Bishop William of Langres, who soon became lynchpins of the rebel
cause.^133 These two were not the only disaffected‘Brienne kinsmen’to
join forces with Erard. In fact, a motley crew of relatives, friends and
neighbours did so, many of whom hailed from the quasi-independent
southern and south-eastern borders of Champagne. The leadingfigures
included Erard’s nephew, Milo of Noyers; Erard of Chacenay; Simon
of Châteauvillain; Rainald of Choiseul; Simon of Clefmont; William of
Courtenay, lord of Tanlay; Guy of Thil-Châtel; and Andrew of Nogent.
However, Erard’s principal backer, as it turned out, was Duke Theobald
I of Lorraine. In the absence of any overt support from King John of
Jerusalem, it was crucial for Erard to have afigure of such calibre on
board. Theobald’s involvement also widened the parameters of the
‘affair’, though, making it part of the wider European struggle that set
the troika of the papacy, Philip Augustus and the young emperor-elect
and king of Sicily, Frederick II, against their enemies. The implications
of all this would become apparent before too long.^134
Fighting broke out around Erard’s new base, his nephew’s castle of
Noyers, in early 1216. With an eye on what we might call‘public rela-
tions’, Erard claimed that his sole aim, at this point, was to recover his
estates, which had been unlawfully seized by the countess. His allies were
far less coy, however, and they made it clear that they were really
contesting the succession. For her part, Blanche garnered oaths of sup-
port from loyalists, and she also secured King Philip’s permission to
fortify her castle at Provins,‘[so that she] would not fear being besieged
by Erard’.^135 Hostilities were quickly suspended, though, and the matter
was referred to the crown. However, it would have been easy to predict
the outcome of the court of peers, which assembled at Melun in July.
It upheld the principle that young Theobald’s position could not be
challenged because he had already done homage for Champagne and
Brie, and was willing to answer for them in the royal court.^136 Although
Erard accepted the judgement and solemnly swore to keep the peace,
he and his allies were soon ravaging south-eastern Champagne again,
causing immense damage along the trade routes that led to Troyes and
Bar-sur-Aube.^137 This caused the king and the court of peers to change
tack. They swore that they would not hear any more concerning Erard’s
claims until he had made full reparation to the countess and her vassals,
(^133) See Evergates’comments inThe Cartulary of Countess Blanche of Champagne(Toronto,
2009), p. 7.
(^134) See d’Arbois de Jubainville,Histoire, iv, part 1, 128–33.
(^135) The Cartulary of Countess Blanche, no. 287.
(^136) This judgement is neatly summarized inibid., pp. 8–9.
(^137) See Evergates,Aristocracy, 41.
The Notorious Erard of Ramerupt 61