Alphonse or Alfonso (11 November 1220 – 21 August 1271) was the count of Poitou from 1225 and count of Toulouse (as such called Alphonse II) from 1249. As count of Toulouse, he also governed the Marquisate of Provence.
Alphonse, as Count of Toulouse, recognised the autonomy of the commune of the town of Agen. In this illustration he takes an oath before the consuls with his right hand on the town ordinances, while sitting on a pedestal. The consul administering the oath is forced to go on his knees, symbolising Alphonse's lordship and the town's loyalty.Arms of Alphonse on a 13th-century harness pendant, found in West Berkshire, England.
Alphonse took part in two crusades with his brother, St Louis, in 1248 (the Seventh Crusade) and in 1270 (the Eighth Crusade). For the first of these, he raised a large sum and a substantial force, arriving in Damietta on 24 October 1249, after the town had already been captured.[7] He sailed for home on 10 August 1250.[8] His father-in-law had died while he was away, and he went directly to Toulouse to take possession.[9] There was some resistance to his accession as count, which was suppressed with the help of his mother Blanche of Castile who was acting as regent in the absence of Louis IX.[10]
Later lifeedit
In 1252, on the death of his mother, Blanche of Castile, Alphonse was joint regent with Charles of Anjou until the return of Louis IX. During that time he took a great part in the campaigns and negotiations which led to the Treaty of Paris in 1259, under which King Henry III of England recognized his loss of continental territory to France (including Normandy, Maine, Anjou, and Poitou) in exchange for France withdrawing support from English rebels.[11]
Alphonse's coat of arms was formed of those of France (left) and Castile (right), representing his father and mother respectively: Per pale azure semé-de-lis or dimidiating gules semé of castles or
Aside from the crusades, Alphonse stayed primarily in Paris, governing his estates by officials, inspectors who reviewed the officials' work, and a constant stream of messages.[12] His main work was on his own estates. There he repaired the evils of the Albigensian war and made a first attempt at administrative centralization, thus preparing the way for union with the crown. On 8 October 1268, Alphonse had all Jews throughout his lands arrested and their property confiscated.[13]
When Louis IX formed the Eighth Crusade, Alphonse again raised a large sum of money and accompanied his brother.[14] This time, however, he did not return to France, dying while on his way back, at Savona in Italy, on 21 August 1271.[15]
Death and legacyedit
Alphonse's death without heirs raised some questions as to the succession to his lands. One possibility was that they should revert to the crown, another that they should be redistributed to his family. The latter was claimed by Charles of Anjou, but in 1283 Parlement decided that the County of Toulouse should revert to the crown, if there were no male heirs.[10] Alphonse's wife Joan (who died four days after Alphonse) had attempted to dispose of some of her inherited lands in her will. Joan was the only surviving child and heiress of Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Marquis of Provence, so under Provençal and French law, the lands should have gone to her nearest male relative. But, her will was invalidated by Parlement in 1274.[10] One specific bequest in Alphonse's will, giving his wife's lands in the Comtat Venaissin to the Holy See, was allowed, and it became a Papal territory, a status that it retained until 1791.[16]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alphonse de Poitiers.
Benbassa, Esther (2001). The Jews of France: A History from Antiquity to the Present. Princeton University Press.
Clanchy, M.T. (1983). England and its Rulers 1066-1272. Fontana Press. ISBN1405106506.
Fawtier, Robert (1960). The Capetian Kings of France. Translated by Butler, Lionel; Adam, R.J. ISBN0-312-11900-3.
Hallam, Elizabeth M. (1980). Capetian France, 987-1328. ISBN0-582-48909-1.
Kolla, E.J. (2013). "The French Revolution, the Union of Avignon, and the Challenges of National Self-Determination". Law and History Review. 31 (4): 717–747. doi:10.1017/S0738248013000448. S2CID 145185352.
Jackson, Guida M. (1999). Women rulers throughout the ages: an illustrated guide. ABC-CLIO.
Jordan, William Chester (1999). "The Capetians from the death of Philip II to Philip IV". In Abulafia, David (ed.). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. 5, c.1198–c.1300. Cambridge University Press.
Petit-Dutaillis, Charles (1936). The Feudal Monarchy in France and England from the Tenth to the Thirteenth Century. Translated by Hunt, E.D.
Richard, Jean (1983). Lloyd, Simon (ed.). Saint Louis: Crusader King of France. Translated by Birrell, Jean. Fayard.
William of Puylaurens (2003). The Chronicle of William of Puylaurens: The Albigensian Crusade and Its Aftermath. Translated by Sibly, W.A.; Sibly, M.D. Boydell Press.
Strayer, Joseph R. (1969). "The Crusades of Louis IX". In R. L. Wolff; H. W. Hazard (eds.). A History of the Crusades. Vol. II: The later Crusades, 1189–1311. pp. 486–518.
Wolfe, M. (2009). Walled Towns and the Shaping of France: From the Medieval to the Early Modern Era. Palgrave Macmillan.
Wood, Charles T. (1966). The French Apanages and the Capetian Monarchy: 1224-1328. Harvard University Press.
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Alphonse or Alfonso 11 November 1220 21 August 1271 was the count of Poitou from 1225 and count of Toulouse as such called Alphonse II from 1249 As count of Toulouse he also governed the Marquisate of Provence Alphonse as Count of Toulouse recognised the autonomy of the commune of the town of Agen In this illustration he takes an oath before the consuls with his right hand on the town ordinances while sitting on a pedestal The consul administering the oath is forced to go on his knees symbolising Alphonse s lordship and the town s loyalty Arms of Alphonse on a 13th century harness pendant found in West Berkshire England Contents 1 Birth and early life 2 Crusades 3 Later life 4 Death and legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 SourcesBirth and early life editBorn at Poissy Alphonse was a son of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile 1 He was a younger brother of King Louis IX of France and an older brother of Count Charles I of Anjou In 1229 his mother who was regent of France forced the Treaty of Paris on Count Raymond VII of Toulouse after his rebellion 2 It stipulated that a brother of King Louis was to marry Joan daughter of Raymond VII of Toulouse and so in 1237 Alphonse married her 3 Since she was Raymond s only child they became rulers of Toulouse at Raymond s death in 1249 4 By the terms of his father s will Alphonse received an appanage of Poitou and Auvergne 5 To enforce this Louis IX won the battle of Taillebourg in the Saintonge War together with Alphonse against a revolt allied with King Henry III of England who also participated in the battle 6 Crusades editAlphonse took part in two crusades with his brother St Louis in 1248 the Seventh Crusade and in 1270 the Eighth Crusade For the first of these he raised a large sum and a substantial force arriving in Damietta on 24 October 1249 after the town had already been captured 7 He sailed for home on 10 August 1250 8 His father in law had died while he was away and he went directly to Toulouse to take possession 9 There was some resistance to his accession as count which was suppressed with the help of his mother Blanche of Castile who was acting as regent in the absence of Louis IX 10 Later life editIn 1252 on the death of his mother Blanche of Castile Alphonse was joint regent with Charles of Anjou until the return of Louis IX During that time he took a great part in the campaigns and negotiations which led to the Treaty of Paris in 1259 under which King Henry III of England recognized his loss of continental territory to France including Normandy Maine Anjou and Poitou in exchange for France withdrawing support from English rebels 11 nbsp Alphonse s coat of arms was formed of those of France left and Castile right representing his father and mother respectively Per pale azure seme de lis or dimidiating gules seme of castles orAside from the crusades Alphonse stayed primarily in Paris governing his estates by officials inspectors who reviewed the officials work and a constant stream of messages 12 His main work was on his own estates There he repaired the evils of the Albigensian war and made a first attempt at administrative centralization thus preparing the way for union with the crown On 8 October 1268 Alphonse had all Jews throughout his lands arrested and their property confiscated 13 When Louis IX formed the Eighth Crusade Alphonse again raised a large sum of money and accompanied his brother 14 This time however he did not return to France dying while on his way back at Savona in Italy on 21 August 1271 15 Death and legacy editAlphonse s death without heirs raised some questions as to the succession to his lands One possibility was that they should revert to the crown another that they should be redistributed to his family The latter was claimed by Charles of Anjou but in 1283 Parlement decided that the County of Toulouse should revert to the crown if there were no male heirs 10 Alphonse s wife Joan who died four days after Alphonse had attempted to dispose of some of her inherited lands in her will Joan was the only surviving child and heiress of Raymond VII Count of Toulouse Duke of Narbonne and Marquis of Provence so under Provencal and French law the lands should have gone to her nearest male relative But her will was invalidated by Parlement in 1274 10 One specific bequest in Alphonse s will giving his wife s lands in the Comtat Venaissin to the Holy See was allowed and it became a Papal territory a status that it retained until 1791 16 See also editAbraham of AragonReferences edit Richard 1983 p xxiv Jackson 1999 p 64 Fawtier 1960 p 123 Jordan 1999 p 299 Wood 1966 p 23 Wolfe 2009 p 41 Strayer 1969 p 496 497 Strayer 1969 p 505 Hallam 1980 p 218 a b c Hallam 1980 p 258 Clanchy 1983 p 274 Petit Dutaillis 1936 p 299 300 Benbassa 2001 p 19 Strayer 1969 p 511 William of Puylaurens 2003 p 122 Kolla 2013 p 718 Sources edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alphonse de Poitiers Benbassa Esther 2001 The Jews of France A History from Antiquity to the Present Princeton University Press Clanchy M T 1983 England and its Rulers 1066 1272 Fontana Press ISBN 1405106506 Fawtier Robert 1960 The Capetian Kings of France Translated by Butler Lionel Adam R J ISBN 0 312 11900 3 Hallam Elizabeth M 1980 Capetian France 987 1328 ISBN 0 582 48909 1 Kolla E J 2013 The French Revolution the Union of Avignon and the Challenges of National Self Determination Law and History Review 31 4 717 747 doi 10 1017 S0738248013000448 S2CID 145185352 Jackson Guida M 1999 Women rulers throughout the ages an illustrated guide ABC CLIO Jordan William Chester 1999 The Capetians from the death of Philip II to Philip IV In Abulafia David ed The New Cambridge Medieval History Vol 5 c 1198 c 1300 Cambridge University Press Petit Dutaillis Charles 1936 The Feudal Monarchy in France and England from the Tenth to the Thirteenth Century Translated by Hunt E D Richard Jean 1983 Lloyd Simon ed Saint Louis Crusader King of France Translated by Birrell Jean Fayard William of Puylaurens 2003 The Chronicle of William of Puylaurens The Albigensian Crusade and Its Aftermath Translated by Sibly W A Sibly M D Boydell Press Strayer Joseph R 1969 The Crusades of Louis IX In R L Wolff H W Hazard eds A History of the Crusades Vol II The later Crusades 1189 1311 pp 486 518 Wolfe M 2009 Walled Towns and the Shaping of France From the Medieval to the Early Modern Era Palgrave Macmillan Wood Charles T 1966 The French Apanages and the Capetian Monarchy 1224 1328 Harvard University Press Regnal titlesVacantTitle last held byJohn Lackland Count of Poitiers1225 1271 VacantTitle next held byPhilip the TallPreceded byRaymond VII Count of Toulouse1249 1271 With Joan VacantRoyal domain Portals nbsp Biography nbsp France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alphonse Count of Poitiers amp oldid 1169313080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
