The monk’s web - Second Crusade Occitan timeline

[kasumigenx]

On 1145, Louis VII would decide not to do a crusade unless he has a male heir and focused on siring a male heir before he would join the crusade which is known in history as the Second Crusade, what Louis would do instead is to suggest Innocent II to annul the marriage of Constance of France and Eustace of Blois, the annulment and separation of Constance and Eustace and the later marriage of Constance of France to Theobald V of Blois, the separation of Constance and Eustace was accepted due to the infertility of Constance and her lack of children in her marriage and another is the betrothal of Isabel of Vermandois to Henry of Champagne the two marriage would be a sign of the annulment of the alliance between the Blesvins in England and the Capetians, the marriage between Isabel of Vermandois to Henry, Count of Champagne would later cause the childless death of Henry, Count of Champagne while Constance herself would prove to be fertile as she would provide children to Theobald V, his expectations for Theobald would turn out to be true to Henry as Isabel of Vermandois would prove to be infertile as he expected Constance of France to be, he was thinking that if Theobald V died, the children of Henry would fight over inheritance of Champagne and Blois.

Louis VII is famous to have said to his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine “I would not go to crusade unless I have a son myself and our succession is secured”.

Louis VII would formally switch sides with the Blois and the Plantagenets in England and sent reinforcements to Empress Matilda and Geoffrey Plantagenet which would result in them securing Normandy completely.

By Spring of 1147 Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII would have a son named Philip, named after his dead brother and the two would go to the crusades in the Christmas of 1148, and left Marie and Philip to Abott Suger who is the one who supported Eleanor of Aquitaine in France and the two would decide to aid the uncle of Eleanor of Aquitaine, only to find in 1149 that he is already dead and Eleanor would blame her husband but on their return to France in 1150, Eleanor would find herself pregnant and gave birth to a daughter named Alix trying to give birth to a spare, Eleanor would agree in the decision of Louis VII for them not to sleep together anymore as they both already have heirs and that is the best decision for Eleanor as her son Philip would help her promote her culture in their country or realm as she would raise her son in her Limousin Language and it would later cause her to consolidate power within France and Henry II of England is one of her court favorites.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was quoted to say “I married a monk!”

 

[kasumigenx]

In 1152, following the demise of her first husband, Alice, also known as Petronilla of Aquitaine, entered into matrimony with Henry, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, and Maine. This union was orchestrated by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Queen of France, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the marriage, Eleanor of Aquitaine would focus on spreading her culture and power in France via the fact that she is married to the King of France and mother of the future King of France.

Alice of Aquitaine would give birth to the couples first child in 1153, who would be named as William of Anjou who would die in 1160.

By 1154, Henry, now Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, and Maine, achieved a significant victory over Stephen, the reigning King of England who nominated him as heir to England. Henry's ascent to power was further solidified when Stephen's heir, Eustace, had passed away earlier that year. Recognizing Henry's capabilities and favoring him, Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the King and Queen of France, embraced him as a court favorite.

In 1154, knowing about the defeat of his father, William, the son of Stephen of England, made the decision to marry Beatrice, Countess of Burgundy and freed her from her uncle. This strategic move was informed by William's awareness of his ancestors' historical rule over the Kingdom of Burgundy. Beatrice faced challenges from relatives vying for her hand in marriage, prompting William to safeguard their union. The couple's distanced consanguinity also served as a protective factor for their marriage.

Motivated by a vision of reviving the ancient Kingdom of Burgundy or Arles, William believed in the potential for himself and his descendants to accomplish this revival in the future. He initiated steps toward this goal, determined to navigate the course of Burgundian revival at his own pace.

William II, Count of Burgundy, and Count of Boulogne m. Beatrice I of Burgundy

1a. Ida of Burgundy b. 1160

2a. William III, Count of Burgundy b. 1163

3a. Stephen II, Count of Boulogne b. 1165

4a. Beatrice of Burgundy b. 1168

 

[kasumigenx]

1145

Louis VII refuses to take the cross until a son is born with Eleanor of Aquitaine.

1148

Philip of France, later, Philip II of France is born, Louis VII goes to crusade with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

1149

Raymond of Poitiers, Prince of Antioch dies.

1150

Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII decide to stop consummating their marriage after Alix of France is born.

1152

Alice of Aquitaine takes Henry II, Duke of Anjou and Normandy as her husband as suggested and arranged by her sister Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 

[kasumigenx]

William X, Duke of Aquitaine m. Aenor of Chattellerault(a)

1a. Eleanor of Aquitaine b. 1122 m. Louis VII(a)

1a1a. Marie of France b. 1145 m. Philip I of Flanders

1a2a. Philip II of France b. 1148 m.

1a3a. Alix of France b. 1150

2a. Alice Petronilla of Aquitaine b. 1125 m. Ralph I of Vermandois(a) Henry II of England(b)

2a1a. Elizabeth of Vermandois b. 1143 m. Henry I of Champagne

2a2a. Ralph II of Vermandois b. 1145 d. 1162

2a3a. Eleanor of Vermandois b. 1148 d. 1173

2a4b. William b. 1153 d. 1156

2a5b. Henry b. 1155

2a6b. Matilda b. 1156

2a7b. Richard b. 1157

2a8b. Geoffrey b. 1158

2a9b. Agnes b. 1162

2a10b. Jeanne b. 1164

2a11b. John b. 1166

3a. William Aigret b. 1126

 

[kasumigenx]

On 1151, after Louis VII had stopped consummating his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor of Aquitaine would return to Poitiers to administer her Duchy but she had influence in the court of France and even had her widowed sister, Alice married to Henry II of England with Norman Vexin as her own dowry before he embarked and even financed him gaining the throne of England himself which would make him her favorite in the court, she would only return after the death of Louis VII in 1158 where she would rule as regent to her son Philip II.

On 1158, Louis VII would die, some people believed that his death was due to poison and people would believe that Henry II of England was the one that killed him, but Eleanor of Aquitaine herself would protect her favorite vassal and defend him, there is also a rumor that the two have an affair but her son would stop it as it would jeopardize his and his siblings legitimacy.

Eleanor of Aquitaine would escort her daughter Marie to Philip I of Flanders to marry him in 1159.

Eleanor of Aquitaine would play the role of being the regent after the death of her husband and even decided how her children are brought up and have her daughter Alice raised by the Bishop of Bordeaux until she was in her majority and her son would reach majority in 1162 where she would retire and decide to focus in Aquitaine.

Note:

I made Eleanor of Aquitaine act like Blanche of Castile here.

 

[HyperMuscularDemon]

Nice timeline!

 

[kasumigenx]

In 1122, Amadeus III undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land facilitated by Pope Callixtus II. Subsequently, in 1146, he actively participated in the Second Crusade and met his end on the island of Cyprus in Nicosia on April 1, 1148. He was laid to rest there, leaving his twelve-year-old son, Humbert, as his successor. At the tender age of twelve, Humbert was already betrothed to Faidiva, the daughter of Alphonse Jourdain, Count of Toulouse. Unfortunately, she passed away without bearing any children. Following this, Humbert entered into a marriage with Gertrude, the daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders, and Sibylla of Anjou, but the union was later annulled in 1163 with the help of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

In 1164, Humbert entered into matrimony with Alix of France, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII, a marriage that Eleanor of Aquitaine supported as it would support her plans against the Count of Toulouse, Raymond V and the future ambitions of her son, the marriage of Alix of France and Humbert III of Savoy would prove to be fruitful as the two would have many children including Humbert III’s heir Amadeus IV(1173).

Humbert III of Savoy m. Faidiva of Savoy d. 1154(a) m. Gertrude of Flanders ann. 1163(b) m. Alix of France(c)

1c. Sophia of Savoy b. 1166

2c. Alice of Savoy b. 1168

3c. Eleanor of Savoy b. 1171

4c. Thomas I of Savoy b. 1173

5c. Marie of Savoy b. 1176

1. He remembers the French and Aquitainian ambitions in Italy such as that of William V of Aquitaine.