Maine in Revolt under Elias of La Flèche
By 1093, Maine was once more in revolt, led initially by young Elias of La Flèche, son of John and Paula.…
Count Elias and the Spirit of Cenomannian Freedom
During his roughly six-year rule, Elias embodied Cenomannian freedom for his people, whose appreciation needed no words.…
Anjou’s Domestic Troubles under Fulk Rechin
While Cenomannia flourished, Anjou left it largely alone: Fulk Rechin was overwhelmed with domestic and ecclesiastical troubles.…
Elias’s Captivity and the Angevin Intervention
Urban then moved on to Tours and Le Mans. Elias of Maine was stirred to take the cross, but his request to William Rufus for crusader’s protection was rebuffed with a declaration…
Surrender to William Rufus and Renewed Defiance
Elias, however, saw through the Angevin design and frustrated it by negotiating with the Norman king.…
Recovery of Maine and the Battle of Tinchebray
In spring Elias fought back to Le Mans to popular acclaim, but withdrew before William’s approach, and Maine waited two more years until word came of the Red King’s death in Augus…
Union of Anjou and Maine through Aremburg
The union of Anjou and Maine did not proceed exactly as first planned: Aremburg became the wife of an Angevin count, but not Geoffrey Martel the Second.…
Geoffrey Martel the Second and the Heir to Anjou
Geoffrey Martel’s life was far from easy. Fulk, prematurely worn out by vice, had long transferred government to his son, but father and son agreed ill—this time not through the y…
The Death of Geoffrey Martel
Geoffrey’s bequest availed as little as his uncle’s. In 1103 Fulk announced his intent to disinherit his valiant son in favour of Bertrada’s child.…
Succession of Young Fulk and End of Fulk Rechin
It is doubtful whether Bertrada’s child—the boy now succeeding—had even grown up among his own people; he had perhaps been brought up at court.…
The Verdict on Fulk Rechin’s Reign
“Ill he began; worse he lived; worst of all he ended”—the verdict of a later Angevin historian upon Fulk Rechin, whom one would have wished to respect as the father of Angevin his…
Accession of Louis VI and the French Monarchy
Nearly nine months before Fulk Rechin’s death, Louis VI had succeeded Philip as king of France.…
Conflict between Louis VI and Henry I of England
This policy led almost inevitably into conflict with Henry I of England, now master of Normandy through Tinchebray.…
CHAPITRE IV.
Chapter IV traces the reign of Fulk V of Anjou from his accession and character through his political alignment with Almeric of Montfort and Louis VI of France, his marriage to Aremburg of Maine, the wars with Henry I of England-Normandy (1111–1119), the Treaty of Pierre-Pécoulé…
The Accession of Fulk V
The accession of Fulk V began a new era for Anjou comparable to that of Louis VI for France.…
Character of Fulk V
Fulk remained a quintessential Angevin: ruddy-complexioned like the first of his race, he shared his great-grandfather Fulk the Black’s restless, adventurous temper—impetuous yet…
The Influence of Almeric of Montfort
Almeric of Montfort, brother of Bertrada, became Fulk’s most trusted counsellor and frequent instigator of his schemes of reform and aggression.…
Marriage to Aremburg and the Death of Elias
Aremburg of Maine, still unwed after her broken engagement to Geoffrey Martel, was sought and won by Fulk on his mother’s counsel.…
Outbreak of the War with Henry I
The war began in 1111; the danger drew Henry across the Channel in August, where he remained nearly two years.…
Fall of Robert of Bellême
In November 1112 Robert of Bellême fell into his sovereign’s hands and, to universal joy, was flung into lifelong captivity.…
The Peace of Pierre-Pécoulée
Early in Lent 1113, Fulk and Henry met at Pierre-Pécoulée near Alençon. Fulk submitted to perform the required homage for Maine, and his infant daughter was betrothed to Henry’s s…
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