Robert III of Artois
Encyclopedia
Robert III of ArtoisRobert III of Artois (1287–1342, Vannes
, France
) was the son of Philip of Artois
and Blanche of Brittany
.
In 1318 he married Joan of Valois
(1304–1363), daughter of Charles of Valois
, and had issue:
Robert played an important role in the succession of Philip VI of France
(his wife's half-brother) to the throne, and was his trusted adviser for some time. However, since the death of his grandfather Robert II of Artois
he had been involved in a succession dispute with his aunt Mahaut over the County of Artois
. At her death in 1329, the claim passed to her daughter Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, and the matter of the succession was again raised. Robert introduced a forged letter in support of his claims on Artois, but was discovered. His goods were confiscated in 1331, and he fled the country in 1332 to escape arrest and execution, and took refuge with his nephew John II, Marquis of Namur
. Philip confiscated his property, imprisoned his wife and his sons John and Charles, and requested that the Bishop of Liège attack Namur
. Accordingly, Robert fled again to John III, Duke of Brabant
, his nephew-in-law. Again, the influence of Philip stirred up a war against Brabant
, and Robert was exiled again, this time to England
.
Arriving in England in 1334, he encouraged King Edward III
to claim the title of King of France as a descendant of Philip IV
. He followed Edward in his campaigns thereafter, including command of the Anglo-Flemish army at the inconclusive battle of Saint-Omer
in 1340; he ultimately succumbed to dysentery after being wounded in an assault on the city of Vannes
in November of 1342, during the War of the Breton Succession. He was originally buried in the Blackfriars
church, in London
, though his grave is now in St. Paul's Cathedral.
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
, 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...
) was the son of Philip of Artois
Philip of Artois
Philip of Artois was the son of Robert II of Artois, Count of Artois and Amicie de Courtenay. He was the Lord of Conches, Nonancourt, and Domfront....
and Blanche of Brittany
Blanche of Brittany
Blanche of Brittany was a daughter of John II, Duke of Brittany and his wife Beatrice of England. She is also known as Blanche de Dreux...
.
In 1318 he married Joan of Valois
Joan of Valois (1304-1363)
Joan of Valois was the daughter of Charles of Valois and his second wife Catherine I of Courtenay, titular empress of Constantinople....
(1304–1363), daughter of Charles of Valois
Charles of Valois
Charles of Valois was the fourth son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet and founded the House of Valois...
, and had issue:
- Louis (1320–1326/29)
- John of ArtoisJohn of Artois, Count of EuJohn of Artois , called "sans Terre" , was the son of Robert III of Artois and Jeanne of Valois. The confiscation of his father's goods for attempted fraud in 1331 had left him without an inheritance....
(1321–1387), Count of Eu "sans Terre" - Joan (b. 1323), d. young
- James (1325 – aft. 1347)
- Robert (1326 – aft. 1347)
- Charles of Artois, Count of PézenasCharles of Artois, Count of PézenasCharles of Artois was the son of Robert III of Artois and Jeanne of Valois.He was made Count of Longueville in 1356, but he gave it up to Bertrand du Guesclin in 1364 and became Count of Pézenas....
and LonguevilleLonguevilleLongueville may refer to:Places:*Longueville, New South Wales, suburb of Sydney, AustraliaCommunes in France:*Longueville, Calvados, in the Calvados département*Longueville, Lot-et-Garonne, in the Lot-et-Garonne département...
(1328–1385)
Robert played an important role in the succession of Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
(his wife's half-brother) to the throne, and was his trusted adviser for some time. However, since the death of his grandfather Robert II of Artois
Robert II of Artois
Robert II was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant.An experienced soldier, he took part in the Aragonese Crusade and attempted an invasion of Sicily in 1287. He defeated the Flemings in 1297 at the Battle of Furnes...
he had been involved in a succession dispute with his aunt Mahaut over the County of Artois
County of Artois
The County of Artois was an historic province of the Kingdom of France, held by the Dukes of Burgundy from 1384 until 1477/82, and a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1493 until 1659....
. At her death in 1329, the claim passed to her daughter Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, and the matter of the succession was again raised. Robert introduced a forged letter in support of his claims on Artois, but was discovered. His goods were confiscated in 1331, and he fled the country in 1332 to escape arrest and execution, and took refuge with his nephew John II, Marquis of Namur
John II, Marquis of Namur
John II of Namur, , was Marquis of Namur between 1330 and 1335.He was the eldest son of John I, Marquis of Namur, and Mary of Artois.He succeeded his father on January 26 1330...
. Philip confiscated his property, imprisoned his wife and his sons John and Charles, and requested that the Bishop of Liège attack Namur
Namur (province)
Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...
. Accordingly, Robert fled again to John III, Duke of Brabant
John III, Duke of Brabant
Jan III van Brabant , also called John III, the Triumphant , was Duke of Brabant, Lothier, and Limburg...
, his nephew-in-law. Again, the influence of Philip stirred up a war against Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
, and Robert was exiled again, this time to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Arriving in England in 1334, he encouraged King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
to claim the title of King of France as a descendant of Philip IV
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
. He followed Edward in his campaigns thereafter, including command of the Anglo-Flemish army at the inconclusive battle of Saint-Omer
Battle of Saint-Omer
The battle of Saint-Omer was a large action fought in 1340 as part of King Edward III's summer campaign against France launched from Flanders in the early stages of the Hundred Year's War. The campaign was launched in the aftermath of the battle of Sluys but proved far less successful for the...
in 1340; he ultimately succumbed to dysentery after being wounded in an assault on the city of Vannes
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
in November of 1342, during the War of the Breton Succession. He was originally buried in the Blackfriars
Blackfriars
Blackfriars is an area of central London, which lies in the south-west corner of the City of London.The name Blackfriars was first used in 1317 and derives from the black cappa worn by the Dominican Friars who moved their priory from Holborn to the area between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill in...
church, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, though his grave is now in St. Paul's Cathedral.
In fiction
- Robert III of Artois is a major character in The Accursed Kings, a series of historical novels by Maurice DruonMaurice DruonMaurice Druon was a French novelist and a member of the Académie française.Born in Paris, France, Druon was the nephew of the writer Joseph Kessel, with whom he translated the Chant des Partisans, a French Resistance anthem of World War II, with music and words originally by Anna Marly.In 1948...
, where many of these events are retold.