Count of Boulogne

Coat of arms of the county of Boulogne.

The Count of Boulogne is a historical title of France centered around Boulogne-sur-Mer.

In Roman times, Boulogne was situated in the Roman provinces of Belgica and inhabited by Celtic tribes, until Germanic peoples replaced them, effectively ending Roman imperial rule. This area belonged to the province of Artois, and had been detached from Artois in the 15th century when it became part of the province of Picardy. It is now a part of Pas de Calais in present-day France.

History

The city of Boulogne-sur-Mer became the centre of the county of Boulogne in the 9th century. The founder of the dynasty of the counts of Boulogne seems to have been Hernequin of Boulogne, the son of Ragnhart. Hernequin married Bertha of Ponthieu around 850.

Later that century, the area was frequently raided by the Vikings. Little is known of early "Counts". There were a number of people given the title of "Count'", but the first to hold the title under the political definition did not appear until the 11th century.

Boulogne later became influential in the history of England, when Eustace II of Boulogne accompanied William the Conqueror's invasion in 1066.

Boulogne was also a major participant in the First Crusade; Eustace III of Boulogne's brothers, Godfrey of Bouillon and Baldwin of Bouillon, both became King of Jerusalem, and Eustace himself was offered but declined the title.

Count Renaud of Boulogne joined the imperial side at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214, and was defeated by Philip II of France.

Boulogne passed under nominal royal control in 1223 when it was given to Philip II's son Philippe Hurepel. Hurepel revolted against Blanche of Castile when Louis VIII of France died in 1226. When Philip died in 1235, for unknown reasons the county passed to Adelaide of Brabant, Matilda's niece, and her husband William X of Auvergne, count of Auvergne, rather than Matilda and Philip's descendants.

Boulogne was attacked numerous times during the Hundred Years' War. In 1477 Bertrand VI of La Tour gave up the county to Louis XI who incorporated it into France, except for a brief period of English rule under Henry VIII of England (see Siege of Boulogne).

Counts of Boulogne

Uncertain Counts

•  ?–882? : Hernequin
•  ?–? : Odakar V or Odokar the Great
•  ?–? : Inglebert I
•  ?–? : Odakar VI
•  ?–? : Arnoul II

House of Flanders

Arms post c.1200 at start of Age of Heraldry

• 896–918 : Baldwin I (also count of Flanders)
• 918–933 : Adelolf (son of Baldwin I)
• 933–964 : Arnulf I (son of Baldwin I, also count of Flanders)
• 964–971 : Arnulf II (son of Adalolf)
• 971–990 : Arnulf III (son of)
• 990–1025 : Baldwin II (son of)

House of Boulogne

Arms post c.1200 at start of Age of Heraldry

• 1032–1049 : Eustace I (son of)
• 1049–1087 : Eustace II (son of)
• 1087–1125 : Eustace III(son of)
• 1125–1151 : Matilda I (daughter of, married to Stephen of Blois, also count of Blois, count of Mortain, Duke of Normandy and king of England)

House of Blois

Arms post c.1200 at start of Age of Heraldry

• 1151–1153 : Eustace IV (son of, also count of Mortain)
• 1153–1159 : William I (brother of, also count of Mortain and Earl of Surrey)
• 1159–1170 : Mary I (sister of, married Matthew of Alsace)

House of Alsace

• 1170–1173 : Matthew
• 1173–1216 : Ida (daughter of, married Renaud of Dammartin, count of Dammartine and count of Aumale)
  • 1173–1180 : Matthew II
  • 1181–1182 : Gerard
  • 1183–1186 : Berthold

House of Dammartin

• 1216–1260 : Matilda II (also queen of Portugal, countess of Mortain, countess of Aumale, and countess of Dammartin, married)
  • 1223–1235 : Philip I (also count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis)
  • 1235–1253 : Afonso (also king of Portugal)

House of Auvergne

• 1253–1260 : Damìèn of Auvergne (count of Auvergne)
• 1260–1261 : Adelaide (cousin of, married William III, count of Auvergne)
• 1261–1277 : Robert I (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1277–1314 : Robert II (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1314–1325 : Robert III (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1325–1332 : William II (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1332–1360 : Joanna I (daughter of, also countess of Auvergne, married)
  • 1338–1346 : Philip II (also count of Auvergne)
  • 1350–1360 : John I (also king of France, count of Auvergne)

House of Burgundy

• 1360–1361 : Philip III (son of, also duke of Burgundy, count of Auvergne, count of Artois and count of Franche-Compté)

House of Auvergne

• 1361–1386 : John II (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1386–1404 : John III (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1404–1424 : Joanna II (daughter of, also countess of Auvergne, married)
  • 1404–1416 : John IV (also duke of Berry)
  • 1416–1424 : George
• 1424–1437 : Mary II (cousin of, also countess of Auvergne)

House of La Tour d'Auvergne

• 1437–1461 : Bertrand I (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1461–1497 : Bertrand II (son of, also count of Auvergne)
• 1497–1501 : John V (son of, also count of Auvergne)

After the death of John V, count of Boulogne, the county of Boulogne was integrated into the royal domain.