essentially rural economy of the county and contributed substantial revenues to the
comital treasury. The count’s coins, minted at both Troyes and Provins, circulated widely
in northern France, and the provinois even acquired international currency through the
fairs.
Henri le Libéral was well known for his generosity to the church, as his 400-odd
extant charters testify, and founded a number of collegial chapters, of which Étienne of
Troyes and Quiriace of Provins served his administrative needs. Henri and Marie also
were noted patrons of writers whose interests ranged from spirituality to poetry and
romance. Besides Chrétien of Troyes, the best known included Pierre de Celle, Gautier
d’Arras, and Gace Brûlé, none of whom, however, were in residence at the count’s court.
Henri II (r. 1181–97) ruled only briefly in Champagne (1187–90). His mother was
regent while he was a minor (r. 1181–87) and after he left on the Third Crusade in the
company of his uncles, counts Thibaut V of Blois and Étienne de Sancerre, and a large
army of Champenois. Henri cooperated closely with his uncle Richard the Lionhearted
and, after marrying Isabelle, queen of Jerusalem, assumed leadership of the westerners
defending what little remained of the crusader states after Saladin’s conquests.
Henri II’s younger brother, Thibaut III (r. 1197–1201), is remembered chiefly as one
of the organizers of the Fourth Crusade, with his cousin Louis, count of Blois, and his
brother-in-law Baudouin, count of Flanders. Thibaut’s marshal, Geoffroi de
Villehardouin, supervised the logistical arrangements, including the treaty with Venice
for the construction of ships, and later recorded his memoirs of that crusade as the
Conquête de Constantinople. Count Thibaut, however, died shortly before the expedition
departed. To his young widow, Blanche of Navarre, fell the daunting task of defending
Thibaut’s posthumous son’s inheritance against Henri II’s daughter by Isabelle. Although
Henri II had designated Thibaut as successor in Champagne, should Henri not return, no
one had foreseen Henri II’s marriage overseas nor Thibaut’s own untimely death without
a male heir.
Countess Blanche’s regency for Thibaut IV (1201–22) was a trying period for
Champagne. After almost eighteen years under Marie of France (also known as Marie de
Champagne), the barons did not relish another long regency, especially by a foreign-born
woman. There was regional resentment, too, as Thibaut III had begun to expand comital
authority in southeastern Champagne at the expense of formerly independent baronial
families. Ultimately, Blanche’s determination prevailed. A series of treaties with Philip
II, for which she paid dearly, placed Thibaut IV under royal protection. When Érard de
Ramerupt, scion of the prominent Brienne family, claimed Champagne through his wife,
Henri II’s daughter Philippa, the king convened a royal court at Melun (1216) where the
peers of the realm (first mentioned here) declared for Thibaut IV. Brienne and his
disgruntled supporters attempted a military solution, but a brief civil war (1216–18) left
Blanche victorious on the field of battle as well. In May 1222, Blanche handed her son a
county not only intact but with a baronage finally subdued.
Thibaut IV le Chansonnier (r. 1222–53) is often depicted as a songwriter of distinction
but as an otherwise incompetent leader who committed serious gaffes, such as
abandoning Louis VIII at the siege of Avignon (1226) and dallying with the regent
queen, Blanche of Castile. In fact, Thibaut IV made significant contributions to the
governance and prosperity of the county. He steadily expanded the county eastward,
often in competition with the count of Bar-le-Duc, by awarding new fiefs and by
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