| Count of Blois | |
|---|---|
.svg.gif')) ) Arms of the House of Blois | |
| Creation date | 832 |
| Monarch | Louis the Pious |
| Peerage | Nobility of France |
| First holder | William, Count of Blois |
| Last holder | Guy II, Count of Blois |
| Subsidiary titles |
|
| Status | Dissolved |
| Extinction date | 1391 |
| Seat(s) | Château de Blois |
The County of Blois was originally centred on Blois, south of Paris, France. One of the chief cities, along with Blois itself, was Chartres.
History
Blois was associated with Champagne Province, the House of Châtillon (who tended to reside in Blois), the Dukes of Brittany and, later, with the French royal family. Theobald I, Count of Blois served as Regent to Drogo, Duke of Brittany. Bertha of Blois, the daughter of Odo II of Blois, became Duchess Consort of Brittany through her marriage to Alan II, Duke of Brittany. Stephen Henry's son Stephen of Blois became King of England. Charles de Blois, son of Guy I, Count of Blois, married Joan of Penthievre, the heiress of John III, Duke of Brittany; together, they became principal protagonists in the War of the Breton Succession. Upon the death of his only son, Guy II, Count of Blois sold the county to Louis I, Duke of Orléans and the county passed to the French royal family.
Blois was important during the Hundred Years' War; Joan of Arc based herself there.
The extent of the county varied over time. The northern portion, bordering on Normandy, was sometimes alienated as the County of Chartres, but the Counts of Blois who possessed it did not use a separate title for it. These lands were finally sold to the crown by Joan, Countess of Blois in 1291. In 1439, the area around Châteaudun was separated as Dunois for Jean de Dunois, appointed Count of Dunois.
First creation (832)
Title held by House of Blois.
- 832–834: William, Count of Blois, Count of Châteaudun; created by Louis the Pious.[1]
- 834–865: Odo I, Count of Blois, Count of Châteaudun, Count of Troyes
- 865–866: Robert, Count of Blois, Count of Troyes; title disbanded due to annexation to Marches of Neustria.
Second creation (960)
Title held by House of Blois.
- 960–975: Theobald I, Count of Tours, Count of Chartres
- 975–996: Odo I, Count of Blois, Count of Tours, Count of Chartres
- 996–1004: Theobald II, Count of Blois, Count of Tours, Count of Chartres
- 1004–1037: Odo II, Count of Blois, Count of Tours, Count of Chartres; also Count of Champagne since 1022.
- 1037–1089: Theobald III, Count of Blois, Count of Tours, Count of Chartres; also Count of Champagne since 1066.
- 1089–1102: Stephen I & II, Count of Blois, Count of Chartres; father of Stephen, King of England.
- 1102–1152: Theobald IV & II, Count of Blois, Count of Chartres; also Count of Champagne since 1125.
- 1152–1191: Theobald V, Count of Blois, Count of Chartres
- 1191–1205: Louis I, Count of Blois, Count of Chartres, Count of Clermont
- 1205–1218: Theobald VI, Count of Blois, Count of Chartres, Count of Clermont
- 1218–1230: Margaret, Countess of Blois
- Jure uxoris 1218–1230: Walter II, Lord of Avesnes
Third creation (1230)
Title held by House of Avesnes.
- 1230–1241: Mary, Countess of Blois
- Jure uxoris 1226–1241: Hugh I, Count of Saint-Pol
Fourth creation (1241)
Title held by House of Châtillon.
- 1241–1280: John I, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes; also Count of Chartres since 1248.
- 1280–1291: Joan, Countess of Blois, Countess of Dunois Lady of Avesnes; also Countess of Chartres before 1286.
- 1291–1307: Hugh II, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes; previously Count of Saint-Pol.
- 1307–1342: Guy I, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes
- 1342–1346: Louis II, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes; fell in the Battle of Crécy.
- 1346–1372: Louis III, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes
- 1372–1381: John II, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes; lost the War of the Guelderian Succession.
- 1381–1391: Guy II, Count of Blois, Count of Dunois, Lord of Avesnes
- After the death of his only son, Guy II sold his titles and fiefdoms to Louis I, Duke of Orléans, who never used the title, like his successors.