladin
Saladin
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb , better known in the Western world as Saladin, was an Arabized Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. He led Muslim and Arab opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant...
's holdings was ineffectual.
Robert II and Philip of Dreux arrived with forces in Palestine in 1189.
Richard Lionheart bore him a consistent enmity after the Crusade; Philip of Dreux had been one of those relaying the rumour that Richard was responsible for the killing of Conrad of Montferrat. Subsequently Philip had gone to Germany, when Richard was imprisoned, to advocate against setting him free. There, Philip encouraged Richard's captors to treat him poorly, earning the lifelong hatred of Richard, who considered him "a robber and an incendiary".
He was captured by Angevin forces under the mercenary leader Mercadier
Mercadier
Mercadier was a "French" Provençal warrior of the 12th century, and chief of mercenaries in the service of Richard I of England.In 1183 he appears as a leader of Brabant mercenaries in Southern France. He entered Richard's service in 1184, attacking and laying waste to lands of Aimar V of Limoges....
in a Normandy campaign, in 1197. Richard was still refusing to release him a year later, and again early in 1199. When Peter of Capua
Peter of Capua
Peter of Capua was an Italian theologian and scholastic philosopher, and a Cardinal and papal legate.Peter was a member of an Amalfitan family. After a being a teacher at the University of Paris, he was employed by Pope Innocent III as legate. He made trips to Poland and Bohemia in 1197,...
(who was trying to enlist Richard for the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
) insisted that Richard release Philip, Richard exploded and threatened to castrate Peter, so intense was his hatred of his prisoner Philip. Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...
was unsympathetic to Philip, confined at Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
and then, after an escape attempt, at Chinon
Chinon
Chinon is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France well known for Château de Chinon.In the Middle Ages, Chinon developed especially during the reign of Henry II . The castle was rebuilt and extended, becoming one of his favorite residences...
. He was freed only after Richard’s death in 1199, with John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
agreeing to exchange him for the captured bishop-elect of Cambrai in 1200.
In 1210 he was in action against the Cathars in southern France, with Renaud de Mouçon, bishop of Chartres, in support of Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester
Simon IV de Montfort, Seigneur de Montfort-l'Amaury, 5th Earl of Leicester , also known as Simon de Montfort the elder, was a French nobleman who took part in the Fourth Crusade and was a prominent leader of the Albigensian Crusade...
.
He drew support from Philip Augustus in his conflict against Renaud de Dammartin
Renaud de Dammartin
Renaud de Dammartin was Count of Boulogne from 1190, Count of Dammartin from 1200 to 1214 and Count of Aumale from 1204 to 1214. He was son of Alberic II of Dammartin, and Mathilde of Clermont....
, leading to Renaud's 1212 alliance with John. Philip was later a combatant on the victorious French side in 1214 at 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...
. He took a mace to William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, at an important moment in the battle, leading to the Earl’s capture.