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Birth:          1127 Champagne
Death:          16 Mar 1181 Troyes, Champagne
Burial:         St. Etienne, France

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_I,_Count_of_Champagne
Henry I (December 1127 – March 16, 1181), known as the Liberal,[1] was count of 
Champagne from 1152 to 1181. He was the eldest son of Count Thibaut II of 
Champagne (who was also Count Thibaut IV of Blois) and his wife, Matilda of 
Carinthia.[1]

Henry took part in the Second Crusade under the leadership of Louis VII of France.[2] 
He carried a letter of recommendation from Bernard of Clairvaux addressed to Manuel I 
Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor; he is listed among the notables present at the 
assembly held by Baldwin III of Jerusalem at Acre on 24 June 1148.[3]

On his father's death, Henry chose to take Champagne, leaving the family's older 
holdings (including Blois, Chartres, Sancerre, and Châteaudun) to his younger 
brothers. At the time this may have been surprising, for the other territories were richer 
and better developed. Henry must have foreseen the economic possibilities of 
Champagne, and it is during his rule that the county achieved its high place as one of 
the richest and strongest of the French principalities.

Henry established orderly rule over the nobles of Champagne, and could fairly reliably 
count on the aid of some 2,000 vassals, which just by itself made him a power few in 
France could equal. This order in turn made Champagne a safe place for merchants to 
gather, and under the count's protection the Champagne Fairs became a central part 
of long-distance trade and finance in medieval Europe.

In addition, the count's court in Troyes became a renowned literary center.[4] Walter 
Map was among those who found hospitality there. The scholar Stephen of Alinerre 
was among Henry's courtiers, becoming chancellor of the county in 1176.[5]

In 1179 Henry went to Jerusalem again[6] with a party of French knights including his 
relatives Peter of Courtenay (brother of Louis VII) and Philip of Dreux, bishop of 
Beauvais.[7] Henry returned towards Europe by the land route across Asia Minor, and 
was captured and held to ransom by Kilij Arslan II, Seljuk sultan of Rüm.[7] The 
ransom was paid by the Byzantine Emperor.[7] Henry would later die, 16 March 1181.
[8]

In 1164, Henry married Marie of France, daughter of Louis VII of France and Eleanor 
of Aquitaine.[1]

They had four children:
Scholastique of Champagne (died 1219),[8] married William IV of Mâcon
Henry II (1166–1197)[8]
Marie of Champagne (died 1204),[8] married Baldwin I of Constantinople
Theobald (1179–1201)[8]

Henry built the collegiate church of Saint-Étienne in Troyes between 1157 and 1171, 
which he planned as a necropolis for the House of Blois. He was buried there, as was 
his son Theobald III, but most of his descendants were buried elsewhere.[9] He died 
in 1181 and was succeeded by their eldest son Henry. After Henry became king of 
Jerusalem, the younger son Theobald became count.

Parents
OF BLOIS Theobald (Thibaud) IV (II) "the Great" (1090 - 8 Jan 1152)
VON SPONHEIM Mathilde (Maud) (ABT 1097 - 13 Dec 1160)

Siblings
____ Henry (Henri) I "the Generous" (1127 - 16 Mar 1181)
DE CHAMPAGNE Marie (1128 - 17 Aug 1190)
OF BLOIS Agnes (ABT 1138 - 7 Aug 1207)
OF BLOIS Adelaide (Adele) (Alix) (ABT 1140 - 4 Jun 1206)
OF BLOIS Maud (Mahaut) (ABT 1142 - BEF 1189)

Marriage To OF FRANCE Marie (1145 - 11 Mar 1198)
    m. 1164 

Notes

Parents
____ Louis VII "the Young" (1119 - 18 Sep 1180)
D'AQUITAINE ET POITOU Eleonore (ABT 1121 - 31 Mar 1204)

Children by OF FRANCE Marie 1145 - 11 Mar 1198
DE CHAMPAGNE Marie (ABT 1174 - 9 Aug 1204)
____ Theobald III (Thibault V) (13 May 1179 - 24 May 1201)

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