Enguerrand III de Boves, Lord of Coucy (c. 1182 – 1242) was a medieval French nobleman. The eldest son and successor of

Ralph I, Lord of Coucy Ralph (pronounced or ) is a male name of English origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Old High German ''Radulf'', cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms are: * Ra ...

(c. 1134 – 1191) and ,M. A. Pollock, ''Scotland, England and France After the Loss of Normandy, 1204-1296: Auld Amitie''. Boydell & Brewer, 2015. pg. 145. he succeeded as Lord of Coucy (''sieur de Couci'') in 1191, and held it until his death; he was also lord of Marle and Boves.

Biography

Enguerrand III was born in Marle,

Picardy Picardy (; Picard language, Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former regions of France, administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained it ...

, France. He became one of the most ambitious and powerful of all the French nobles, called by one historian "the greatest baron in all Picardy", and earning himself his epithet, ''Enguerrand le Grand'', or Enguerrand "the Great". Enguerrand had an illustrious military career, helping King

Philip II of France Philip II (21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223), also known as Philip Augustus (), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks (Latin: ''rex Francorum''), but from 1190 onward, Philip became the firs ...

reduce the French territories of the King of England. Enguerrand campaigned in

Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France *County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France ** Du ...

in 1205, and in 1214, fought in the French victory over an Anglo-German alliance at the

Battle of Bouvines The Battle of Bouvines took place on 27 July 1214 near the town of Bouvines in the County of Flanders. It was the concluding battle of the Anglo-French War (1213–14), Anglo-French War of 1213–1214. Although estimates on the number of troo ...

led by

Philip II Augustus Philip II (21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223), also known as Philip Augustus (), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks (Latin: ''rex Francorum''), but from 1190 onward, Philip became the firs ...

. His arms at Bouvines were blazoned: ''Barry of six vair and gules.'' He was a notable member of the French force which invaded the

Kingdom of England The Kingdom of England was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from the late 9th century, when it was unified from various Heptarchy, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland to f ...

(1216–1217) to depose King John. He also participated in the

Albigensian Crusade The Albigensian Crusade (), also known as the Cathar Crusade (1209–1229), was a military and ideological campaign initiated by Pope Innocent III to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc, what is now southern France. The Crusade was prosecuted pri ...

. After the death of King

Louis VIII of France Louis VIII (5 September 1187 8 November 1226), nicknamed The Lion (), was King of France from 1223 to 1226. As a prince, he invaded Kingdom of England, England on 21 May 1216 and was Excommunication in the Catholic Church, excommunicated by a ...

, Enguerrand was chief among the nobles who resisted the regency of Blanche of Castile for her son

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis VI ...

, although he eventually returned to the royal favor. Enguerrand made his mark on the Picardy landscape by constructing Coucy Castle. Enguerrand is said by tradition to have started the famous rhyme associated with his successors:

Relations

Through his mother Alix de Dreux, Enguerrand III was related to King

. Enguerrand also married into the family of King

Henry III of England Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272), also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine from 1216 until his death in 1272. The son of John, King of England, King John and Isabella of Ang ...

, taking as his second wife the latter king's cousin, who was the granddaughter of King

Henry II of England Henry II () was King of England The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with the ...

. He married three times. His first wife was Beatrice de Vignory, widow of John I, Count of Roucy (1196–1200). They married in 1201. There are no known children from this marriage. His second wife was Matilda of Saxony, a daughter of

Henry the Lion Henry the Lion (; 1129/1131 – 6 August 1195), also known as Henry III, Duke of Saxony (ruled 1142-1180) and Henry XII, Duke of Bavaria (ruled 1156-1180), was a member of the Welf dynasty. Henry was one of the most powerful German princes of ...

, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony, by his second wife,

Matilda of England Empress Matilda (10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was one of the claimants to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter and heir of Henry I, king of England and ruler of Normandy, she went to ...

, daughter of King Henry II. Matilda of Saxony was thus also the niece of King

Richard the Lion-hearted Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...

. This marriage took place in 1204. There are no known children from this marriage. His third wife was , daughter of Jean de Montmirail, Lord of Condé . At the end of the 12th century, Enguerrand built the original Château de Condé in Condé, Picardy, constructed as a "keep" which had 2 meters thick walls and towering chimneys. Enguerrand and Marie had five children: *

Raoul II, Lord of Coucy Raoul II, Lord of Coucy (died 1250) was a son of Enguerrand III and his wife . In 1246 he succeeded his father as lord of Coucy. Raoul died at the Battle of Mansurah in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade. Raoul married Elisabeth, daughter of W ...

, married Philippe of Dammartin, the daughter of Simon of Dammartin, Count of Ponthieu. * Enguerrand IV, Lord of Coucy, married 1) Margaret of Gueldres, daughter of

Otto II, Count of Guelders Otto II, Count of Guelders (c. 1215 – 1 January 1271) was a nobleman from the 13th century. He was the son of Gerard III, Count of Guelders and Margaretha of Brabant. Life After Count William II (1227–1256) was slain in 1256 by Frisians ...

, and 2) Joan of Flanders, daughter of

Robert III, Count of Flanders Robert III (1249 – 17 September 1322), also called Robert of Béthune and nicknamed The Lion of Flanders (''De Leeuw van Vlaanderen''), was the Count of Nevers from 1273 and Count of Flanders from 1305 until his death. History Robert was the ...

. * John de Coucy, Lord of Amboise (d.1245) * Marie de Coucy, married King

Alexander II of Scotland Alexander II ( Medieval Gaelic: '; Modern Gaelic: '; nicknamed "the Peaceful" by modern historians; 24 August 1198 – 6 July 1249) was King of Alba (Scotland) from 1214 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of York (1237) which defined t ...

. * Alix de Coucy, married Arnould III, Count of Guînes (1233-1283). Their son, Enguerrand V, inherited the title Lord of Coucy, after his uncles died.Du Chesne, A. (1631) ''Preuves de l’Histoire des maisons de Guines, d’Ardres, Gand et Coucy''. Paris, p. 395. In 1242, Enguerrand III died by falling off of his horse onto his sword at Coucy, Picardy. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Raoul II.

Notes

External links

*
A History of Coucy Castle
{{S-end Coucy, Enguerrand III Lord of Coucy, Enguerrand III Lord of Enguerrand III Lord of Coucy Coucy, Enguerrand III de Coucy, Enguerrand III de Lords of Coucy