Alphonse, Count of Poitiers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Alphonse
Count of Poitiers
Reign1225–1271
Count of Toulouse
Reign1249–1271
PredecessorRaymond VII
Co-RulerJoan
Born11 November 1220
Poissy
Died21 August 1271
Tarquinia
Burial
Basilica of Saint-Denis
SpouseJoan, Countess of Toulouse
HouseCapet
FatherLouis VIII of France
MotherBlanche of Castile

Alphonse (11 November 1220 – 21 August 1271) was the

Marquisate of Provence
.

Birth and early life

Born at

Joan, daughter of Raymond VII of Toulouse, and so in 1237 Alphonse married her.[3] Since she was Raymond's only child, they became rulers of Toulouse at Raymond's death in 1249.[4]

Alphonse, as Count of Toulouse, recognised the autonomy of the commune of the town of Agen
. In this illustration he takes an oath before the consuls with his right hand on the town ordinances, while sitting on a pedestal. The consul administering the oath is forced to go on his knees, symbolising Alphonse's lordship and the town's loyalty.
Arms of Alphonse on a 13th-century harness pendant, found in West Berkshire, England.

By the terms of his father's will Alphonse received an

Auvergne.[5] To enforce this Louis IX won the battle of Taillebourg in the Saintonge War together with Alphonse against a revolt allied with King Henry III of England, who also participated in the battle.[6]

Crusades

Alphonse took part in two crusades with his brother, Louis IX, in 1248 (the Seventh Crusade) and in 1270 (the Eighth Crusade). For the first of these, he raised a large sum and a substantial force, arriving in Damietta on 24 October 1249, after the town had already been captured.[7] He sailed for home on 10 August 1250.[8] His father-in-law had died while he was away, and he went directly to Toulouse to take possession.[9] There was some resistance to his accession as count, which was suppressed with the help of his mother Blanche of Castile who was acting as regent in the absence of Louis IX.[10]

Later life

In 1252, on the death of his mother, Blanche of Castile, Alphonse was joint regent with

Maine, Anjou, and Poitou) in exchange for France withdrawing its support for English rebels.[11]

Alphonse's coat of arms was formed of those of France (left) and Castile (right), representing his father and mother respectively: Per pale azure semé-de-lis or dimidiating gules semé of castles or

Aside from the crusades, Alphonse stayed primarily in Paris, governing his estates by officials, inspectors who reviewed the officials' work, and a constant stream of messages.[12] His main work was on his own estates. There he repaired the effects of the Albigensian war and made a first attempt at administrative centralization, thus preparing the way for union with the crown. On 8 October 1268, Alphonse had all Jews throughout his lands arrested and their property confiscated.[13]

When Louis IX formed the Eighth Crusade, Alphonse again raised a large sum of money and accompanied his brother.[14] This time, however, he did not return to France, dying while on his way back, at Savona in Italy, on 21 August 1271.[15]

Death and legacy

Alphonse's death without heirs raised some questions as to the succession to his lands. One possibility was that they should revert to the crown, another that they should be redistributed to his family. The latter was claimed by Charles of Anjou, but in 1283

Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Marquis of Provence, so under Provençal and French law, the lands should have gone to her nearest male relative. However, her will was invalidated by Parlement in 1274.[10] One specific bequest in Alphonse's will, giving his wife's lands in the Comtat Venaissin to the Holy See, was allowed, and it became a Papal territory, a status which it retained until 1791.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Richard 1983, p. xxiv.
  2. ^ Jackson 1999, p. 64.
  3. ^ Fawtier 1960, p. 123.
  4. ^ Jordan 1999, p. 299.
  5. ^ Wood 1966, p. 23.
  6. ^ Wolfe 2009, p. 41.
  7. ^ Strayer 1969, p. 496-497.
  8. ^ Strayer 1969, p. 505.
  9. ^ Hallam 1980, p. 218.
  10. ^ a b c Hallam 1980, p. 258.
  11. ^ Clanchy 1983, p. 274.
  12. ^ Petit-Dutaillis 1936, p. 299-300.
  13. ^ Benbassa 2001, p. 19.
  14. ^ Strayer 1969, p. 511.
  15. ^ William of Puylaurens 2003, p. 122.
  16. ^ Kolla 2013, p. 718.

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alphonse de Poitiers.
Regnal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
John Lackland 		Count of Poitiers
1225–1271 		Vacant
Title next held by
Philip the Tall
Preceded by
Raymond VII
Joan
 		Vacant
Royal domain
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alphonse,_Count_of_Poitiers&oldid=1211105135"