Renaud II de Pons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Renaud II de Pons
Seal of Lord of Pons, dating from 1230.
Died	1252
Father	Geoffroy III de Pons
Mother	Agnès de Matha

Renaud II (born around 1170 – died June 11, 1252) was an important French nobleman. He was also known as Reginald de Pontibus or Renaud de Ponz. From 1191 until his death, he was the lord of Pons in the Saintonge area of France.

Renaud was a strong supporter of John, King of England, during the rivalry between the English and French royal families. He traveled far from home three times to fight in religious wars. These included the Third Crusade, the Reconquista in Spain, and the Seventh Crusade. People sometimes called him "the younger" to tell him apart from his uncle, who had the same name.

A Noble's Life

Renaud was the oldest son of Geoffroy III de Pons and Agnès de Matha. He became the lord of Pons in 1191 after his father passed away.

Joining the Crusades

In 1191, the same year he became lord, Renaud joined the Third Crusade. This was a major journey to the Holy Land. Before leaving, he made sure to confirm a gift his father had made to a charity. He was likely at least 20 years old when he went on this crusade.

Family and Marriage

After returning from the crusade, Renaud married Marguerite. She was the lady of Montignac and the only child of Taleyrand, the lord of Montignac. This marriage made Renaud connected to important families in the region.

Supporting King John

In 1202, John, King of England, gave Renaud II and two other lords control of the castle of Cognac. This area actually belonged to another count, but King John had controlled it for some time. Renaud and Pons de Mirebeau were half-brothers.

In 1206, Renaud helped King John make a two-year peace agreement with Philip II, King of France. This agreement extended the peace that had ended a war between England and France in 1204.

Fighting in Spain

On April 6, 1212, Renaud promised to pay a large fine. This was for damage his soldiers had caused to a monastery during a military campaign. At that time, he was "willingly entering the land of Spain to meet the Saracens for the defense of the Christian faith." He likely joined the campaign that led to a big Christian victory at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa on July 16, 1212.

Loyalty to England

In 1213, Philip II of France called his nobles to war against the Holy Roman Emperor. Renaud, like many nobles from his region, ignored this call. He stayed loyal to King John of England. King John had brought an army to France in 1214. The war ended with a French victory at the battle of Bouvines. Renaud helped guarantee the peace agreement that followed.

Conflicts Over Cognac

After King John died in 1216, control of Cognac became a problem. John's widow, Isabella, wanted Cognac back. She gave it to her new husband, Hugh X of Lusignan. Renaud kept fighting to keep control of Cognac and its surrounding areas for many years.

Changing Sides

Not much is known about Renaud's life between 1214 and 1226. He probably fought in the war between King John's son, Henry III of England, and Philip's son, Louis VIII of France, in 1224. In 1226, Renaud promised his loyalty to the new French king, Louis IX. He did this for the lands he held, including the castle of Montignac (which he got from his wife).

Despite this, Renaud's loyalty to France was not very strong. In 1234 and 1236, King Henry III of England appointed him to help enforce peace treaties with Louis IX. In 1241, Renaud joined a group of nobles who were against Louis IX. His younger son, Pons, even went to England to ask Henry III for help.

King Henry III came to France with an army and stayed at Pons for eight days. However, after the city of Saintes was taken by Louis on July 28, 1242, Renaud stopped supporting the English side. Louis and his brother camped near the castle walls of Pons. There, Renaud again promised his loyalty to the French king. Louis then appointed him to help with the Treaty of Bordeaux, which ended the short war.

Final Crusade and Death

Around 1248, when he was about 80 years old, Renaud joined his lord, Alphonse, on the Seventh Crusade. This crusade was organized by King Louis IX. Renaud left his oldest son, Geoffroy IV, in charge of his lands. Renaud died overseas on June 11, 1252, after making his will.

Family and Children

Renaud and his wife, Marguerite, had several children:

• Geoffroy IV of Pons (died 1247), who married Agathe de Lusignan and had children.
• Raimond de Pons, who became Lord of Viroul, Lorzines, Nianc, and Pré des Angles.
• Pons de Pons, who became the Bishop of Santes.
• Jean de Pons
• Mahaut de Pons
• Agnès de Pons, who married twice and had children.

Images for kids

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  Seal of Lord of Pons, dating from 1230.