94555214. Matthew of Alsace & 94555215. Marie of Boulogne
1133, Marie born in France, d/o 189110430. King Stephen & 189110431. Matilda of Boulogne.
12/22/1135, Stephen, Marie’s father, crowned king of England.
1137, Matthew born in Flanders, younger s/o 189110410. Thierry of Alsace & 189110411. Sybil of Anjou.
1137, Marie’s older sister, betrothed to Waleran de Beaumont,
died.
8/1/1137, Louis VII
succeeded as king of France.
1148, Marie became a nun at Romsey abbey, Hampshire.
8/1153, Marie’s eldest brother Eustace died, her brother
William the next heir.
11/6/1153, By the Treaty of Wallingford, Duke Henry of Normandy
recognized by his cousin King Stephen of England as his heir [Passing over
Marie’s brother William].
10/25/1154, Marie’s father King Stephen died; Henry II
succeeding by grant of her father.
12/19/1154, Henry II
crowned king of England.
1155, Marie elected Abbess of Romsey abbey when Abbess Matilda
died.
1157, Matthew’s older brother Philip began acting as co-Regent
for their father who left on a trip to the Holy land.
10/11/1159, Marie’s brother William died without heirs, leaving
her as Countess of Boulogne. [William had disposed of his English lands.]
[–––Matthew &
Marie–––]
5/1160, Matthew abducted Marie from Romsey abbey and married
her. [The marriage was supported by King Henry II.] Matthew’s father did not
approve of the marriage. Archbishop Thomas Becket was vehemently opposed to the
marriage.
3/1161, Thierry and son Matthew were reconciled by the aid of
the Bishop of Cambrai. (S) Families, Friends, and Allies:, Tanner, 2004, P203.
12/18/1161, Pope Alexander wrote about Marie’s abduction and
forced marriage to the Archbishop of Rheims.
1164, King Henry’s last brother William died. Matthew began to
assert his claims to the county of Mortain, and William of Blois’ estates in
England.
1165, Matthew of Alsace, count of Boulogne, founded the city of
Calais. (S) Calais, Rose, 2008, P7. [This could have been as part of the
planned invasion of England by Matthew and his brother Philip. They were
preparing a fleet of 600 ships, which could not be assembled in a well-known
port while keeping the preparations secret. (S) Richeliieu, James, 1837, P128.]
12/6/1166 at Rouen, Matthew of Boulogne met in conference with
King Henry II. [King Henry agreed to an annual payment of 1000£, for Matthew
renouncing all claims on the Comte de Mortain, doing homage, and committing to
military service.]
1167, Matthew campaigned with his brother Philip against
Forence, earl of Holland; capturing the earl.
1167, Matthew, count of Boulogne, planned an invasion of
England in support of King Louis. [The invasion never occurred.] (S) Feudal
Assessments, Keefe, 1983, P13.
1/17/1168, Matthew’s father died; his brother Philip
succeeding.
8/1168, John, count of Ponthieu, refused permission to Matthew,
Comte of Boulogne, to march his troops through his county to assist King Henry.
[King Henry took vengeance by burning more than 40 villages in the Viemieu.]
1168, “To her reverend lord Louis, king of the French, Mary,
countess of Bologne, … Henry, king of England, has sent ambassadors to the
emperor … sincere in his assisstance against you … The returning ambassadors
passed through my territories, and I spoke with them, and well I percieved from
their words that the English king ceases not, day or night, to devise mischief
against you. …”. (S) Letters of Royal and Illustrious Ladies, V1, Green, 1846,
P13.
1169, Marie’s marriage dissolved, she entered St. Austrebert,
near Montreuil. [Marie likely got the support of King Louis in ending the
marriage.]
[–––Matthew, Marie–––]
1170, Marie, using the name “Idonea”, delivered decrees from
Thomas, archishop of Canterbury, to persons in England forbidding the coronation
of King Henry II’s eldest son. (S) Thomas Becket, Guy, 2012, P288.
1171, Matthew married Eleanor, d/o Ralph I, count of
Vermandois.
1172, Matthew, Count of Boulogne, gives to the Abbey
of St Josse 10000 herrings yearly, to be paid at Boulogne or Calais.
(S) Oxford Studies in Social and Legal History, V4, 1914, P48.
1172, Matthew made a donation to Marie’s abbey.
4/1173, Matthew supported the rebellion of the 3 eldest sons of
King Henry II in Normandy.
7/1173, Matthew with his brother Philip join Prince Henry at
the siege of Driencourt.
1173, Matthew granted lands on the church of St. Judoc, “with
the consent of the Countess Mary his wife, and his daughters.”
12/1173, Matthew died after the siege of Driencourt, after being
wounded by a crossbow bolt; his daughter Ida succeeding as Countess of
Boulogne.
1182, Marie made a grant to Lillechurch.
9/18/1180, Philip Augustus succeeded as King of France.
7/25/1182, Marie died; buried at St. Austrebert. (S)
Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Vitalis, 1856, P158.
(S) Families, Friends, and Allies: Boulogne and Politics,
Tanner, 2004, P203. (S) Lives of the Princesses of England, V1, Green, 1850.
(S) Court, Household, and Itinerary of King Henry II, Eyton, 1878.
Family notes:
·
Public acts of Earl Matthew were always
authenticated with Marie’s signature and seal.
Children of Matthew and Marie:
i. Ida of Boulogne, born ~1163 in Boulogne.
1181, Ida married Gerard of Guelders [died 1182].
Ida married Berthold IV of Zahringen.
Ida married Count Renaud de Dammartin.
4/21/1216, Ida died.
