Alys of France, (or Alice) Countess of

Vexin Vexin () is an historical county of northwestern France. It covers a verdant plateau on the right bank (north) of the Seine running roughly east to west between Pontoise and Romilly-sur-Andelle (about 20 km from Rouen), and north to south ...

(4 October 1160 – c. 1220) was a French princess, the daughter of Louis VII, King of France and his second wife, Constance of Castile.

Life

Alys was the half-sister of Marie and

Alix of France Alice of France (french: Alix; July/August 1150 – 1197/1198) was countess consort of Blois by marriage to Theobald V, Count of Blois. She was regent of Blois during the absence of her spouse in 1190-1191, and regent during the minority of Loui ...

, Louis's children by

Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor ( – 1 April 1204; french: Aliénor d'Aquitaine, ) was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, List of English royal consorts, Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of Henry II of England, King Henry I ...

, and the younger sister of Margaret of France. Just five weeks after Constance died giving birth to Alys, Louis married

Adèle of Champagne Adela of Champagne (french: Adèle; c. 1140 – 4 June 1206), also known as Adelaide, Alix and Adela of Blois, was Queen of France as the third wife of Louis VII. She was regent of France from 1190 to 1191 while her son Philip II participate ...

, by whom he had two further children, including the future King Philip II of France. In January 1169, Louis and King Henry II of England signed a contract for the marriage between Alys and Henry's son Richard the Lionheart. The 8-year-old Alys was then sent to England as Henry's ward. In 1177, Cardinal Peter of Saint Chrysogonus, on behalf of Pope Alexander III, threatened to place England's continental possessions under an interdict if Henry did not proceed with the marriage. There were widespread rumors that Henry had not only made Alys his mistress, but that she had a child with him. Henry died in 1189. King Richard married

Berengaria of Navarre Berengaria of Navarre ( eu, Berengela, es, Berenguela, french: Bérengère; 1165–1170 – 23 December 1230) was Queen of England as the wife of Richard I of England. She was the eldest daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of C ...

on 12 May 1191, while still officially engaged to Alys. Philip had offered Alys to Prince John, but Eleanor prevented the match.W.L. Warren, ''King John'', 43. Alys married William IV Talvas, Count of Ponthieu, on 20 August 1195. They had two daughters:

Marie, Countess of Ponthieu Marie of Ponthieu (17 April 1199 – 21 September 1250) was ''suo jure'' Countess of Ponthieu and Countess of Montreuil, ruling from 1221 to 1250. Biography Marie was the daughter of William IV of Ponthieu and Alys, Countess of the Vexin, and gra ...

, and Isabelle; and a stillborn son named Jean.

References

Sources

*Churchill, Winston. ''A History of the English Speaking People''. * Poole, A.L. ''Domesday Book to Magna Carta''. *

Ralph of Diceto Ralph de Diceto (or Ralph of Diss; c. 1120c. 1202) was archdeacon of Middlesex, dean of St Paul's Cathedral (from c. 1180), and author of two chronicles, the ''Abbreviationes chronicorum'' and the ''Ymagines historiarum''. Early career Ralph is ...

* Roger of Hovedon *

Benedict of Peterborough Benedict, sometimes known as Benedictus Abbas (Latin for "Benedict the Abbot"; died 29 September 1193), was abbot of Peterborough. His name was formerly erroneously associated with the ''Gesta Henrici Regis Secundi'' and ''Gesta Regis Ricardi'', En ...

* Gerald of Wales {{DEFAULTSORT:Alys, Countess of Vexin Vexin, Alys, Countess of Mistresses of Henry II of England House of Capet Vexin, Alys, Countess of Vexin, Alys, Countess of Year of death uncertain 12th-century English women 12th-century English people 12th-century French women 12th-century French people 13th-century French women 13th-century English women 13th-century English people Daughters of kings

Life

See also

References

Sources