Renaud de Dammartin
Encyclopedia
Renaud de Dammartin (c. 1165 – 1227) 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.
Brought up at the French court, he was a childhood friend of Philip Augustus. At his father's insistence he fought for the Plantagenets. Received back into Philip's favour, he married Marie de Châtillon, daughter of Guy II de Châtillon and Alix de Dreux, a royal cousin.
On Philip's advice, he then set aside Marie, and forcibly married Ide de Lorraine (died 1216), who was countess of Boulogne and widow of Bertold IV de Zähringen, daughter of Mathieu d'Alsace and Marie de Boulogne, who had been count and countess of Boulogne. The County of Boulogne thereby became vassal to the French king, rather than the count of Flanders
. While this marriage made Renaud a power, it also made enemies in the Dreux
family and that of the count of Guînes, who had been betrothed to Ide.
In 1203, Renaud and his wife gave a merchant's charter
to Boulogne
. This was probably made for financial consideration. Philip made Renaud count of Aumale the following year, but Renaud began to detach himself. Following the acquisition of Normandy in April 1204, King Philip granted Renaud the county of Mortain and the honor of Warenne which was centered on the fortresses of Mortemer
and Bellencombre
. Both Mortain and Warenne had been held by William of Blois
, second son of King Stephen of England
, and it would appear that King Philip recognized the Boulogne claim to them.
In 1211, he refused to appear before Philip in a legal matter, a suit with Philippe de Dreux, bishop of Beauvais. Philip II seized his lands and on 4 May 1212 at Lambeth, Dammartin made an agreement with King John
who had also lost possessions to Philip. Renaud brought other continental nobles, including the count of Flanders
, into a coalition with John against Philip. In return he was given several fiefs in England and an annuity. Each promised not to make a separate peace with France.
With the Emperor Otto IV and Ferrand of Flanders, he took part in the attack on France in 1214 culminating in the Battle of Bouvines
. He was on the losing side, but was one of the last to surrender, and refused submission to Philip Augustus. His lands were taken away, and given to Philippe Hurepel
. Renaud was kept imprisoned at Péronne
for the rest of his life. His daughter Mathilde de Dammartin was married to Philippe Hurepel
. She later married Alphonso III of Portugal.
Count of Boulogne
The county of Boulogne was a historical region in the Low Countries. It consisted of a part of the present-day French département of the Pas-de-Calais , in parts of which there is still a Dutch-speaking minority....
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
Alberic II of Dammartin
Alberic II of Dammartin was a French count.He married Marie, heiress to the county of Clermont. They had three children:* Renaud I, Count of Dammartin Alberic II of Dammartin (Aubry de Dammartin) (died 1200 AD) was a French count.He married Marie, heiress to the county of Clermont. They had three...
, and Mathilde of Clermont.
Brought up at the French court, he was a childhood friend of Philip Augustus. At his father's insistence he fought for the Plantagenets. Received back into Philip's favour, he married Marie de Châtillon, daughter of Guy II de Châtillon and Alix de Dreux, a royal cousin.
On Philip's advice, he then set aside Marie, and forcibly married Ide de Lorraine (died 1216), who was countess of Boulogne and widow of Bertold IV de Zähringen, daughter of Mathieu d'Alsace and Marie de Boulogne, who had been count and countess of Boulogne. The County of Boulogne thereby became vassal to the French king, rather than the count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
. While this marriage made Renaud a power, it also made enemies in the Dreux
Dreux
Dreux is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-History:Dreux was known in ancient times as Durocassium, the capital of the Durocasses Celtic tribe. Despite the legend, its name was not related with Druids. The Romans established here a fortified camp known as Castrum...
family and that of the count of Guînes, who had been betrothed to Ide.
In 1203, Renaud and his wife gave a merchant's charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
to Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
. This was probably made for financial consideration. Philip made Renaud count of Aumale the following year, but Renaud began to detach himself. Following the acquisition of Normandy in April 1204, King Philip granted Renaud the county of Mortain and the honor of Warenne which was centered on the fortresses of Mortemer
Mortemer
Etymology: Romance morte = dead, and Frankish mari/meri = "mere", pond.Mortemer is the name of 2 communes in France:* Mortemer, in the Oise département, Picardy* Mortemer in the Seine-Maritime département, Haute-Normandie...
and Bellencombre
Bellencombre
Bellencombre is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A forestry and farming village situated by the banks of the Varenne River in the Pays de Bray, some south of Dieppe at the junction of the D151, D154 and D48...
. Both Mortain and Warenne had been held by William of Blois
William of Blois
William I of Blois was Count of Boulogne and Earl of Surrey jure uxoris . He was the third son of King Stephen of England and Matilda of Boulogne....
, second son of King Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
, and it would appear that King Philip recognized the Boulogne claim to them.
In 1211, he refused to appear before Philip in a legal matter, a suit with Philippe de Dreux, bishop of Beauvais. Philip II seized his lands and on 4 May 1212 at Lambeth, Dammartin made an agreement with King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
who had also lost possessions to Philip. Renaud brought other continental nobles, including the count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, into a coalition with John against Philip. In return he was given several fiefs in England and an annuity. Each promised not to make a separate peace with France.
With the Emperor Otto IV and Ferrand of Flanders, he took part in the attack on France in 1214 culminating in 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 was on the losing side, but was one of the last to surrender, and refused submission to Philip Augustus. His lands were taken away, and given to Philippe Hurepel
Philippe Hurepel
Philip Hurepel was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, Boulogne, Mortain, Aumale, and Dammartin. He was the son of Philip II of France and his controversial third wife Agnes of Merania. Illegitimacy shadowed his birth and career....
. Renaud was kept imprisoned at Péronne
Péronne
Péronne is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Péronne, Saône-et-Loire, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Péronne, Somme, in the Somme département* Péronne-en-Mélantois, in the Nord département...
for the rest of his life. His daughter Mathilde de Dammartin was married to Philippe Hurepel
Philippe Hurepel
Philip Hurepel was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, Boulogne, Mortain, Aumale, and Dammartin. He was the son of Philip II of France and his controversial third wife Agnes of Merania. Illegitimacy shadowed his birth and career....
. She later married Alphonso III of Portugal.