Accessing Authority: 1206–14

Abstract

Once the news of Baldwin’s death reached northern Europe, Philip of Namur seized the reigns of government from the regency council previously appointed by the count. He also seized physical control of his two nieces, Jeanne and Marguerite, who had been transformed into extremely powerful heiresses seemingly overnight. Philip Augustus acted with similar urgency, hearing the news while laying siege to Chinon. The king immediately dispatched Barthélemy de Roye to offer an alliance to Philip of Namur.1 The two Philips concluded the treaty of Pont de l’Arche in 1206, which granted Philip of Namur immediate control of the county in return for the concession of key cities along the border, reversing key gains made by Baldwin IX. The treaty also granted Philip Augustus custody of both girls and control over their eventual marriages, a significant concession in light of the current state of relations between France and Flanders.2 As a reward for his complicity, Philip of Namur was engaged to Marie, the daughter of Philip Augustus. A second charter detailing the terms of this marriage was signed in August 1206, and the fate of the two young orphans was permanently sealed.3 In September, 1208, Jeanne and Marguerite were officially placed under Philip’s personal custody as wards of the crown, and transferred to the royal court in Paris where they remained until Jeanne’s marriage in January, 1212.4KeywordsEuropeSocial StratificationExpensePositArenaThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.