Albert I, Comte de Namur

NAMUR

1. BERENGAR

m. d. of Reginar I, Graf von Maasgau
d. before 946

The Citadel of Namur

Berengar is mentioned in a charter of King Ludwig of the Abbey of Fosse to the church of Liege dated 26 Oct. 907,(1) as well as another charter to the church of Tongern 18 Jan. 908.(2) Count Berengar was also mentioned in a charter of Charles "the simple", King of the West Franks restoring Kloster Susteren to Prum Abbey 19 Jan. 916.(3)

In 924 Flodoard states that Berengar captured Giselbert, Duke of Lotharingia and only freed him after getting two of his relatives as hostages. Giselbert then ravaged Berengar's lands.(4)

Issue-

  • ?2I. ROBERT- b.c.920, m. ?LIUTGARDE, d. before 981

    Ref:

    (1) Die Urkunden Zwentibolds und Ludwigs des Kindes- 55, p. 181
    (2) Ibid 57, p. 183
    (3) Urkundenbuch zur Geschichte der, jetzt die Preussischen Regierungsbezirke Coblenz und Trier bildenden Mittelrheinischen Territorien- H. Beyer, Coblenz, 1860- Vol. I, 159, p. 222
    (4) Flodoardi Annales 924- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- Vol. III, p. 373


    2I. ROBERT (BERENGAR 1)

    b.c.920
    m. ?LIUTGARDE, d. of Adalbert, Graf von Metz
    d. before 981

    Robert became Comte de Namur probably as a direct successor to Berengar as no evidence of another intervening count in the area has been found. Robert may have been the son or grandson of Berengar. The earliest reference to Robert is from a charter dated 2 June 946 in which Robert donated the villa of Melin to Waulsort Abbey.(1)

    Waulsort Abbey

    Flodoard states that in 960 Robert fortified Namur against his enemy Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne.(2)

    Albert, Gislebert and Ratbod are named as sons of Count Robert in a charter from 981.(3)

    Issue-

  • 3I. ALBERT- m. ERMENGARDE de Lorraine, d.c.1006
  • II. Giselbert-
  • III. Ratbod-
  • IV. ______- probably d.s.p. before 981.
  • V. Liutgarde- m. Arnoul, Comte de Cambrai

    Ref:

    (1) Actes des Comtes de Namur de la Premi�re Race 946-1196- F. Rousseau, Brussels, 1936- Vol. I, p. 3
    (2) Flodoardi Annales 960- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- Vol. III, p. 405
    (3) Album Belge de Diplomatique- H. Pirenne, Ed., Brussels, 1909- Vol. IV, Namur, p. xxxv


    3I. ALBERT (BERENGAR 1, ROBERT 2), comte de Namur

    m. ERMENGARDE de LORRAINE, d. of Charles, Duc de Lorraine
    d.c.1006

    King Otto confirmed the privileges of Brogne Abbey by charter dated 992 which named "comitii Namuci Adelberto".(1) In 1011 a monk from St. Vaast d'Arras was dreaming of hell where he recognised count Albert who was being tortured. This episode was incorporated into a circular from Richard, Bishop of Verdun to all the abbeys.(2) Issue-

  • I. Robert- d. before 1031
  • 4II. ALBERT- m. REGULINDE de BASSE-LORRAINE, d. Dec. 1037
  • III. Hadwide- m. Gerard, Duke of Upper Lotharingia (d. 14 Apr. or 11 Aug. 1070 Remiremont), d. 28 Jan. 1080
  • IV. Liutgarde/Emma- m. Otto or Giselbert, comte de Looz
  • V. Goda-
  • VI. Ermengarde-

    Ref:

    (1) Die Urkunden Otto des III- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- 92, p. 502
    (2) Actes des Comtes de Namur de la Premiere Race 946-1196- F. Rousseau, Brussels, 1936- p. xli


    4II. ALBERT (BERENGAR 1, ROBERT 2, ALBERT 3) - Comte de Namur

    m. REGULINDE de BASSE-LORRAINE- d. of Gozelon, Duke of Lower Lotharingia
    d. Dec. 1037

    The "Genealogica comitum Buloniensium" states that Ermengarde was the mother of "Albertum comitem de Namuco".(1) Albert founded the church of Saint-Aubain in Namur. The Fundatio Ecclesiae S Albani Namucensis states that "comes Albertus secundus, ortus ex patre Lothariensi, matre vero Francigena Ermegarde, nobilissimam Francorum regum porsapiam trahente" founded the church.(2) By his marriage to Regulinde, Albert obtained Durbuy.

    Saint Aubain Cathedral- Namur

    Issue-

  • 5I. ALBERT- m. IDA von SACHSEN, d.c.1102
  • II. Henri- d. after 23 Apr. 1088. Henri was Comte de Durbuy.

    Ref:

    (1) Genealogica comitum Buloniensium- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- Vol. IX, p. 300
    (2) Fundatio Ecclesiae S. Albani Namucensis- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- Vol. XV.2, p. 962


    5I. ALBERT (BERENGAR 1, ROBERT 2, ALBERT 3, ALBERT 4)- Comte de Namur

    b.c.1030 Namur, Belgium
    m. IDA von SACHSEN (m.1. Frederic II, Duke of Lower Lotharingia, d. 31 July 1102 Namur)- d. of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika von Schweinfurt
    d. 22 June 1102 (4)

    Albert claimed the inheritance of his cousin Godefroi III, "Le Bossu", Duke of Lower Lotharingia in 1076, challenging the succession of Godefroi de Boulogne and made an unsuccessfull attempt at besieging the castle of Bouillon. Matilda of Tuscany granted the county of Verdun to Albert which Theodoric, Bishop of Verdun had granted to her in 1076.(1) Emperor Heinrich IV appointed Albert to be vice-duke of Lower Lotharingia in 1076 to be regent for his infant son Konrad whom he made Duke of Lower Lotharingia.(2) Count Albert III also acquired wardship over the prince-abbacy of Stavelot-Malmedy. Emperor Henry confirmed the foundation of St. Jakob in Liege by "Albertus comes Nammucensium filiis suis Godefrido, Heinrico, Alberto" by a charted dated 1 June 1101.(3)

    By his marriage to Ida, Albert obtained extensive lands north-east of Bouillon castle which later became the county of Laroche.

    Issue-

  • 6I. IDA- m. GODEFROI de LOUVAIN (d. 25 Jan. 1140), d. 23 Apr. 1151
  • II. Adelaide- b.c.1068, m. Otto, Count de Chiny, d. 1124
  • 7III. GODFREY- b.c.1070, m.1. SIBYLLE de CHATEAU PORCIEN- divorced, 2. Ermisende de Luxembourg (m.1. Albrecht von Dagsburg (d. 24 Aug. 1098 Dagsburg, Elsass Lothringen), d. 24 June 1143 Namur), d. 19 Aug. 1139 Namur
  • IV. Henry- b.c.1072, m. Mathilda von Limbourg, d. June 1133 La Roche en Ardenne
  • V. Frederic- poisoned 22 May 1121. Bishop of Liege.
  • VI. Albert- m. Mabile de Roucy (m.1. Hugues de Puiset, Lord of Jaff), d. before 1122

    Ref:

    (1) The Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: a dynastic history 1099-1125- A.V. Murray, in "Prosopographica & Genealogica", 2000- p. 17
    (2) Ibid- p. 20
    (3) Die Urkunden Heinrichs IV- Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum- 470, p. 635
    (4) Obituaire de l'abbaye de Brogne ou de Saint-Gerard- J. Barbier, in "Analectes pour servir � l�histoire eccl�siastique de la Belgique", Louvain, 1882- Vol. XVIII, p. 325

    Les Relations Entre le Comte de Namur Albert III et L'Abbaye de Saint-Hubert en Ardenne- J. Baudhuin, in "Etudes d'histoire et d'archeologie Namuroises dediees a Ferdinand Courtoy", Namur, 1952- p. 328
    Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy- Alison Weir, The Bodley Head, London, 1999- p. 48


    7III. GODFREY (BERENGAR 1, ROBERT 2, ALBERT 3, ALBERT 4, ALBERT 5)

    b.c.1070
    m.1. SIBYLLE de CHATEAU PORCIEN- divorced, d. of Roger and Ermengarde de Chateau Porcien
    2. Ermisende de Luxembourg (m.1. Albrecht, Graf von Dagsburg, d. 24 Aug. 1098 Dagsburg, Elsass Lothringen), d. 24 June 1143 Namur)
    d. 19 Aug. 1139 Namur (3)

    Floreffe Abbey

    By a charter 27 Nov. 1121 Godfrey and Ermisende founded the Abbey of Floreffe with the consent of "Adelberto, Henrico, Clementia, Beatrice, Adelaide".(1) The story goes that St. Norbert of Xanten was returning from Cologne with relics for his new church at Pr�montr�, Godrey and Erminsende received him at their castle at Namur and were so impressed by him that they asked him to found a house at Floreffe. While celebrating mass at Floreffe, St. Norbert saw a drop of blood coming from the host onto the paten. He didn't believe his eyes so asked the deacon: "Brother, do you see what I see?" To which the deacon replied: Yes, Father. I see a drop of blood which gives out a brilliant light". The altar stone on which he celebrated mass is still at Floreffe. Philip, a later Count of Namur, gave to Weric, sixth abbot, a piece of the True Cross which he had received from his brother Baldwin, Emperor of Constantinople. In 1204 and 1254 blood flowed from this relic on the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross and was witnessed by a large crowd.(8)

    Godfrey also donated property to Gembloux Abbey by a charter dated 1131.(2)

    Albert married Sibylle de Porcien who was seduced by Enguerrand de Boves, Comte d'Amiens, Sire de Coucy. She fled her husband before giving birth to Enguerrand's child.(4)

    By his marriage to Ermesinde, Godfrey obtained the county of Longwy which she received after the death of her nephew Count Conrad II in 1136. Ermesinde, countess of Namur, confirmed the donation of property to the church of Verdun Sainte-Vanne by Count Albert by a charter dated 1124 and subscribed by "domni mei Godefridi comitis et filii mei Henrici comitis, Hugonis filii Folmari comitis, Everardi filii Aiulfi comitis".(5) She also founded the monastery of Saint-Victor in Huy by a charter from 1130.(6) Ermesinde also donated property to Flone Abbey by a charter dated 1137.(7)

    Issue- first two children by Sibylle, last five by Ermisende

  • 8I. ELIZABETH- b.c.1092, m.1. GERVAIS de RETHEL (b.c.1065 Rethel, Ardennes, d.c.1124 Rethel), 2. Clarembald de Rosoy (b.c.1090, d.c.1158 Chateau Porcien)
  • II. Flandrine- m. Alard, Sieur d'Epinoy et d'Antoing
  • III. Albert- d.s.p. after 7 Jan. 1125
  • IV. Clemence- m. Konrad Herzog von Z�hringen (d. 8 Jan. 1152, Bur. St. Peter im Schwarzwald), d. 28 Dec. 1158
  • II. Beatrix- b.c.1111, m. Gonthier de Rethel, d.c.1160
  • III. Henry "the blind"- b.c.1113, m.1. Lauretta de Flandre (divorced 1163, m.1. Ivan, Graaf van Aalst, 2. Hendrik II, Duke of Limburg, 3. Raoul, Comte de Vermandois), 2. c.1168 Agnes of Guelders (b.c.1148 Zutphen, Gelderland, Netherlands, d.c.1186 Namur), d. 14 Aug. 1196 Namur
  • IV. Alix- b.c.1115, m. Baldwin "le Batisseur", Count of Hainaut (d. 8 Nov. 1171), d. July 1168 Mons, Hainaut, Belgium

    Ref:

    (1) Diplomatum Belgicorum nova collectio, sive supplementum ad opera diplomatica Auberti Miraei- J.F. Foppens, Brussels, 1748- Vol. IV, part II, XXIII- p. 194
    (2) Recueil des chartes de l�abbaye de Gembloux- C.G. Roland, Gembloux, 1921- 51, p. 58
    (3) N�crologe de l�abbaye de Floreffe- J. Barbier, Louvain, 1876- p. 116
    (4) Luxemburg in the Middle Ages- J.A. Gade, Leiden, 1951- p. 86; Guibert de Nogent, Histoire de sa vie- G. Bourgin, Paris, 1907- Vol. III, p. 135
    (5) Die �lteren Urkunden des Klosters S. Vanne zu Verdun- H. Bloch, Ed., in "Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft f�r lothringische Geschichte und Altertumskunde"- Vol. LXXVI (1901), p. 98
    (6) Diplomatum Belgicorum nova collectio, sive supplementum ad opera diplomatica Auberti Mir�i - J.F. Foppens, Brussels, 1748- Vol. IV, part III, XXV, p. 363
    (7) Documents relatifs � l�abbaye de Fl�ne- M. Evrard, in "Analectes pour servir � l�histoire eccl�siastique de la Belgique", Louvain, 1892- Vol. XXIII, IX, p. 295
    (8) Wikipedia article at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLoreffe_Abbey

    Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America before 1700- Frederick Lewis Weis, 7th ed., Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1992- pp.163-26
    Europ�ische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europ�ischen Staaten- Detlev Schwennicke, Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, 1978- Vol. VII. p. 68


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