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  • Princess of England
  • Countess of Blois
  • AKA: Saint Adela of Normandy
  • 1096-1102: Regent of Blois (absense of husband)
  • 1102-1120: Regent of Blois (minority of son)

Biography

Adela of Normandy, countess of Blois, Chartres, and Meaux was born circa 1062 in Normandy, France to William I of England (1027-1087) and Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083) and died 8 March 1138 Marcigny, Saône-et-Loire, France of unspecified causes. She married Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102) 1080 JL .


Adela of Normandy, of Blois, or of England[1] also known as Saint Adela in Roman Catholicism,[2] was a daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders who later became the countess of Blois, Chartres, and Meaux by marriage to Stephen II of Blois. She was regent of Blois during the absence of her spouse in 1096-1100 and 1101-02, and during the minority of her son from 1102 until 1120.

She was a daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. She was also the mother of Stephen, King of England and Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester.

Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102) was the son of Theobald III de Blois (1012-1089), Count of Blois, and Garsende du Maine (c1010-c1060).[3] He is first mentioned as approaching William the Conqueror to ask for and receive the hand of his daughter Adela of Normandy.[4] In 1089, upon the death of his father, Stephen became the Count of Blois and Chartres, although Theobald had given him the administration of those holdings in 1074.

Adela of Normandy, of Blois, or of England[1] also known as Saint Adela in Roman Catholicism,[2] was a daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders who later became the countess of Blois, Chartres, and Meaux by marriage to Stephen II of Blois. Her husband greatly benefited from the increased social status and prestige that came with such a marriage. She brought with her not only her bloodline but a dowry of money and other movable goods from the prodigious store of Anglo-Norman wealth. She was regent of Blois during the absence of her spouse in 1096–1100 and 1101–02, and during the minority of her son from 1102 until 1120.[5] Adela was the mother of King Stephen of England and Bishop Henry of Winchester.

First regency

Stephen-Henry joined the First Crusade in 1096, along with his brother-in-law Robert Curthose. Adela filled in as regent for her husband during his extended absence as a leader of the First Crusade (1095–1098)[6] as well as during his second expedition in 1101. Stephen's letters to Adela form a uniquely intimate insight into the experiences of the Crusade's leaders[7] and show that he trusted Adela to rule as regent while he was on crusade.[6]

Second regency

Adela continued to act as regent after her husband's death and through her son Thibaud's early rule until her retirement in 1120.[6] Even after Thibaud came of age and no longer needed a regent, Adela continued to issue charters and act as co-ruler of many parts of their land. Adela did not secure a marriage alliance for Thibaud, who did not get married until after Adela's retirement, which helped to maintain her power and influence over both her son and her lands.[8]

Retirement

Adela retired to Marcigny Convent in 1120. Though she may have considered retiring to an abbey in Normandy where members of her family, including sisters and nieces, may have already been living, Adela was drawn to and chose the larger, more prestigious convent at Marcigny near her son Henry at Cluny Abbey.[9] Adela may have acted as prioress within the community at Marcigny, though this is not certain.[10] She continued to interact and communicate with her children and the ecclesiastical leaders of lands that she had once ruled, maintaining her influence over the area.[11]


Family

Stephen married Adela of Normandy (c1062-1138),[12] a daughter of William the Conqueror, around 1090 in Chartres. Their children were:

  1. Guillaume of Blois (c1086-1150), Count of Sully[12]
  2. Theobald II, Count of Champagne (c1088-1152)][12]
  3. Odo of Blois (c1090-) - who died young
  4. Stephen of England - Last Norman king of England; his reign was called "The Anarchy" or "The Nineteen-Year Winter". He was made king because his cousin died in the White Ship Disaster.[12]
  5. Maud of Blois (c1097-1120) - married Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester. Both drowned on 25 November 1120 and her cousin the prince, William of Normandy (1103-1120) in the White Ship Disaster.
  6. Agnes of Blois (c1099-1129), married Hugh III of Le Puiset[13]
  7. Eléonore of Blois (c1104-1147) married Ralph I, Count of Vermandois; they were divorced in 1142.
  8. Alix of Blois (c1100-1145) married Renaud III of Joigni (d. 1134) and had issue
  9. Adélaïde de Blois (c1092-c1139), married Milo II of Montlhéry, Viscount of Troyes (divorced 1115)
  10. Henry of Blois (c1098-1171). Bishop of Winchester[12]
  11. Humbert of Blois (c1094-) died young





Children


Offspring of Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102) and Adela of Normandy
Name Birth Death Joined with
Guillaume of Blois (c1086-1150) 1086 Blois 1150 Agnes de Sully (c1085-c1102)
Theobald II, Count of Champagne (c1088-1152) 1088 Blois, France 8 January 1152 Mathilde von Spanheim (c1107-c1160)
Odo of Blois (c1090-) 1090 Blois
Adélaïde de Blois (c1092-c1139) 1092 Blois 1139 Milon de Montlhéry (1085-1118)
Humbert of Blois (c1094-) 1094 Blois
Stephen of England (c1095-1154) 1095 Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France 25 October 1154 Dover Priory, Dover, Kent, England, United Kingdom Damette (c1095-)
Matilda de Boulogne (1105-1152)
Maud of Blois (c1097-1120) 1097 Blois 25 November 1120 English Channel Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester (1094-1120)
Henry of Blois (c1098-1171) 1098 Blois 8 August 1171
Agnes of Blois (c1099-1129) 1099 Blois 1129 Hugh III du Puiset (-1132)
Alix of Blois (c1100-1145) 1100 Blois 1145 Renaud de Joigny (c1090-1134)
Eléonore of Blois (c1104-1147) 1102 1147 Raoul I de Vermandois (1085-1152)



Siblings


Offspring of William I of England (1027-1087) and Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Robert III, Duke of Normandy (c1051-1134) 1051 (Normandy) 10 February 1134 (Cardiff Castle+ Glamorganshire+ Wales) Sybilla of Conversano (-1103)
Richard of Normandy (c1054) 1054 Normandy 1081 New Forest, Hampshire
Adeliza of Normandy (c1055) 1055 Normandy 1065
Cecilia of Normandy (c1055) 1055 Normandy, France 30 July 1126 Caen, Calvados, France
William II of England (c1056-1100) 1056 Normandy, France 2 August 1100 New Forest, England, United Kingdom
Matilda of Normandy (c1061-1086) 1061 Normandy, France 1086 France
Adela of Normandy (c1062) 1062 Normandy, France 8 March 1138 Marcigny, Saône-et-Loire, France Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102)
Agatha of Normandy (c1064) 1064 1079
Constance of Normandy (c1066-1090) 1066 1090 Alain Fergent de Bretagne (c1060-1119)
Henry I of England (1068-1135) 13 June 1068 Selby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom 1 December 1135 St. Denis-le-Fermont near Gisors, Picardy, Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure, France Ansfrid (1070-)
Matilda of Scotland (c1080-1118)
Sybil Corbet (1077-)
Edith (bef1135-)
Gieva de Tracy (bef1135-)
Nest ferch Rhys (c1073-aft1136)
Isabel de Beaumont (bef1135-)
Adeliza of Leuven (1103-1151)


See Also

References

  1. ^ a b LoPrete, Kimberly. "Adela of Blois." Women and Gender in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia. Ed. Margaret Schaus. New York: Routledge, 2006. 6–7.
  2. ^ a b Catholic Online. "St. Adela". http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1126. 
  3. ^ Evergates 1999, p. 11.
  4. ^ Brundage 1960, p. 381.
  5. ^ (1990) "The Anglo-Norman Card of Adela of Blois". Albion 22 (4): 569–589. DOI:10.2307/4051390. 
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Familial Alliances
  7. ^ "A letter from Count Stephen of Blois (03/1098)". http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/letter/79.html. 
  8. ^ LoPrete, Kimberly A. (2013). "Adela of Blois as Mother and Countess". Medieval Mothering. Routledge. p. 322. 
  9. ^ LoPrete, Kimberly A. Adela of Blois: Countess and Lord (c.1067–1137). Dublin: Four Courts, 2007. 408–411
  10. ^ LoPrete, Kimberly A. Adela of Blois: Countess and Lord (c.1067–1137). Dublin: Four Courts, 2007. 412.
  11. ^ LoPrete, Kimberly A. Adela of Blois: Countess and Lord (c.1067–1137). Dublin: Four Courts, 2007. 412–418.
  12. ^ a b c d e Evergates 2007, p. 248.
  13. ^ Evergates 2016, p. x.



Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General
  • wikipedia:en:Adela of Normandy
  • Kimberly LoPrete, Adela of Blois and Ivo of Chartres: Piety, Politics, and the Peace in the Diocese of Chartres, Anglo-Norman Studies 19
  • Kimberly LoPrete, The Anglo-Norman Card of Adela of Blois, Albion 22 (1990)
  • Parsons, John Carmi. Medieval Mothering (New Middle Ages), 1996
₪ Wedding
  • between 1080 and 1083, around her fifteenth birthday



Thurstan, Rtol, Phlox, MainTour, AMK152, WMWillis



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