Henry I, Count of Champagne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry I, Count of Champagne |
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| Henry I of Champagne | |
| Spouse(s) | Marie of France, Countess of Champagne |
| Issue | |
| Henry II, Count of Champagne Marie, Latin Empress Theobald III, Count of Champagne Scholastique, Countess of Mâcon |
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| Noble family | |
| Father | Theobald II of Champagne |
| Mother | Matilda of Carinthia |
| Born | December 1127 |
| Died | 16 March 1181 (aged 53) Troyes |
Henry I (born December 1127 – died 16 March 1181) was a powerful French noble. He was often called the Liberal because he was known for being generous. Henry was the count of Champagne from 1152 until his death in 1181. He was the oldest son of Count Theobald II of Champagne and his wife, Matilda of Carinthia.
Contents
Henry's Early Life and Crusades
Henry joined the Second Crusade with Louis VII of France. This was a big religious journey to the Middle East. Henry even carried a special letter from a famous monk, Bernard of Clairvaux, to the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos. In 1148, Henry was among the important people who met at Acre with Baldwin III of Jerusalem.
Choosing Champagne
When his father passed away, Henry made a surprising choice. He decided to become the Count of Champagne. He left his family's older, richer lands like Blois and Chartres to his younger brothers. This seemed strange at the time because those lands were more developed. However, Henry likely saw a bright future for Champagne. Under his rule, Champagne became one of the richest and strongest areas in France.
Henry's Rule and Achievements
Henry brought strong and fair rule to the nobles in Champagne. He could count on about 2,000 loyal supporters. This made him a very powerful leader in France. Because of his strong rule, Champagne became a safe place for merchants.
The Famous Champagne Fairs
Under Henry's protection, the Champagne Fairs became very important. These were huge markets where traders from all over Europe came to buy and sell goods. They were a central part of trade and money in medieval Europe.
A Center for Learning
Henry's court in Troyes also became a famous place for writers and scholars. People like Walter Map found a welcoming home there. A scholar named Stephen of Alinerre worked for Henry and became the county's main secretary in 1176.
Later Life and Death
In 1179, Henry traveled to Jerusalem again. He went with other French knights, including his relatives Peter of Courtenay and Philip of Dreux. On his way back to Europe, Henry traveled through Asia Minor. He was captured by Kilij Arslan II, the sultan of Rüm. The Byzantine Emperor paid a large sum of money to free Henry. Henry died soon after, on 16 March 1181.
Henry's Family
In 1164, Henry married Marie of France. She was the daughter of Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
They had four children:
- Scholastique of Champagne (died 1219), who married William IV of Mâcon.
- Henry II (1166–1197).
- Marie of Champagne (died 1204), who married Baldwin I of Constantinople.
- Theobald III of Champagne (1179–1201).
Building Saint-Étienne Church
Henry built the church of Saint-Étienne in Troyes. Construction took place between 1157 and 1171. He planned for it to be a burial place for his family, the House of Blois. Henry himself was buried there, as was his son Theobald III. However, most of his later family members were buried elsewhere.
Henry's oldest son, Henry II, became count after him. Later, when Henry II became king of Jerusalem, his younger brother, Theobald, became the Count of Champagne.
