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.
[edit] Notes
- ^ By some accounts she accompanied him on the Crusade; but others report a divorce in 1213.[1].
- ^ [2], [3] (French language); the deal was ratified by Philip Augustus.
- ^ [4]; he was baron de Donzy, comte de Gien, seigneur de Cosne, de Châtel-Censoir, de Montmirail, d'Alluye, d'Authou, de Vierzon et de Brou, comte de Nevers et de Tonnerre.
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ [8]
- ^ [9]
- ^ [10]
- ^ [11]
- ^ [12]
- ^ [13]
