Theobald III of Blois

Theobald III, Count of Blois
Spouse(s)	Gersende of Maine Gundrada Adèle of Valois
Noble family	House of Blois
Father	Odo II, Count of Blois
Mother	Ermengarde of Auvergne
Born	1012
Died	1089

Theobald III of Blois (French: Thibaut) (1012–1089) was count of Blois, Meaux and Troyes. He was son of Odo II, Count of Blois and Ermengarde of Auvergne.

Upon his father's death in 1037, Theobald inherited amongst others the counties of Blois,Tours, Chartres. Châteaudun and Sancerre, and also in Champagne: Château-Thierry, Provins and St. Florentin. His brother Stephen inherited the counties of Meaux, Troyes and Vitry-le-François. By 1044, Geoffrey Martel, the Count of Anjou, was besieging Tours and Theobald responded by attempting to relieve the city. They met in battle at Nouy and Theobald was captured and had to give up the county of Touraine in order to regain his freedom. From then on the centre of power for the House of Blois moved to Champagne.

In 1054, Theobald recognized the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III as his liege which precipitated a meeting at Ivois between Henry I and the emperor. Theobald found ways to become close to the royal court again and gained political influence and began calling himself, Count Palatine.

Theobald's nephew, Odo, joined the army of William the Conqueror, participated in the Battle of Hastings and moved to England. Theobald used his nephew's absence and his own influence at court to gain control over Odo's possessions in Champagne. He had gained a position of considerable power, that increased when he married the daughter of Ralph IV of Valois. From 1074 onward, he left his son Henry in control of Blois, Châteaudun and Chartres.

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