Ralph, Count of Soissons facts for kids

Raoul le Bon (Ralph the Good), also known as Raoul III de Nesle, was an important French nobleman. He was the Count of Soissons starting in 1180. A count was a powerful ruler of a region, similar to a duke or a prince, during the Middle Ages. Raoul was the third son of Raoul II de Nesle and Gertrude de Montaigu.

Raoul's Early Life and Role

Raoul was born into a noble family. In 1178, he and his older brother John signed a special document, called a charter, with their eldest brother Conon. This charter was about giving land to a church called Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp.

A historian named Alberic de Trois-Fontaines wrote about Count Raoul of Soissons, saying he was "still alive." Later, Alberic recorded Raoul's death in 1235. In 1184, Raoul became the castellan of Noyon. A castellan was like a governor or a military commander of a castle or a town.

Joining the Third Crusade

In 1188, Raoul made a big decision. He "took the Cross" alongside King Henry II of England and King Philip II of France. This meant he promised to join the Third Crusade. The Crusades were a series of religious wars fought by European Christians to take back control of the Holy Land. Raoul joined this important journey on January 13, 1188, after a ceremony between Trie and Gisors.

Raoul's Family and Children

Raoul was married several times. His first wife was Adèle of Dreux, who was born around 1145 or 1146. She was the daughter of Robert I of Dreux. Adèle also helped confirm gifts of land to Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp and Tremblay-en-France. She passed away sometime between 1205 and 1210.

Raoul was also briefly married to Yolande, the daughter of Geoffrey IV of Joinville. His third wife was Ada d'Avesnes, who was the widow of Henry, Count of Grandpré.

Raoul and his first wife, Adele, had two daughters:

• Gertrude: She first married Count Jean de Beaumont-sur-Oise. After he died, she married Mathieu II de Montmorency, who was a very important military leader known as the Constable of France.
• Alienor: She first married Count Mathieu III de Beaumont-sur-Oise. After he died, she married Étienne II de Sancerre, who held the title of Grand Butler of France.

With his third wife, Ada, Raoul had three more children:

• John: He became the Count of Soissons after his father, Raoul, died.
• Ralph: He passed away in 1272. Ralph was likely a trouvère, which was a type of poet and musician in northern France during the Middle Ages.
• Isabelle of Nesle: She married a Viscount of Châtellerault.

When Raoul le Bon died on January 4, 1235, his son John took over as the Count of Soissons.