Marie I, Countess of Boulogne

Mary of Blois (c. 1136, † 1182 ) was a countess of Boulogne out of the house Blois.

Mary was a daughter of King Stephen of Blois and of the Countess Matilda of Boulogne. As a child she was a novice in the Priory Church Lille in Kent, in 1148 she became a nun at the Abbey of Romsey, to which she was elected abbess in 1155.

In October 1159, died Mary's older brother, William, from whom she inherited the French county of Boulogne. This has become an attractive marriage goods, prompting King Henry II of England their wedding with Matthew of Alsace. He was a brother of the powerful Count Philip of Flanders, which the English King wanted to be bound by this marriage closer. From her future husband, Mary was contrary to their will, abducted from their abbey and married. Since the marriage had already received the Maria because of holy orders did not match the canon law, tried unsuccessfully to obtain their cancellation, the Lord Chancellor Thomas Becket. In December 1169, Pope Alexander III. the cancellation of the marriage, whereupon Maria retired again as a nun in the abbey Montreuil- sur -Mer, where she also died.

The county of Boulogne was continued by Matthew until his death in 1173, he was killed in action during a revolt against Henry II of England. The two daughters from her forced marriage were legitimized by the Pope.

• Ida of Alsace ( * 1160/61; † April 21, 1216 ), 1173 Countess of Boulogne ∞ 1181 with Count Gerhard III. of funds († 1181 )
• ∞ 1183 by Duke Berthold IV of Zahringen († 1186 )
• ∞ 1190 with Count Rainald of Dammartin († 1217 )

• ∞ 1179 with Duke Henry I of Brabant († 1235 )