Landry, Count of Nevers (970–1028) was the first hereditary Count of Nevers from 989 to 1028.
Biography
Landry was the son of Bodon, lord of Monceaux-le-Comte and builder of Monceaux Castle. Around 990, Landry was granted the
County of Nevers
The County of Nevers () was a county in central France. Its principal town was Nevers. It roughly corresponds to the later Provinces of France, province of Nivernais and the modern of Departments of France, department of Nièvre.Otto-William of Burgundy who until then administered Nivernais. This transfer was carried out with the consent of Duke Henry I of Burgundy and King Hugh Capet of France.Jean Lebeuf (abbot) , Memoirs concerning the ecclesiastical and civil history of Auxerre... , vol. 2, Auxerre, Parriquet,1743, 923 pp.
Landry was remembered for being generous to the Abbeys of Saint-Germain d'Auxerre, Flavigny, and Cluny, and his castle was open to the pilgrims on the way to
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
, both rich and poor.Ignace-Joseph-Casimir Goube, History of the Duchy of Normandy , vol. 1, Rouen, Mégard,1815
In 993, Landry of Nevers gathered evidence to indict Bishop Ascelin of Laon of plotting treason against the Capetian Kings. The latter is said to have plotted with Emperor Otto III and Count Odo I of Blois to put the
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the Middle Ages, medieval and Early modern France, early modern period. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe from th ...
under Imperial jurisdiction. After a lengthy trial, Ascelin was pardoned and Landry was rewarded with the position of
Seneschal
The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...
of France by
Hugh Capet
Hugh Capet (; ; 941 – 24 October 996) was the King of the Franks from 987 to 996. He is the founder of and first king from the House of Capet. The son of the powerful duke Hugh the Great and his wife Hedwige of Saxony, he was elected as t ...
and Prince Robert.Constance Brittain Bouchard, Sword, Miter and Cloister. Nobility and the Church in Burgundy (980-1198) , Cornell University Press,1987.
Upon the death of Duke Henry I of Burgundy in 1002 without issue, a war of succession between his adopted son Count Otto-William of Burgundy and his nephew King Robert II started. Landry supported his father-in-law and occupied
Auxerre
Auxerre ( , , Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Auchoirre'') is the capital (Prefectures in France, prefecture) of the Yonne Departments of France, department and the fourth-largest city in the Burgundy historical region southeast of Par ...
. Robert II appealed to Duke Richard II of Normandy who sent 30,000 soldiers. After two unsuccessful sieges of Auxerre and the surrounding area, Robert II agreed to peace with Landry in 1005.
In 1023, Landry attended a peace council held by the Archbishop of Sens with the purpose of reconciling the King and Count Odo II of Blois over a land dispute of
Burgundy
Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...
and
Champagne
Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
From his first marriage to an unknown woman he had three children:
* Bodon of Nevers ( before 995 – 1023) Count of Vendôme by marriage to Adèle d'Anjou, daughter of Fulk III of Anjou.
* Landry of Nevers (born 1002)
* Robert of Nevers (died 1032)
From his marriage with Matilda of Burgundy (983–1005) daughter of Otto-William,Count of Burgundy he had three children:
*Count Renaud I of Nevers (died 1040) He married Adwisa of France, daughter of King Robert II the Pious.
*Guy "the Little" of Burgundy (died after 1032)
*Mathilde (died 1005)