Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne facts for kids

Eustace IV (born around 1129-1131, died August 17, 1153) was a count who ruled Boulogne from 1146 until he died. He was the oldest son of King Stephen of England and Countess Matilda I of Boulogne. When his father became King of England in 1135, Eustace was expected to be the next king. However, he died before his father.

Early Life of Eustace IV

Eustace was first mentioned in a document from his parents, written around August 1131. His father, Stephen, became King of England after his uncle, King Henry I, died. But Henry I's daughter, Empress Matilda, also claimed the throne. This led to a long civil war known as the Anarchy.

In 1137, Eustace was the likely heir to the English throne. He showed loyalty to King Louis VII of France for Normandy. In 1140, Eustace married Louis's sister, Constance. She was 16, and Eustace was about 10 or 12. He became a knight in 1147, when he was likely between 16 and 18 years old.

Eustace and The Anarchy

In 1151, Eustace joined his brother-in-law, King Louis VII, in a raid on Normandy. Normandy was also being fought over by Empress Matilda and King Stephen. This raid did not last long. King Louis soon accepted Henry Plantagenet, Empress Matilda's son, as the rightful ruler of Normandy.

The next year, Eustace was in France. He was part of a group of leaders who were against Henry. But Henry's control over Normandy remained strong.

Trying to Crown Eustace

Later in the civil war, King Stephen wanted to make sure Eustace would be the next king. At a meeting in London on April 6, 1152, Stephen convinced some powerful nobles to promise loyalty to Eustace as their future king.

However, the archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald of Bec, and other bishops refused to crown Eustace. They said that the Pope had told them not to crown Eustace while his father was still alive. This made King Stephen and Eustace very angry. Some stories say they even tried to force the bishops to agree. Archbishop Theobald reportedly escaped across the River Thames and went into hiding for a short time.

This was not Stephen's first attempt to crown Eustace. The Pope had forbidden any changes to the English crown as early as 1143. This rule was kept by the Popes who came after.

On May 3, 1152, Eustace's mother, Matilda of Boulogne, died. This made Eustace the new Count of Boulogne.

The Treaty of Winchester

In July 1153, Henry Plantagenet invaded England and gained much support. After a battle at Wallingford, King Stephen was convinced to make a deal. This agreement was called the Treaty of Winchester. It stated that Henry would be Stephen's heir, not Eustace.

Eustace was very upset by this decision. He left the court, feeling that the war had not ended properly.

Death and What Happened Next

Eustace died suddenly in mid-August 1153. Some believed he died because he had taken land from the church near Bury St Edmunds. Others thought he died simply from a broken heart.

Many people were happy about Eustace's death. It opened the way for a peaceful end to the conflict between King Stephen and Henry Plantagenet. According to one writer, Stephen was "very sad" about his son's death. He became less interested in fighting and more willing to listen to those who wanted peace.

Eustace's Reputation

Eustace had a mixed reputation. The Peterborough Chronicle described him as "an evil man." It said he caused much harm, ruined lands, and demanded high taxes. He had threatened bishops and forced religious houses to give money for the war.

However, another book, the Gesta Stephani, described Eustace as having good manners. It said he was a true heir to Stephen, able to deal with people whether they were equal or superior to him.

Eustace was buried in Faversham Abbey in Kent. His parents, King Stephen and Queen Matilda, were also buried there. Sadly, all three tombs were lost when the monasteries were closed down much later.