Ralph, Count of Soissons

Ralph the Good (or Raoul le Bon) (died 4 January 1235), also known as Raoul III de Nesle, was the Count of Soissons from 1180. He was the third son of Raoul II de Nesle and Gertrude de Montaigu.

In 1178 Ralph and his elder brother John subscribed to a charter of the eldest brother, Conon, then count, donating property to Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp. When Alberic de Trois-Fontaines wrote his chronicle, he could refer to count Ralph of Soissons qui adhuc vivit (who still lives). But he later records his death in 1235. In 1184 Ralph became castellan of Noyon.

Ralph was the fourth husband of Adèle (born 1145/6), daughter of Robert I of Dreux. She confirmed donations to Notre-Dame d'Ourscamp and Tremblay with him, and died between January 1205 and March 1210. Ralph was briefly married to a woman named Yolande before taking as his third wife Ada d'Avesnes, widow of Henry, Count of Grandpré.
; By his first wife he had daughters ;

• Gertrude : married Count Jean de Beaumont-sur-Oise (died 1222), and Mathieu II de Montmorency (died 1230), Constable of France.
• Alienor married Count Mathieu III de Beaumont-sur-Oise (died 1208), and Étienne II de Sancerre (died 1252), Grand Butler of France

By his second wife he had two sons :

• John, who succeeded him,
• Ralph, who was probably a trouvère.

External links

• Nobility of the Paris region: Chapter 9. Comtes de Soissons, Part C. Nesle at the Medieval Lands Project.