Mathieu II of Montmorency known as Large the (v. 1174, - † November 24th 1230), wire of Bouchard IV of Montmorency, lord of Montmorency and Laurence of Hainaut, girl of the count Baudouin IV of Hainaut.
Grandson of Mathieu Ier de Montmorency, it was lord of Montmorency, Écouen, Conflans-Holy-Honorine and Attichy. He was named Connétable of France in 1218.

Biography

Philippe-Auguste had quoted before the court of the pars of France Jean without Ground, become king d' Angleterre, for the murder of Arthur, legitimates heir to the throne of Brittany. After the refusal to appear of king Jean, the king de France went on the Normandy, whose it had made pronounce the confiscation, as all the other possessions of king d' Angleterre which were located in France. Mathieu followed Philippe-Auguste, and announced his value mainly to the seat and the catch of the fortress of Castle-Strapping man close to the Andelys, on March 6th 1204. After having been separate nearly three hundred years, and after the capitulation of Rouen on June 24th, 1204, all Normandy was conquered and joined together with the crown of France.

Mathieu de Montmorency took part in all the wars until the July 27th 1214, date of famous the Bataille of Bouvines whose victory was due mainly thanks to him. During this battle, it removed its hand twelve standards with the imperial army.

The crusade against the Albigensians and the count Raymond VI of Toulouse, started in 1209, always lasted when in 1215 Mathieu united with cross and found more than one occasion to announce its courage. During this countryside, it raised on many occasion the glare of sound Titer of constable and made of it the first dignity of the royaume.

Under the reign of Louis VIII, Mathieu enjoys greatest authority the. He assisted the king in the project which he had to drive out of France Anglais.
Whereas Louis VIII fought the Albigensians, it is him which was with the head of the royal army against the English. He seized Niort, of Saint-Jean-with Angély, the the Limousin, the Périgord, the Aunis and La Rochelle.
He carried then assistance to king de France in his fight against the Cathares Mathieu went against them and fought them until reconciliation which took place in 1226. Louis VIII did not exist already any more: with brings closer to an untimely death, this monarch, full with confidence in the talents and the fidelity of Montmorency, had urgently recommended to him his/her son still in low age.

Mathieu the Jura to support the child of his king and to pour for him if it were needed, to the last drop of its blood; II soon occasion had to achieve its oath. The large vassal ones of the crown believed capacity to benefit already minority from the king and there regency of a woman: But intrepid the White of Castille, helped of the councils of and especially the sword papal legate of Montmorenci, reduced them to obedience and preserved in all its integrity the capacity of his/her son.

Matthieu ordered the army which seized Bellême, in the Perche, under the eyes of the king in 1228. The following year, it continued the army of the brought together rebels, beat them and forced them to be subjected. It did not have time to see consolidating its work: he precisely died regretted of its Master, the November 24th 1230.

Matthieu II deserved the nickname of Grand by its courage, its skill in the businesses and more still by its virtues. A feature of this character, perhaps more interesting than its victories, it is that, with the help of light a Redevance, it frees all his Vassaux from the Corvée S, the sizes, and the impositions which the barons were then in possession to require: immense benefit, because more than six hundred strongholds only depended on the baronie on Montmorency.

The constable of Montmorency took only the title of baron, and, by its alliances and those of its ancestors, it was great-uncle, uncle, brother-in-law, nephew, grandson of two emperors, six kings, and combined of all the sovereigns of Europe.

This relationship is the example more striking illustration of the house of Montmorency, which yields it only to the sovereign houses, and which gave to France six constables, eleven marshals, four admirals, of the large Masters, the great chamberlains, etc

Matthieu II was married three times and had many children. Married in first weddings with Gertrude de Soissons, this union was cancelled in 1193. Gertrude, girl of the count Raoul II of Soissons, was divorced the count Jean de Beaumont († 1222).

Married in second weddings 1218 with Emma of Laval (1200-1264), lady of Laval.

This constable was great-uncle, uncle, brother-in-law, nephew, grandson of two emperors, six kings, and combined of all the sovereigns of Europe; he took as his ancestors the quality of lord of Montmorency, by the grace of God. The majority of the crowned heads of Europe go down from this great man by the marriage of Jeanne of Laval, one of its grand-daughters, with Louis de Bourbon, quadrisaïeul of Henri IV. It is at the origin of the branch of the Second House of Laval.

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