Hervé IV of Donzy

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Hervé IV of Donzy (1173-1223) was a French nobleman and participant in the Fifth Crusade. By marriage in 1200 to Mahaut de Courtenay (1188-1257), daughter of Peter of Courtenay, he became Count of Nevers.^[1]

[edit] Life

In a dispute over the château de Gien with Peter of Courtenay, Hervé came to a settlement in 1199, having defeated and captured his overlord Peter at Cosne-sur-Loire.^[2] After Peter's death in 1219, he became Count of Auxerre and Tonnerre also; with Philippe de Namur and Robert de Courtenay contesting Auxerre.^[3] He acquired the Limais also, in 1210.

Hervé and his countess were active in developing the Nivernais, his lands around Donzy adjoining the Nivernais and Burgundy. In 1209 they founded a Carthusian abbey at Bellary.^[4] He reconstructed the château Musard, Billy-sur-Oisy, around 1212-5.^[5] The priory at Beaulieu was founded in 1214.^[6]

In 1204-5 he supported the French side against the English in fighting in Normandy, Poitou and Touraine.^[7]

He was active against the Albigensians, taking part in the 1209 siege of Carcassone.^[8] After his return from Egypt in 1219, he was at Marmande.^[9]

In 1214 he took part in the Battle of Bouvines, on the side of Emperor Otto IV.^[10]

In 1217 he took part in the French invasion of England.^[11]

His death has often been attributed to poison.

[edit] Family

The daughter of Hervé and Mahaut, Agnès de Donzy (1205-1225), married in 1217 Philippe de France, eldest son of the Dauphin, the future Louis VIII of France. Philippe died the following year.^[12] Agnès then married Guy de Châtillon (d. 1126), with a daughter Yolande de Châtillon, who married Archambaud IX de Bourbon. Mahaut married Guy de Forez in 1226.