Henri of Blois in Royal Ancestry? [closed]

Question

Hi! Could someone check for me Royal Ancestry Vol. I page 390 and post what details Richardson has for Henri de Blois (Henry, Bishop of Winchester). I prob. have everything but perhaps there's a detail or two missing. Thanks!

Answer 1

Royal Ancestry, Vol 1, page 390iv Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, 4th son. professaed a monk at Cluny in Burgundy.  first occurs 1126 when apptd Abbot of Glastonbury by his uncle, King Henry I of England. first nominated Bishop of Winchester 4 Oct 1129, consecrated 17 Nov 1129. received permission from both king and pope to hold his abbey along with his bishopric. frequently at Henry I's court, attended meeting at Northammpton in Sept 1131, when oaths were sworn by the leading laymen, and churchmen, to support the succession of Henry's daughter, Empress Matilda. present at Westminster 22 Dec 1135, when his brother, Stephen, was crowned king of England. He founded the hospital of St Cross outside Winchester in 1138 for thirteen aged men and for providing a hundred poor persons with a daily dinner. He served as Papal legate for England from 1 March 1139 to 24 Sept 1143. He took a prominent role in negotiating the treaty of Windchester in 1153, in which Henry, Duke of Normandy, was adopted as King Stephen's heir. He assisted at the coronation of King Henry II 19 Dec 1154. died 8 (or 9) August 1171. followed by nine lines of size 8 type of sources.

Comments

Thanks - that's what I needed.

Answer 2

Sorry Kirk, I don't have access to Richardson's works, but I'd be interested to know why he believes there are only 4 sons and not 5 as I've seen in other works.

An extra son Odo or Eudes is mentioned in a charter with his mother (LX, p. 455) https://archive.org/stream/cartulairedelabb02char#page/454/mode/2up

And 4 of the sons, including Odo sign this charter https://archive.org/stream/cartulairedenotr01char#page/106/mode/1up

Finally there his death is recorded here https://archive.org/stream/unmanuscritchart00merl#page/149/mode/1up

I think I have come across something that it is suggested that Henry is also called Eudes, but the record of his death would suggest that this is impossible.

So I'm not sure what Richardson's reasoning is for omitting Odo, perhaps there isn't any proof that the mother in the death record is the same Countess Adela?

This has an implication for Henry because I notice you have called him the 4th and youngest son, whereas he could be the 5th and youngest son.

Comments

Richardson gives Adele of England and Etienne Henri 5 children:

Guillaume of Blois, Count of Chartres, seigneur of Sully-sur-Loire, married Agnes de Sully

Thibaut IV le Grand, Count of Blois, Champagne and Troyes, married in 1123 Mathilde of Carinthia, daughter of Engelbert II von Sponheim, Duke of Carinthia, Margrave of Istria

Stephen of Blois, King of England, Duke of Normandy, Count of Mortain, Count of Boulogne,

"Henry of Blois, Bishop of Worcester, 4th son",

Agnes of Blois, married Hugues [III] du Puiset, Vicomte of Chartres, seigneur of le Puiset, son and heir of Ebrard III du Puiset

---

I don't know about the accuracy of the numbers since I included the numbering from the ODNB & there are no inline citations to check. Very interesting find. those charters for Eudes/Odo says in the notes he's an unknown son. I didn't translate the whole inscription. 

I'm curious about his father's names  Étienne-Henri (fr) vs. Stephani (Latin) since some sources use the former and some the latter.

Evergates' The Aristocracy in the County of Champaign, 1100-1300 has genealogical tables starting on p. 248, which was excluded from Google Books but check JSTOR. WP cites 4 sons from Evergates.