Ralph I, Count of Vermandois

Ralph I of Vermandois (French: Raoul Ier "le Vaillant") (1085 – 14 October 1152), Count of Vermandois. He was son of Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, and Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois and paternal grandson of Henry I of France and while his mother had been heiress to Herbert IV of Vermandois.

His only paternal uncle was Philip I of France. Through him Raoul was a first cousin of Louis VI of France and a first cousin, once removed of Louis VII of France.

Ralph served as the seneschal of France during the reign of his cousin Louis VII. Under pressure from Queen consort Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis allowed him to repudiate his wife Eléonore of Blois in favor of Eleanor's sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine. This led to a war with Theobald II of Champagne, who was the brother of Ralph's first wife Eleonore. The war lasted two years (1142–44) and ended with the occupation of Champagne by the royal army.

Ralph and Petronilla were excommunicated by Pope Innocent II for their illegitimate marriage.

Family and children

Ralph was married three times:

• First, he was married in 1125 with Eléonore of Blois, daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1140. They had one son:
  • Hugh II "The Monk", count of Vermandois and Valois, resigned his titles in 1160 and became a monk, canonized 1177 (b. Amiens, 9.4.1127 - m. Caerfroy Cloister, near Paris, 4.11.1212).

• Second, he was married in 1140 with Petronilla of Aquitaine; in 1151 their marriage was dissolved. They had two children:
  • Elizabeth (or Isabelle) Mabile (1143–1183), married Philip, Count of Flanders
  • Ralph II, count of Vermandois and Valois (1145–1167), was the first husband of Margaret of Lorraine, later countess of Flanders.

• Third, he was married in 1152 with Laurette of Flanders, daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Swanhilde. They had one daughter:
  • Eleonore, countess of Vermandois and Valois, renounced her titles in 1214 in favor of the French Crown and became a nun (b. 1152 - d. aft.1222). She married five times:

1. (probably) Godfrey of Hainaut, Count of Ostervant (d. 1163).
2. before 1167 Count William IV of Nevers.
3. ca 1170 Matthew of Alsace.
4. ca 1175 Count Matthew III of Beaumont-sur-Oise.
5. ca 1210 Stephen of Blois, Lord of Châtillon-sur-Loing .