Henri Ier of the Brabant

See also: Henri, Henri Ier

Henri 1st of the Brabant , known as the Courageous , born towards 1165, died with Cologne on September 5th, 1235, is duke of the Brabant of 1183 with 1235, count de Louvain, marquis d' Anvers and duke of Low-Lotharingie of 1190 with 1235. It is wire of Godefroy {{III}}, count de Louvain, landgrave of the Brabant, marquis d' Anvers and duke of Low-Lotharingie, and Marguerite de Limbourg.

His/her father very early associates it with the businesses of the duchy and it is described as miles, nec not comes (knight, but not yet count) since 1179 beside his father. In 1179, it marries Mathilde of Boulogne, niece of Philippe of Alsace, count de Flandre. It fights on several occasions the count de Hainaut and controls the fields of his father, left in Holy Land 1182 to 1184. In 1183, the emperor sets up the landgraviat of the Brabant in Duché of the Brabant in his favor. Henri founds Wood-the-Duke in 1185. In 1190, a few weeks after the death of his/her father, it receives the duchy of Low-Lotharingie in stronghold of the empire (Diet of Schwäbisch Hall).

It is quickly opposite with the emperor Henri {{VI}}, initially in connection with the election of the bishop of Liege, business which is completed by the assassination in 1192 of the bishop who was not other than Adalbéron, the brother of Henri of the Brabant. In addition Henri VII kept captive Richard Lion-hearted, that the duke of Austria had given to him, and proposed to deliver it to king de France, whereas the princes lotharingiens were pro-English. Finally, Henri VII yields and releases the king of England against an excessive ransom. The count de Hainaut and of duke of the Brabant oppose then during four years on the choice of the successor of Adalbéron in Liege.

His wife supports the election of Othon {{IV}} of Brunswick, and Henri is one of his faithful, like the majority of the lords of Low-Germany, whereas High-Germany supports Philippe de Souabe, the brother of Henri VII.

In 1204, Henri of the Brabant changes alliance and approaches the king de France and Philippe de Souabe. After the assassination of Philippe, he fights against the bishop of Liege, then approaches Othon again, and fights at his sides with Bouvines where it misses little being captured. A little later it joins the emperor Frederic {{II}}, the son of Henri VII. The reign of Henri of the Brabant becomes more peaceful then.

It returned from a mission to England, where it was charged to bring back and escort Isabelle of England, promised in marriage to Frederic, when it falls ill and dies in Cologne.

Marriage and children

He married in first weddings in 1179 Mathilde of Boulogne (1170 † 1210), girl junior by Mathieu of Alsace and Marie of Blois, count and countess of Boulogne. They have:

Adelaide (1190 † 1265), countess of Boulogne, married to:
#en 1206 with Arnoul {{III}} († 1223), count de Looz
#en 1225 with Guillaume {{X}} of Clermont (1195 † 1247), count d' Auvergne
#Arnould of Wesemaele
Marie (1190 † 1260), married to
# Othon {{IV}} (1177 † 1218), Germanic emperor
# in 1220 Guillaume {{Ier}} (1167 † 1223), count de Hollande
Marguerite (1192 † 1231), married in 1206 with Gerard {{III}} († 1229), count de Gueldre
Mathilde (1200 † 1267), married:
# in 1212 with Henri {{II}} († 1214), Count Palatine of the Rhine
#en 1224 with Florent {{IV}} (1210 † 1234), count de Hollande
Henri {{II}} (1207 † 1248), duke of the Brabant
Godefroy (1209 † 1254), lord of Gaasbeek

Widower, it remarie in 1213 with Marie de France (1198 † 1224), girl of Philippe {{II}} Auguste, king de France, and of Agnes de Méranie. They have:

Elisabeth († 1272), married in 1233 in Thiery de Clèves (1214 † 1244), lord of Dinslaken then in 1246 in Gerard de Wassenberg († 1255)
Marie, died young

Source

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