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Birth:          ABT 1132 
Death:          1196 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaury_I_de_Craon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_II_de_Craon
Maurice II de Craon (c.?1132–1196) was Lord of Craon, Governor of Anjou and Maine 
under Henry II, a military figure and Anglo-Norman of the 12th century. Maurice II also 
possessed fiefs in England which he held courtesy of Henry II.
Biography[edit]

Knighthood[edit]

Maurice II, son of Hugues I de Craon and of Marquise, his second wife, succeeded his 
brother around 1150. Still a minor, he received his knighthood on acceptance of the 
fief.[1] Maurice II's earliest military action was his participation in the siege staged by 
Henry II of the city of Thouars, which was taken 10 October 1158.[2]

Crusade[edit]


 


 Maurice de Craon
A few years later, Maurice II left for the Crusade. This act, known from the reference 
in charter 231 of La Roë Abbey of the first court held by him at Poiltrée at Christmas 
time, after his return from Jerusalem, is furthermore attested by ten items of the 
Cartulaire de Craon.[3] Maurice II thus returned to France after the month of March 
1170.

He took several risks whilst in the Orient and, in executing an oath made abroad, in 
Egypto, he established an annuity of two sous for the benefit of the Collégiale Saint-
Nicolas de Craon to contribute towards the chapel lamp.[4]

Marriage[edit]

He married Isabelle de Meulan,[5] daughter of Galéran IV de Meulan, widow from her 
first marriage to Geoffroy III de Mayenne on his return from the Holy Land about 1170
[6] This alliance brought him the double support of the lords of Meulan and those of 
Mayenne.

From his marriage, contracted around 1170 with Isabelle de Mayenne, Maurice II had 
four sons and three daughters :
Renaud;[7]
Maurice III;[8]
Pierre[9] ecclesiastic;[10]
Amaury;[11]
Avoise, wife of Guy V de Laval;
Clémence,[12] wife of Pierre de la Garnache;
Agnès,[13] wife of Thibault II de Mathefelon.

Henry II of England[edit]

The time of Maurice II saw the rise of the house of Anjou. From 1152 the Lords of 
Anjou became vassals of Henry II of England, and, under his standard, obliged to 
combat France.

Main article: Revolt of 1173–74

In 1174, following the revolt of the sons of Henry II against their father, Maurice II 
counted amongst the lords that had remained faithful to the King. Charged with 
leading the Angevins, he seized Chantoceaux and Sablé, destroyed Sablé's two 
neighbouring fortresses; Saint-Loup and Saint-Brice,[14] and took over the 
government of Anjou and of Maine, as well as that of the recently constructed fortress 
at Ancenis.

The same year he figured amongst the witnesses of the Treaty of Falaise establishing 
peace between Henry II and his sons.[15]

In 1177, following the agreement made between Louis VII and Henri II, he was 
predesignated as one of the arbitrators who would rule in the event of difficulties.[16]

He was similarly nominated the 28 June 1180 for the peace signed at Gisors between 
Philippe-Auguste and Henri II.[17]

Third Crusade[edit]

Main article: Third crusade

Richard the Lionheart, successor to Henry II, took with him a great number of his 
vassals but others were not going to join him until later; Maurice II was amongst these, 
for, in 1191, he was still in Anjou. We find no acts emanating from him at the time of 
the departure for his first voyage to the Holy Land. For the second, however, many are 
known.[18] including a testament dated 1191.[19]

Testament[edit]

The testament portrays the state of the family of Maurice II in 1191. He identifies six 
children: three daughters, the eldest, and three sons. The eldest daughter Avoise de 
Craon, married Guy V de Laval; the second is not named, but Pierre de la Garnache, 
who held the rank there is evidently her husband. The third, Agnès, is named, her 
dowry of Craon and Chantocé is specified, but the name of her husband is not given; 
as for the sons all three figure in their order of primogeniture.

Death[edit]

Maurice II returned to France and founded the priory of Bonshommes de Ballots near 
to Craon. He died 12 July 1196,[20] resulting in the obituary of la Haye-aux-Bons-
Hommes.[21] The location of his tomb is not known, but it is known that his heart was 
taken to Savigny Abbey.[22]

Anglo-Norman Poet[edit]

Maurice II was not only a great warrior and a man of faith; he was also a poet and 
amongst the songs of the trouvères of the Langue d'oïl, which have descended to us, 
there is one that one can legitimately be considered as being as his work[23] that 
which begins by the verse:


A l'entrant del doux termine.

Literature[edit]

Maurice II de Craon is the central character of the anonymous Middle High German 
verse romance Moriz von Craûn dated between 1187 and 1250. This, in turn, derives 
from a French fabliau: Du chevalier qui recovra l'amour de sa dame. The story tells of 
Maurice's attempts to woo "Isabel", depicted as the wife of his neighbour, Richard de 
Beaumont.[24][25]

Parents
DE CRAON Hugues I (1100 - 1140)
____ Marquise ()

Siblings
DE CRAON Maurice II (ABT 1132 - 1196)

Marriage To DE MEULAN Isabelle (ABT 1148 - 10 May 1220)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE BEAUMONT Waleran (1104 - 9 Apr 1166)
DE MONTFORT Agnes (Elizabeth) (ABT 1122 - 15 Dec 1181)

Children by DE MEULAN Isabelle ABT 1148 - 10 May 1220
DE CRAON Amaury I (1170 - 2 May 1226)

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