Count of Champagne facts for kids

The Count of Champagne was a powerful ruler in a region of France called County of Champagne. This title existed from the year 950 to 1316. The area of Champagne grew from a smaller region known as the County of Troyes. Hugh I was the first person to officially be called the Count of Champagne.

Later, Count Theobald IV also became the king of a place called Kingdom of Navarre in 1234. His great-granddaughter, Joan, married King Philip IV of France. When Joan passed away in 1305, her son Louis became the last independent Count of Champagne. When Louis became King of France in 1314, the title of Count of Champagne joined the French royal family's lands forever.

The Counts of Champagne also held an important job called seneschal of France. This was like a chief officer or manager for the king.

Early Rulers of Champagne

Dukes of Champagne

Coat of arms for the Champagne-Ardenne region.

Long ago, during the Merovingian and Carolingian times, there were several dukes who ruled Champagne. A "duke" is another type of powerful noble. This duchy (the land ruled by a duke) was formed by joining several cities like Rheims, Châlons-sur-Marne, Laon, and Troyes.

In the late 600s and early 700s, the Pippinid family controlled Champagne. The first was Drogo, who was the son of Pippin of Herstal. After Drogo, his son Arnulf ruled.

• Drogo (690–707)
• Arnulf (707-723)

Counts of Troyes and Meaux

Before the full County of Champagne was formed, different counts ruled smaller areas like Troyes and Meaux. These families eventually joined their lands.

Counts of Troyes

Coat of arms for the city of Troyes.

• Odo I (853–858 and 866–871)
• Rudolph I (858–866)
• Odo II (871–876)
• Robert I (876–886)
• Adalelm (886–894)
• Richard (894–921), also a Duke of Burgundy
• Rudolph II (921–936), also a Duke of Burgundy and King of France
• Hugh (936–952), also a Duke of Burgundy
• Gilbert (952–956), also a Duke of Burgundy

Counts of Meaux

Coat of arms for the city of Meaux.

• Louis (862–877), also King of Aquitaine and King of France
• Theodebert (877–888)
• Herbert I (896–902)
• Herbert II (902–943)
• Robert (943–967), who also ruled Troyes from 956

Counts of Troyes and Meaux (United) These counts ruled both Troyes and Meaux, bringing the regions closer together.

• Robert (956–967)
• Herbert (967–995)
• Stephen I (995–1022)
• Odo (1022–1037), who was also the Count of Blois
• Stephen II (1037–1048)
• Odo (1048–1066)
• Theobald I (1066–1089), also the Count of Blois

Counts of Troyes and Counts of Meaux and Blois (Separate again) For a short time, the titles were held by different people again.

• Odo V (1089–1093)
• Hugh (1093–1102)

• Stephen III Henry (1089–1102)
• Theobald II (1102–1151), who became Count of Champagne from 1125

The Counts of Champagne

The coat of arms for the Champagne-Ardenne region.

This is the list of the main Counts of Champagne, who ruled the unified region.

• Hugh (1102–1125)
• Theobald II (1125–1152)
• Henry I (1152–1181)
• Henry II (1181–1197), who was also King of Jerusalem
• Theobald III (1197–1201)

The royal coat of arms of Navarre from 1234-1284.

• Theobald IV (1201–1253), who was also King of Navarre
• Theobald V (1253–1270), also King of Navarre
• Henry III (1270–1274), also King of Navarre
• Joan (1274–1305), she was Countess in her own right (meaning she inherited the title herself), and also Queen of Navarre

The royal arms of Navarre from 1328-1425.

• Philip (co-ruler with Joan), who was also King of France
• Louis (1305–1316), who was also King of Navarre. He became King of France in 1314, and after that, the title of Count of Champagne became part of the French royal family's lands.

See also

• Timeline of Troyes

Images for kids

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  Original coat of arms of the county of Champagne.