Theobald or Thibault, known as the Trickster, was a vassal of 10th Century West Frankish King Lothair.

He is my 27 x great-grandfather.

He was born sometime around 910 but history does not record where. He is the son of Thibault, Viscount of Tours and his 1st wife, who records do not name1.

Titles

A photo of the Château - Chateaudun, France
The Château – Chateaudun, France

In 944, Theobald succeeded his father as Theobald I, “Le Tricheur” (The Trickster or The Cheater) Count of Blois and Viscount of Tours1.

He also held the titles of Count of Chartres and Count of Châteaudun2.

A photo of the Cathedral at Chartres
Cathedral – Chartres, France

Family

He married Luitgarde de Vermandois, sometime in 943 or 9441.

A photo of the river and bridge in Blois, France
Blois, France

Together they had five children1:

  • Theobald
  • Hugh
  • Eudes
  • Emma

Notable events

In 952, Theobald’s brother-in-law Alain II, Duke of Evraux died1. Theobald took over Brittany as guardian of his underage nephew Drogo1.

He plotted against Richard I, Count of Normandy – whose grandfather is Rollo the Viking, another ancestor of mine. Richard defeated Theobald in battle in 9551.

This means he was at war with his daughter’s husband’s family. Theobald’s daughter Emma married Duke William IV of Aquitaine, whose cousin is Richard I. William and Richard have a common grandfather in Rollo the Viking, also known as Robert I of Normandy.

In 957, Theobald signed a charter withdrawing his claims to a serf in favour of the monks of Saint-Martin de Tours1.

In 960, he gained control of the counties of Chatres and Châteaudun, becoming a vassal of Lothair, King of the West Franks by 9633. He established a fortification in Châteaudun on top of ancient wooden Celtic forts4 5 6 7. The only part of Thibauld’s fortifications which still exist are the dungeons in the castle8.

I describe the chateau in greater detail in a separate article.

In 964, Theobald was excommunicated by the Archbishop of Reims for taking multiple estates, including Coucy, from the archbishopric1.

In May 974, history records him as donating to Saint-Florent de Saumur, without indicating what he donated1.

Death

He died on 16 January in 9759 or 977, but records do not show where he died1. History does not record how he died, or where he’s buried.

Lineage

This person is my 27 x great-grandfather.

References

  1. Fmg.ac. (2023). CENTRAL FRANCE – BLOIS, TOURS. [online] Available at: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/CENTRAL%20FRANCE.htm [Accessed 31 Jul. 2024][][][][][][][][][][][]
  2. Office de Tourisme de Chateaudun. (2018). History of the town. [online] Available at: https://www.chateaudun-tourisme.fr/en/plan/visits/history-of-the-town [Accessed 21 Aug. 2024][]
  3. Fmg.ac. (2023). CENTRAL FRANCE – BLOIS, TOURS. [online] Available at: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/CENTRAL%20FRANCE.htm [Accessed 31 Jul. 2024][]
  4. Office de Tourisme de Chateaudun. (2018). History of the town. [online] Available at: https://www.chateaudun-tourisme.fr/en/plan/visits/history-of-the-town [Accessed 21 Aug. 2024][]
  5. Château de Châteaudun; Frenchchateau.net; (Retrieved 2024-06-18) []
  6. Le château de Châteaudun, premier des châteaux de la Loire; Chateau-Chateaudun.fr; (Retrieved 2024-06-18) (Site in French) []
  7. Un millefeuille architectural, entre Moyen Âge et Renaissance; Chateau-Chateaudun.fr; (Retrieved 2024-06-18) (Site in French) []
  8. Site visit by author; 2024-06-15[]
  9. Royalty for Commoners (4th edition); Roderick W Stuart; Genealogical Publishing Ltd; 2002[]

Family Tree

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