Biography of Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois -1152

Paternal Family Tree: Capet

Maternal Family Tree: Adela Valois Countess Blois and Vermandois

Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois was appointed I Count Vermandois.

Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Lauretta Metz Countess Namur and Luxemburg were married. She the daughter of Thierry Count Flanders and Swanhilde Countess Flanders. He the son of Hugh "Great" Capet and Adelaide I Countess Vermandois. They were second cousin twice removed.

Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers were married. She the daughter of William "Saint" Poitiers X Duke Aquitaine and Aenor Chatellerault Duchess Aquitaine. He the son of Hugh "Great" Capet and Adelaide I Countess Vermandois. They were second cousin twice removed.

Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois was born to Hugh "Great" Capet and Adelaide I Countess Vermandois.

On 18th October 1101 [his father] Hugh "Great" Capet (age 44) died.

In 1120 [his mother] Adelaide I Countess Vermandois died.

In 1125 Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Eleanor Blois were married. She the daughter of Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres and Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 58). He the son of Hugh "Great" Capet and Adelaide I Countess Vermandois. They were second cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

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

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

In 1129 [his brother-in-law] Bishop Henry of Blois (age 31) was appointed Bishop of Winchester.

Coronation of King Stephen

                    In December 1135 [his brother-in-law] King Stephen I England (age 41) was crowned King of England by Archibishop of Canterbury William de Corbeil (age 65).
                
                    The date of his coronation described differently by many Chroniclers:
                
                    Florence of Worcester: "on the thirteenth of the calends of January" i.e. 20th December 1135.
                
                    Orderic Vitalis: "on the eighteenth of the calends of January" i.e. 15th December 1135; the editor provided a note suggesting this date is incorrect and the correct date is the 26th December 1135.
                
                    The Annals of Winchester: "on the 22nd day after the death of his uncle, on the 1st of January." We should note that if King Henry died on the 1st  December this date would refer to the 22nd or 23rd of December.
                
                    Roger of Wendover's Flowers of History: "on the day of the proto-martyr St. Stephen" i.e. 26th December 1135.
                
                    Chronicle of Richard Baker: "and so upon St. Stephen's day, in Anno 1135"  i.e. 26th December 1135.
                
                    Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: "on midwinter day" i.e. probably 20th or 21st of December but possibly the 25th.
                
                    Matthew Paris Chronica Majora: "on the Feast of Saint Stephen" i.e. 26th December 1135.

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Death of King Henry I

On 1st December 1135 King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 67) died at Lyons-la-Forêt, Normandy [Map]. The succession fell between Henrys daughter Empress Matilda (age 33) and Henry's nephew [his brother-in-law] King Stephen I England (age 41), son of [his mother-in-law] Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 68) daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England. The period from 1135 to 1153 during which the succession was fought over is known as The Anarchy.

The phrase "surfeit of lampreys" to describe the cause of his death appears first to have been used in the Chronicle of Richard Baker. "Lampreys", in Latin "murenarum", may mean "eel". The word is used in the Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon and The Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover.

In 1139 Josce de Dinan and Sybil de Lacy were married by which he gained control of Ludlow Castle [Map]. The marriage arranged by [his brother-in-law] King Stephen I England (age 45).

In 1143 [his daughter] Elizabeth Capet was born to Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers (age 18).

After 1143 William Roumare 1st Earl Lincoln (age 47) was created 1st Earl Lincoln by [his brother-in-law] King Stephen I England (age 49).

In 1145 [his son] Ralph Capet II Count Vermandois was born to Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers (age 20).

In 1147 [his wife] Eleanor Blois died.

In 1149 [his daughter] Eleanor Capet Countess Vermandois was born to Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers (age 24).

On 14th October 1152 Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois died.