Theobald I | |
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Miniature of Theobald with the arms of Navarre
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King of Navarre | |
Reign | 1234 - 1253 |
Predecessor | Sancho VII |
Successor | Theobald II |
Born |
Troyes, County of Champagne |
30 May 1201
Died | 8 July 1253 Pamplona, Kingdom of Navarre |
(aged 52)
Burial | Pamplona Cathedral |
Spouse |
Gertrude of Dagsburg Agnes of Beaujeu Margaret of Bourbon |
Issue more... |
Blanche, Duchess of Brittany Theobald II, King of Navarre Beatrice, Duchess of Burgundy Henry I, King of Navarre |
House | Blois |
Father | Theobald III, Count of Champagne |
Mother | Blanche of Navarre |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Theobald I (French: Thibaut, Spanish: Teobaldo, often referred to as Thibaut de Navarre and Thibaut de Champagne) (30 May 1201 – 8 July 1253), also called the Troubadour and the Posthumous, was Count of Champagne (as Theobald IV) from birth and King of Navarre from 1234. He initiated the Barons' Crusade, was famous as a trouvère, and was the first Frenchman to rule Navarre.
Born in Troyes, he was the son of Theobald III of Champagne and Blanche of Navarre, the youngest daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre. His father died less than a week before he was born, and Blanche ruled the county as regent until Theobald turned twenty-one in 1222. He was a notable trouvère, and many of his songs have survived, including some with music.
The first half of Theobald's life was plagued by a number of difficulties. His uncle, Count Henry II, had left behind a great deal of debt, which was far from paid off when Theobald's father died. Further, Theobald's right to the succession was challenged by Henry's daughter Philippa and her husband, Erard I of Brienne, Count of Ramerupt, and one of the more powerful nobles of Champagne.
The conflict with Erard and Philippa broke into open warfare in 1215 as the Champagne War of Succession, and was not resolved until after Theobald came of age in 1222. At that time he bought out their rights for a substantial monetary payment. Some years later, in 1234, he had to spend still more to buy off Philippa's elder sister Alice, Queen of Cyprus. The settlement of 1222 did not end Theobald's problems, for in the following years he antagonized Louis VIII.