Biography of Enguerrand II Count Ponthieu -1053

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. The king of the Franks therefore assembled his forces and came in great haste to fortify the upper town, and ordered his army to encamp at Saint-Aubin. The duke's soldiers, learning of his arrival, sent out some of their own to see whether they might draw away any of the enemy from the royal host, whom they could capture unawares in hiding places. When they came, they drew off no small part of the army, and, feigning flight, led them into ambushes. Then immediately those who seemed to flee turned about and began fiercely to cut them down, so that in this conflict many were slain, among whom was Enguerrand¹, count of Abbeville, was run through and slain; and Hugh, named Bardulf, was captured with many others. When the king learned this, he sent supplies into the castle for which he had come, and, grieved at the loss of his soldiers, withdrew in disgrace. William, too, not long afterward, being pressed by famine, unwillingly surrendered the castle and went into exile from his native land. At length, with his wife, who was the sister of Guy², count of Ponthieu, he sought out Eustace³, count of Boulogne, and, receiving food and clothing in his household, remained an exile until his death.

Rex ergo Francorum copias sumpsit et superioris oppidi causa muniendi properantissime advenit, et exercitum castra metari apud sanctum Albinum jussit. Cujus adventum milites ducis comperientes, de suis miserunt, si quos forte hostium a regio cœtu abstraherent, quos illi in latibulis degentes incautos exciperent. Quo dum venissent, non minimam exercitus partem inde protraxerunt, et fugientes in insidias induxerunt. Statim vero qui videbantur fugere, versa facie coeperunt eos acriter cædere; adeo ut in hoc conflictu cum pluribus Ingelrannus Abbatisville comes confossus perimeretur, ac Hugo cognomento Bardulfus cum multis aliis caperetur. Quod ut rex agnovit, alimoniam castello pro quo venerat, intromisit, et moestus propter milites amissos cum dedecore recessit. Willelmus quoque non longo post inedia affectus cum suis invitus castellum reddidit et ipse a nativo solo in exsilium discessit. Denique cum uxore sua, sorore scilicet Widonis comitis Pontivi, Eustachium Boloniæ comitem expetiit, et in ejus familia victum et vestitum percipiens, usque ad mortem suam extorris remansit.

Note 1. Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu, was killed in battle on 25th October 1053 supporting William of Talou aka Arques (age 27). He was the eldest son and heir of Hugh II, Count of Ponthieu and his wife Bertha of Aumale. Sometime before 1049 he married Adelaide, daughter of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and was, therefore, brother-in-law of Duke William I of Normandy, the Conqueror. The marriage was annulled by the Council of Reims in 1049.

Note 2. [his brother] Guy aka Wido Count of Ponthieu (age 33), ~1020-1100, was a younger brother of Enguerrand, Count of Ponthieu who succeeded to his brother's title 1053. Guy was succeeded by his daughter Agnes who married Robert II of Bellême aka Montgomery and whose son William succeeded to the title Count of Ponthieu when Agnes died sometime after 1105.

Note 3. Eustace, II Count of Boulogne (age 38), ~1015-~1087. He fought on the Norman side at the Battle of Hastings. In 1047 he married Goda aka Godgifu, daughter of the King Æthelred the Unready of England, sister of King Edward the Confessor (age 50). Eustace and Goda's marriage was annulled when Eustace was excommunicated by Pope Leo IX for marrying within the prohibited degree of kinship; they were half third cousin twice removed, possibly closer. He subsequently married Ida of Lorraine (age 13), daughter of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine, with whom he had four children.