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Countess of Champagne: A Powerful Woman in the Middle Ages (1145-1198)

Eric Nelson

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Published in Marie Of France: Countess Of Champagne 1145 1198 (The Middle Ages Series)

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Marie of Champagne, Countess of Champagne and Brie, was a powerful and influential figure in the Middle Ages. She was a major patron of the arts and literature, and her court was a center of learning and culture. She was also a skilled diplomat and a strong advocate for the rights of women.

Marie of France: Countess of Champagne, 1145-1198 (The Middle Ages Series)

by Theodore Evergates

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Language	:	English
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Print length	:	193 pages
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Early Life

Marie was born in 1145 to Theobald II, Count of Champagne, and Matilda of Carinthia. She was the eldest of four children, and her father died when she was just three years old. Her mother remarried, and Marie was raised by her stepfather, Henry I, Count of Champagne.

Marie was a bright and intelligent young woman. She received a good education, and she was fluent in several languages. She was also a skilled musician and a talented poet.

Marriage

In 1164, Marie married Henry I, Count of Champagne. Henry was a powerful and ambitious man, and he quickly made Marie his equal in all matters of government. Marie was a skilled diplomat, and she played a major role in her husband's negotiations with the French king, Louis VII.

Marie and Henry had four children together. Their eldest son, Theobald III, succeeded his father as Count of Champagne. Their other children were Marie, Countess of Flanders; Henry II, King of Jerusalem; and Philippa, Countess of Namur.

Patronage of the Arts

Marie was a major patron of the arts and literature. She commissioned many works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and tapestries. She also supported many writers and poets, and her court was a center of learning and culture.

One of the most famous works of art commissioned by Marie is the "Gospels of Marie of Champagne." This illuminated manuscript is one of the most beautiful examples of medieval art. It is now housed in the British Library in London.

Marie also commissioned the writing of several literary works, including the "Romance of Tristan and Iseult." This romance is one of the most popular and enduring works of medieval literature.

Diplomacy

Marie was a skilled diplomat, and she played a major role in her husband's negotiations with the French king, Louis VII. She was also involved in negotiations between the English king, Henry II, and the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa.

In 1187, Marie helped to negotiate the Treaty of Troyes between the French king, Philip II, and the English king, Richard I. This treaty ended the Third Crusade and paved the way for a period of peace between England and France.

Advocacy for Women's Rights

Marie was a strong advocate for the rights of women. She founded several convents and hospitals for women, and she supported legislation that protected the rights of widows and orphans.

Marie was also a strong supporter of education for women. She founded several schools for girls, and she encouraged women to participate in intellectual pursuits.

Death and Legacy

Marie died in 1198 at the age of 53. She was buried in the Abbey of Clairvaux. Marie was a remarkable woman who left a lasting legacy. She was a powerful and influential figure in the Middle Ages, and her patronage of the arts and literature helped to shape the culture of the time.