William IV of Toulouse
Encyclopedia
William IV of Toulouse was Count of Toulouse, Margrave of Provence, and Duke of Narbonne
from 1061 to 1094. He succeeded his father Pons of Toulouse
upon his death in 1061. His mother was Almodis de la Marche
, but she was kidnapped by and subsequently married to Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
when William was a boy. He was married to Emma of Mortain (daughter of Robert, Count of Mortain
and a niece of William of Normandy), who gave him one daughter, Philippa
. He also had an illegitimate son, William-Jordan, with his half sister Adelaide.
He married twice, and produced two legitimate sons; neither, however, survived infancy, leaving daughter Philippa as his heiress. As Toulouse had no tradition of female inheritance, this raised a question with regard to succession. In 1088, when William departed for the Holy Land, he left his brother, Raymond of Saint-Gilles
, to govern in his stead (and, it was later claimed, to succeed him). Within five years, William was dead, and Raymond in a perfect position to take power - although, after Philippa married William IX of Aquitaine
, they laid claim to Toulouse and fought, off and on, for years to try to reclaim it from Raymond and his children.
He was the great-grandfather of Eleanor of Aquitaine
, by his daughter's marriage to William IX of Aquitaine, and Eleanor's descendants would continue to lay nominal claim to Toulouse based on descent from William IV.
Duke of Narbonne
The title Duke of Narbonne was a title employed at various times by the overlords of Narbonne, while the direct power in the city was held by the viscounts...
from 1061 to 1094. He succeeded his father Pons of Toulouse
Pons of Toulouse
Pons William was the Count of Toulouse from 1037. He was the eldest son and successor of William III Taillefer and Emma of Provence. He thus inherited the title marchio Provincæ. He is known to have owned many allods and he relied on Roman, Salic, and Gothic law.Already in 1030, he possessed a...
upon his death in 1061. His mother was Almodis de la Marche
Almodis de la Marche
Almodis de la Marche was the daughter of Bernard I, Count of Marche and wife Amélie. She married Hugh V of Lusignan around 1038 and they had two sons and one daughter:* Hugh VI of Lusignan * Jordan de Lusignan...
, but she was kidnapped by and subsequently married to Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer I the Old was Count of Barcelona in 1035–1076. He promulgated the earliest versions of a written code of Catalan law, the Usages of Barcelona....
when William was a boy. He was married to Emma of Mortain (daughter of Robert, Count of Mortain
Robert, Count of Mortain
Robert, Count of Mortain, 1st Earl of Cornwall was a Norman nobleman and the half-brother of William I of England. Robert was the son of Herluin de Conteville and Herleva of Falaise and was full brother to Odo of Bayeux. The exact year of Robert's birth is unknown Robert, Count of Mortain, 1st...
and a niece of William of Normandy), who gave him one daughter, Philippa
Philippa of Toulouse
Philippa Maude of Toulouse , also known as Philippa de Toulouse or Philippa de Rouergue, was the Duchess Consort of Aquitaine, and Countess of Toulouse...
. He also had an illegitimate son, William-Jordan, with his half sister Adelaide.
He married twice, and produced two legitimate sons; neither, however, survived infancy, leaving daughter Philippa as his heiress. As Toulouse had no tradition of female inheritance, this raised a question with regard to succession. In 1088, when William departed for the Holy Land, he left his brother, Raymond of Saint-Gilles
Raymond IV of Toulouse
Raymond IV of Toulouse , sometimes called Raymond of St Gilles, was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Margrave of Provence and one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was a son of Pons of Toulouse and Almodis de La Marche...
, to govern in his stead (and, it was later claimed, to succeed him). Within five years, William was dead, and Raymond in a perfect position to take power - although, after Philippa married William IX of Aquitaine
William IX of Aquitaine
William IX , called the Troubador, was the Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou between 1086 and his death. He was also one of the leaders of the Crusade of 1101...
, they laid claim to Toulouse and fought, off and on, for years to try to reclaim it from Raymond and his children.
He was the great-grandfather of Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
, by his daughter's marriage to William IX of Aquitaine, and Eleanor's descendants would continue to lay nominal claim to Toulouse based on descent from William IV.