William I ( 1137 – 11 October 1159) (), also referred to as William of Blois, was

Count of Boulogne Count of Boulogne was a historical title in the Kingdom of France. The city of Boulogne-sur-Mer became the centre of the County of Boulogne during the ninth century. Little is known of the early counts, but the first holder of the title is rec ...

and Earl of Surrey ''

jure uxoris ''Jure uxoris'' (a Latin phrase meaning "by right of (his) wife"), citing . describes a title of nobility used by a man because his wife holds the office or title '' suo jure'' ("in her own right"). Similarly, the husband of an heiress could beco ...

'' from 1153 until his death. He was the second son of

Stephen, King of England Stephen (1092 or 1096 – 25 October 1154), often referred to as Stephen of Blois, was King of England from 22 December 1135 to his death in 1154. He was Count of Boulogne ''jure uxoris'' from 1125 until 1147 and Duke of Normandy from 1135 ...

, and Matilda I, Countess of Boulogne. William married Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey, in 1148. After the death of William's elder brother Eustace IV of Boulogne heir to the throne in August 1153, Stephen agreed to name Henry Plantagenet (son of his cousin and rival

Empress Matilda 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 ...

) as his heir. In doing so passing over William's own claim to his father's throne with the signing of the Treaty of Wallingford. In the agreement Henry Plantagenet would inherit the throne of England upon Stephen's death and his son William would receive the lands intended for both brothers, making William immensely rich. The treaty ended

the Anarchy The Anarchy was a civil war in England and Duchy of Normandy, Normandy between 1138 and 1153, which resulted in a widespread breakdown in law and order. The conflict was a war of succession precipitated by the accidental death of William Adel ...

, a succession struggle between Stephen and Matilda of which both sides were growing weary. Stephen died in 1154, and Henry initially allowed William to retain the earldom of Surrey ''

'' (in right of his wife). However, Gervase of Canterbury asserts a plot against Henry's life was discovered in 1154 among some Flemish mercenaries. The plan was to assassinate Henry in

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...

, and allegedly William had knowledge of this plot or was in connivance with the mercenaries. Whatever the truth, Henry fled Canterbury and returned to

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

. William had no children. He died in 1159 of disease near

Toulouse Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...

, and was buried at the Poitevin abbey of Montmorel (). He was succeeded in his county by his sister Marie I. His widow remarried to Henry's half-brother

Hamelin Hameln ( ; ) is a town on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hameln-Pyrmont and has a population of roughly 57,000. Hamelin is best known for the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. History Hameln ...

References

Sources

* R. H. C. Davis (1967), ''King Stephen'' * Thomas K. Keefe, "William, earl of Surrey (c. 1135–1159)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', 2004 * {{DEFAULTSORT:William 01, Count of Boulogne 1130s births 1159 deaths Year of birth uncertain 12th-century English nobility 1041 Counts of Boulogne Counts of Mortain House of Blois Children of Stephen, King of England Anglo-Normans English heirs apparent who never acceded Sons of kings