Eustace III, count of Boulogne

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EUSTACHE [III] de Boulogne (-1125 or after). His parentage is specified in his donation to Saint-Bertin dated 1122, for the souls of "Eustacii comitis patris mei et Yde matris mee comitisse"[476]. He is not named as one of her sons by "Ida comitisse Boloniensis" in the latter's charter for the soul of her husband[477]. William of Tyre records him as brother of Godefroi and Baudouin, naming him last of the three[478]. It is not known whether this indicates that he was the youngest of the three brothers, or was simply a reflection of his less significant role in affairs in Palestine. His inheritance of the paternal possessions and titles suggests that he was the oldest brother, at any rate older than his brother Baudouin. He succeeded as Comte de Boulogne, Comte de Lens. This would normally be an indication of his seniority in the family. However, given the superior position of his brother Godefroi as Duke of Lower Lotharingia, it may have been decided that the less important paternal inheritance would pass to a younger son. He was a member of the company of Robert II Count of Flanders on the First Crusade, joining his brothers after arriving in Constantinople in 1097[479]. Albert of Aix records the arrival in Constantinople of "Robertus Normannorum comes, Stephanus Blesensis, Eustachius frater prædicti Ducis", dated to early 1097 from the context[480]. In Palestine in 1099, he returned to Boulogne soon after. "Eustacius Bolonie comes" confirmed the possessions of the abbey of Samer by charter dated Jul 1112, subscribed by "Cononis de Fieules, Eustacii et Rogerii filiorum eius…"[481]. Albert of Aix records that Baudouin appointed "fratri Eustachio" as his successor on his deathbed if he would come to Jerusalem, or if he failed to come "Baldewinus de Burg"[482]. A legation left Jerusalem for Boulogne in Apr 1118 to invite him to succeed. Eustache left Boulogne for Jerusalem, but when he reached Apulia he received news that Baudouin du Bourg had been chosen as king. He refused to press his claim further, and retired to the Cluniac monastery at Rumilly in [1125]. "Eustachius olim comes Boloniensis nunc autem…monachus Cluniacensis" donated property to Cluny by charter dated 1125 which names "Maria uxore mea…[et] Mathildi filia mea", and is subscribed by "Stephani comitis Bolonie, Matildis comitisse"[483].

m (1102) MARY of Scotland, daughter of MALCOLM III "Caennmor/Bighead" King of Scotland & his second wife [St] Margaret of England (-31 May 1116 or 18 Apr 1118, bur Bermondsey Priory). Orderic Vitalis records that their mother sent Mary and her sister Eadgyth to be brought up by her sister Christina, nun at Romsey Abbey[484]. Florence of Worcester records that Henry I King of England arranged the marriage of "Mariam reginæ sororem" and "Eustatio Bononensium comiti" in [1102][485]. Her marriage is also recorded by Orderic Vitalis, who also names her daughter[486]. The Genealogica comitum Buloniensium records that "Eustachius, frater Balduini regis Iheruslame" married "Mariam filiam regis Scotiæ"[487]. The 12th century Cronica Regum Scottorum records the death "II Kal Jun" in 1116 of "Maria…comitissa" and her burial "apud Bermundseiam"[488]. The Chronicle of John of Fordun records that "Mary countess of Bouillon" died in "the third year before her sister’s death"[489]. Comte Eustache [III] & his wife had one child:

a) MATHILDE de Boulogne ([1103/05]-Hedingham Castle, Essex 2/3 or 30 May or 3 Jul 1151, bur Faversham Abbey, Kent). Her parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis[490]. The Genealogica comitum Buloniensium names Mathilde daughter of "Eustachius, frater Balduini regis Iheruslame" and his wife "Mariam filiam regis Scotiæ", also recording her marriage with "Stephano, filio Stephani Blesensis comitis"[491]. She succeeded her father as Ctss de Boulogne. "Stephanus comes Bolonie et Morethonii et Mathildis comitissa" confirmed the possessions of the abbey of Samer by charter dated 1141 (presumably misdated because of the donors’ titles), subscribed by "…Eustachius de Fielnes, Willelmus et Rogerus fratres sui…"[492]. She was crowned Queen Consort of England at Westminster Abbey 22 Mar 1136. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1152 of "Matildis uxor Stephani regis Anglorum" and in a later passage her burial "in monasterio Fasseham", recording that she had founded the abbey[493]. m ([1124/25]%29 ETIENNE de Blois Comte de Mortain, son of ETIENNE Comte de Blois & his wife Adela of England (Blois [1096/97]-Dover 25 Oct 1154, bur Faversham Abbey, Kent). Comte de Boulogne, in right of his wife, before 1125. He succeeded 22 Dec 1135 as STEPHEN King of England, crowned at Westminster Abbey 26 Dec 1135. His first cousin Matilda Lady of the English, daughter of Henry I King of England, disputed Stephen’s accession. During the ensuing civil war in England, Stephen was deposed and imprisoned by Matilda 7-10 April 1141, but restored to the throne 1 Nov 1141. He was crowned a second time at Canterbury Cathedral 1141, and a third time at Lincoln Cathedral 1146. - see below, Part B. Comte Eustache [III] had [three] illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:

b) RAOUL de Boulogne (-after [1122/25]). Witness, with his brother Eustache, of their father's charters in 1106 (in favour of St Paul's London) and in [1120/25] (in favour of Roger de Sumerio)[494]. "Rodulfi filii comitis Eustacii" witnessed his father's donation to Saint-Bertin dated 1122[495].

c) EUSTACHE de Boulogne. Witness, with his brother Raoul, of their father's charters in 1106 (in favour of St Paul's London) and in [1120/25] (in favour of Roger de Sumerio)398. m ---. The name of Eustache's wife is not known. Eustache & his wife had one child: i) EUSTACHE (-after [1176/77]). The 1164/65 Pipe Roll names "Eustachius fil Eust fil Com" accounting for relief of his land in Essex/Hertfordshire[496]. The 1176/77 Pipe Roll names "Eustacius filius Eustacii filii Comitis" in Essex and Hertfordshire[497].

d) [GODEFROI (-killed in battle al-Sinnabrah 28 Jun 1113). William of Malmesbury names him "bastard great-nephew [abnepos eius nothus]" of Baudouin I King of Jerusalem[498]. "…Gotafredus nepos regis…" subscribed the charter dated 20 Jun 1112 under which Baudouin I King of Jerusalem confirmed the possessions of the Knights Hospitallers[499]. Murray points out that his being the illegitimate son of Eustache [III] Comte de Boulogne is only one of the various possibilities[500]. He was killed fighting Tughtikin atabeg of Damascus and Mawdud of Mosul.

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Fm Wikipedia

Eustace III, Count of Boulogne

Eustace III (c. 1050 - c. 1125) was the count of Boulogne from 1087, succeeding his father Count Eustace II.[1] His mother was Ida of Lorraine.

Eustace III, Count of Boulogne Godefroy de Bouillon.jpg Eustace (shown with white hair) with his brothers Godfrey and Baldwin meeting with Byzantine emperor Alexius

In 1088, Eustace supported the rebellion against William II of England in favour of Robert Curthose.[2]

Eustace participated in the First Crusade of 1096 along with his brothers Godfrey of Bouillon (duke of Lower Lotharingia) and Baldwin of Boulogne. It is unclear whether he travelled eastward with his brother Godfrey's or Robert Curthose's army. His contingent[3] included Hugh II of Saint-Pol and his son Engelrand, Eustace I Granarius, lord of Sidon and Caesarea, Fulk of Guînes, and Hugh of Robecq (Rebecques), lord of Hebron. Throughout the crusade Eustace assisted Godfrey.[4] Eustace was present at the siege of Nicaea (May–June 1097), helped rescue Bohemund of Taranto's beleaguered troops at the Battle of Dorylaeum (1 July 1097), defeated an enemy ambush during the siege of Antioch and was one of the commanders during the capture of Antioch on 3 June 1098.[5]

Eustace was a member of the council held at Ruj on 4 January 1099, mediating in the conflict over the control of Antioch between Bohemund of Taranto and Raymond IV of Toulouse.[6][7] Early December 1098 Eustace joined Raymond's attack on Maarrat al-Nu'man and an attack on Nablus in July 1099. He gained notoriety for his actions during the siege of Jerusalem fighting relentlessly from a siege tower along with his brother Godfrey and the warriors they commanded. They were among the first to breach Jerusalem's city walls and participated in the ensuing massacre. Finally Eustace commanded a division of the crusader army during the Battle of Ascalon.[8]

While his brothers stayed in the Holy Land, Eustace returned to administer his domains. To commemorate Eustace's crusading adventures the mint at Boulogne struck silver coins with a lion above the walls of Jerusalem stamped on the obverse.[9]

Eustace married Mary, daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret of Scotland. Eustace and Mary had one daughter:

Matilda of Boulogne. When his youngest brother king Baldwin I of Jerusalem died in 1118, the elderly Eustace was offered the throne. Eustace was at first uninterested, but was convinced to accept it; he travelled all the way to Apulia before learning that a distant relative, Baldwin of Bourcq, had been crowned in the meantime. Eustace returned to Boulogne and died about 1125.

On his death the county of Boulogne was inherited by his daughter, Matilda, and her husband Stephen de Blois, count of Mortain, afterwards king of England.
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Eustace De Boulogne III
BIRTH unknown
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
DEATH 1125
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
BURIAL
Burial Details Unknown
MEMORIAL ID 105129282
Eustace founded the Cluniac house of Rumilly and was patron of the Knights Templar.[10]