William IX, Duke of Aquitaine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William IX |
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| Duke of Aquitaine | |
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| Miniature of William from a 13th-century chansonnier now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France | |
| Spouse(s) | Ermengarde of Anjou Philippa of Toulouse |
| Issue | |
| William X, Duke of Aquitaine Raymond, Prince of Antioch Agnes, Queen of Aragon |
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| Noble family | Poitiers |
| Father | William VIII of Aquitaine |
| Mother | Hildegarde of Burgundy |
| Born | 22 October 1071 |
| Died | 10 February 1126 (aged 54) |
William IX (born October 22, 1071 – died February 10, 1126) was a powerful leader in medieval France. He was the Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, and Count of Poitou from 1086 until his death.
William IX is famous for two main reasons. First, he was an important duke and count who led his lands. Second, he was the very first troubadour whose songs we still have today. Troubadours were poets and musicians who wrote and sang songs in the Occitan language.
Contents
William's Life as a Duke
William was the son of William VIII of Aquitaine and Hildegarde of Burgundy. His birth was a big event for his family. At first, some in the Church thought he was not a rightful heir. This was because of his father's earlier marriages. To fix this, his father went to Rome to get the Pope's approval. This made sure young William was seen as a legitimate heir.
Becoming a Leader
William became duke when he was just fifteen years old. This happened after his father passed away. In 1094, William married Philippa of Toulouse. She was an important noblewoman. Many historians believe Philippa was his only true wife.
William invited Pope Urban II to his home in 1095. The Pope encouraged him to join the First Crusade. William decided to take advantage of the situation. He captured Toulouse in 1098. This was a city his wife, Philippa, had a claim to.
Philippa was a big supporter of Robert of Arbrissel. She convinced William to give land for a new religious community. This place became Fontevraud Abbey. It was a very important abbey for women. Later, William's granddaughter, Eleanor of Aquitaine, would also support it.
Joining the Crusade
William joined the Crusade of 1101. This was an expedition inspired by the success of the First Crusade. To pay for his journey, he had to give Toulouse back to Bertrand, Raymond IV's son.
William arrived in the Holy Land in 1101. He stayed there until the next year. His time as a military leader was not very successful. He fought many small battles. In September 1101, his army was defeated by the Seljuk Turks. William barely escaped with a few companions.
Challenges with the Church
William had a difficult relationship with the Church. He was excommunicated, meaning he was temporarily cut off from the Church, two times. The first time was in 1114. This was because of a disagreement over Church taxes.
William also brought a woman named Dangereuse to live in his castle. She was the wife of one of his vassals. William even had her picture painted on his shield.
When Philippa returned to Poitiers, she was upset to find another woman living in her home. She asked her friends and the Church for help. However, no noble could help her because William was their leader. Philippa chose to go to Fontevraud Abbey in 1114. She passed away there in 1118.
Later Years
William's relationship with his oldest son, also named William, became difficult. But they became closer after the younger William married Aenor of Châtellerault in 1121. Aenor was Dangereuse's daughter.
Around 1120, William was welcomed back into the Church. He made some agreements with them. He may have even helped in the Reconquista in Spain. This was a long effort to take back land from Muslim rule.
Between 1120 and 1123, William fought alongside the kingdoms of Castile and León in Spain. They tried to capture Cordoba. During his time in Spain, William received a special rock crystal vase. He later gave this vase to his granddaughter, Eleanor.
In 1122, William lost control of Toulouse. He did not try to get it back. William IX passed away on February 10, 1126, at the age of 54. His nickname, "the Troubadour," became popular much later.
William's Poetic Career
William's most lasting impact was not as a warrior, but as a troubadour. He was a lyric poet who wrote in the Occitan language.
He is the earliest troubadour whose songs still exist today. We have eleven of his songs. These songs cover different topics. They talk about love, women, his own writing skills, and politics.
William was known for enjoying shocking his audiences. He also gave large donations to the Church. This might have been to get back into the Pope's good graces. He also added to the palace of the counts of Poitou. His granddaughter Eleanor later added to it as well. Today, it is known as the Palace of Justice.
One of William's poems talks about life and death. It might have been written when he was first excommunicated. Here are some lines from it:
I have given up all I loved so much:
chivalry and pride;
and since it pleases God, I accept it all,
that He may keep me by Him.
I enjoin my friends, upon my death,
all to come and do me great honor,
since I have held joy and delight
far and near, and in my abode.
Thus I give up joy and delight,
and squirrel and grey and sable furs.
A historian named Orderic Vitalis wrote that William composed songs after returning from the Crusade in 1102. These might be some of the very first "Crusade songs."
William's Family
In 1094, William married Philippa of Toulouse. She was the daughter and heir of William IV of Toulouse. William and Philippa had two sons and five daughters.
His oldest son was William X of Aquitaine. He became duke after his father. His second son, Raymond of Poitiers, became the Prince of Antioch in the Holy Land. One of his daughters, Agnes, married King Ramiro II of Aragon.
Some sources suggest that Baldwin of Marash was also a son of William and Philippa. He was born shortly before Philippa went to the abbey.
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo IX de Aquitania para niños
- Dukes of Aquitaine family tree
