Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raymond VII
Count of Toulouse
Reign	1222–1249
Predecessor	Raymond VI
Successor	Joan
Born	July 1197 Château de Beaucaire
Died	27 September 1249 Toulouse
Burial	Fontevraud Abbey
Spouse	Sancha of Aragon, Margaret of Lusignan
Issue	Joan, Countess of Toulouse
House	Rouergue
Father	Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse
Mother	Joan of England

Raymond VII was an important ruler in France during the Middle Ages. He was born in July 1197 and died in September 1249. From 1222 until his death, he was the Count of Toulouse, the Duke of Narbonne, and the Marquis of Provence. These were powerful titles in his time.

Raymond VII, a powerful count in medieval France.

Family and Marriages

Raymond was born at the Château de Beaucaire, a castle in France. His father was Raymond VI of Toulouse. His mother was Joan of England. This meant his mother was the daughter of Henry II of England. He was also the nephew of English kings Richard I and John of England.

In 1211, Raymond VII married Sancha of Aragon. They had one daughter named Joan. Raymond and Sancha divorced in 1241.

Later, Raymond tried to marry other important women. He was supposed to marry Sanchia of Provence. But she married Richard of Cornwall instead. In 1243, Raymond married Margaret of Lusignan. She was the daughter of Hugh X of Lusignan. This marriage did not last long. A church meeting in 1245 allowed Raymond to divorce her. He then wanted to marry Beatrice of Provence. But Beatrice married Charles I of Naples instead.

Life as a Ruler

Raymond VII lived during a time of great conflict. This was the Albigensian Crusade, a war against a religious group. In May 1216, Raymond started fighting. He attacked and captured the town of Beaucaire. He worked to take back his lands around Toulouse. These lands were held by Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester and later his son, Amaury VI.

Raymond became Count of Toulouse in 1222, after his father died. When he became count, he and Roger Bernard II, the new Count of Foix, attacked Carcassonne. In 1224, the crusaders gave up. The war seemed to end, and peace was made with the church.

However, in 1225, Raymond was excommunicated by the church. This meant he was kicked out of the church. A new crusade was started against him. The King of France, Louis VIII, wanted to take control of Raymond's lands. Raymond and the Count of Foix fought back.

The war had many small battles. In 1229, Raymond was defeated. He had to sign the Treaty of Paris. With this treaty, he gave some of his lands to Louis IX. His daughter, Joan, was also forced to marry Alphonse, Count of Poitiers. Alphonse was the brother of King Louis IX.

In 1242, Raymond joined forces with Hugh X of Lusignan and Henry III of England. They fought against King Louis IX during the Saintonge War. But Raymond was forced to give up his castles. These included the castles of Saverdun and Bram.

When Raymond died in 1249, his son-in-law Alphonse became Count of Toulouse. After Alphonse died, the county of Toulouse became part of France. Raymond VII was buried next to his mother, Joan, at Fontevrault Abbey.

See also

In Spanish: Raimundo VII de Tolosa para niños