Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy

Enguerrand III. de Coucy (* 1182, † about 1242 ) was lord of the barony of Coucy in Picardy ( northern France ). His nickname was "the Great" (le Grand) or " the builder " (le Batisseur ). He was the eldest son of Raoul I de Coucy († 1191 ) and Alice de Dreux (* 1156/57; † ca 1217 ), daughter of Count Robert I of Dreux.

Enguerrand III. was master of the most powerful barony of France. His consciousness of power was reflected in 1223 began developing its Castle Coucy one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.

Enguerrand III. participated with his brothers Thomas de Vervins and Robert de Pinon at all major campaigns of the Capetian: 1205 in Anjou and 1214 in the Battle of Bouvines. From 1216-17 he supported Louis VIII the Lion in England, for which he was excommunicated in 1216 by the archbishops of Reims, Sens and Rouen. 1219 but was released by the bishops of Laon and Noyon again. 1219 and 1226 took part in the Albigensian Crusade Enguerrand. In the years 1229-30 he took with a group of barons, led by his cousin from the house of Dreux, Peter Mauclerc to the opposition against the regent Blanche of Castile part. Allegedly, Enguerrand to have homemade hopes on the royal throne, as he. Above his mother a great-grandson of King Louis VI thicknesses was. Despite the failure of the revolt he kept his proud appearance at, made it clear through its become known saying:

Enguerrand died when he fell while crossing a creek near Vervins from the saddle and threw his own sword. His fame rests on his buildings, he allowed a player to fix larger fortresses and castles built six more.

Marriage and issue

He was married three times. His first wife was Beatrix de Vignory, widow of Count Rudolf I of Roucy. His second wife was married 1200-1205 Mathilde ( Mahaut or even Richenza ) of Saxony ( † before 1210), daughter of Duke Henry the Lion, the widow of Count Godfrey III. Le Perche. His third wife was Marie de Montmirail, with whom he had three daughters and two sons:

Marie de Coucy 1 ∞ 1239 King Alexander II of Scotland
2 ∞ 1251 John of Acre, son of King John of Jerusalem (House Brienne )