Biography of Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne 1136-1182

Paternal Family Tree: Blois

Maternal Family Tree: Agatha

In 1125 [her father] King Stephen I England (age 31) and [her mother] Matilda Flanders (age 20) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Eustace Flanders III Count Boulogne and [her grandmother] Mary Dunkeld Countess Boulogne. He the son of [her grandfather] Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres and [her grandmother] Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 58). They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

In 1136 Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne was born to King Stephen I England (age 42) and Matilda Flanders (age 31).

On 3rd May 1152 [her mother] Matilda Flanders (age 47) died. Her son [her brother] Eustace (age 22) succeeded IV Count Boulogne.

Death of King Stephen

On 25th October 1154 [her father] King Stephen I England (age 60) died at Priory of St Martin, Dover [Map]. His first cousin once removed Henry (age 21) succeeded II King of England.

In 1159 [her brother] William Blois I Count Boulogne (age 22) died. His sister Marie (age 23) succeeded I Countess Boulogne.

Around 1160 [her daughter] Ida Metz Countess Boulogne was born to [her husband] Matthew Metz Count Boulogne and Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 24). She a granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

In 1160 Matthew Metz Count Boulogne and Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 24) were married. She the daughter of King Stephen I England and Matilda Flanders. He the son of Thierry Count Flanders (age 61) and Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex and Flanders (age 48). They were third cousins.

In 1160 [her husband] Matthew Metz Count Boulogne abducted Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 24).

Letters. 1168. Letter V. Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 32) to Louis VII King Franks (age 48).

Let it be known to your highness that Henry, king of England (age 34) has sent his ambassadors to the emperor. It is certain that he has for the most part, succeeded in obtaining what he wished; for the emperor shews himself kindly disposed to the king, and his (the king's) ambassadors being on their return, he has not hesitated to send his own with them to him, which he thought the best course, lest the aforesaid king should doubt whether he was sincere in his assistance against you. The returning ambassadors passed through my territories, and I spoke with them, and well I perceived from their words that the English king ceases not, day nor night, to devise mischief against you. Wherefore I thought it fitting to send to your grace, and to give you the necessary forewarning, that you may take counsel with your wise men, and act as is most fitting, lest the impetuous presumption of the fraudulent king should inflict violent injury upon you. Fare you well.

In 1170 Matthew Metz Count Boulogne and Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 34) were divorced.

In 1170 [her daughter] Maud Metz was born to [her husband] Matthew Metz Count Boulogne and Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 34). She a granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

In 1173 [her former husband] Matthew Metz Count Boulogne died. His daughter [her daughter] Ida (age 13) succeeded Countess Boulogne.

On 25th July 1182 Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne (age 46) died.