Geoffrey the Bearded’s Ruin and Imprisonment
Geoffrey the Bearded was undone by an act of violent injustice toward the abbey of Marmoutier that brought him under the Church’s ban, while his brother’s intrigues sowed treason…
Fulk Rechin’s Rule over Anjou
Fulk Rechin ruled Anjou in his brother’s stead during a period of shame and misery unknown in the Marchland’s history.…
The Revolt of Maine and the Commune of Le Mans
In 1073, while William was occupied with his English conquest, the patriots of Maine revolted and received Hugh of Este as count under the guardianship of his mother Gersendis and…
The Siege of La Flèche
After William appeared in Maine with a great army, won back the land, and returned in triumph to Normandy, Fulk ventured to attack La Flèche, a castle on the Loir held by John, hu…
The Treaty of Blanchelande
William marched to relieve La Flèche not directly but by crossing the Loir higher up and sweeping southward through Angevin territory, putting the river between himself and his en…
Robert of Normandy and the Angevin Overlordship
After William’s death in 1087 the Angevin overlordship granted by the treaties of Alençon and Blanchelande at last became effective, since Robert came into actual possession of th…
Fulk Rechin’s Marriages
Fulk Rechin’s domestic life was as shameless as his public career. He had abandoned Hermengard of Bourbon, the mother of his heir, in 1075 without even the formality of a divorce,…
Bertrada’s Elopement with King Philip
Bertrada used Fulk merely as a stepping-stone to higher advancement and on Whitsun-Eve 1093 eloped with King Philip of France, an act that brought Fulk further punishment at the h…
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