Foulques [V] d'Anjou Comte d'Anjou et de Tours, King of Jerusalem

   Another name for Foulques was Foulques "le Jeune" d'Anjou Comte d'Anjou.

  General Notes:

FOULQUES d'Anjou, son of FOULQUES IV "le Réchiin" Comte d'Anjou & his fifth wife Bertrade de Montfort (1092-Acre 10 or 13 Nov 1144). The Gesta Consulum Andegavorumrecords that "Fulco" was the son of "Fulco Rechin" and "sororem Amalrici de Monte Forti", referring to her as his third wife. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Gaufridum iuniorem Martellum et Fulconam" as the two sons of "Fulco". William of Tyre names him and states his parentage. His parentage is given by Orderic Vitalis. "Fulco Andegavensis comes" donated property to Angers with the consent of "filiis meis Gaufrido et Fulconello et filia mea Ermengarde" by charter dated 23 Jun 1096. William of Tyre records that Foulques was imprisoned by the Comte de Poitou but released after the intervention of his mother, who was by then queen of France. He succeeded his father in 1109 as FOULQUES V "le Jeune" Comte d'Anjou. "Fulco iunior Andegavensium comes Fulconis comitis filius" donated property to the abbey of Fontevraud with the consent of "Bertrade regina matre meo, Philipo fratre meo" by charter dated to [1109/1112/13]. "Fulcho iunior comes Fulchonis comitis filius, frater Martelli Iunioris" donated property to Saint-Aubin d'Angers by charter dated 4 Jan 1113. Orderic Vitalis records that Foulques swore fealty to Henry I King of England, who invested him with the county of Maine, at "Petra Peculata" near Alençon in late Feb 1113, the alliance being confirmed by the betrothal of Henry's son to Foulques's daughter. He later fought with Henry I King of England over the inheritance of his first wife. William of Malmesbury also records his dispute with King Henry over the latter's retention of the dowry of Foulques´s daughter Alice after her husband's death in the Blanche Nef [White Ship]. The quarrel finally ended with his son's marriage to the king's daughter in 1128. Orderic Vitalis records that he went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1120 and remained there "for some time attached to the Knights of the Temple". He left France in early 1129, resigning the county of Anjou to his older son by his first marriage, and landed at Acre in May 1129 before travelling to Jerusalem for his marriage. He was crowned FOULQUES King of Jerusalem 14 Sep 1131, by right of his second wife. He imposed himself as regent of Antioch after his sister-in-law Alix Ctss of Antioch attempted to reassert her right to the regency after the death of her father. He rescued Pons Count of Tripoli from the castle of Montferrand in 1133, where he had fled after being ambushed by Turkomans in the Nosairi Mountains. He also relieved Antioch which was being threatened by Sawar Governor of Aleppo. Zengi marched on Homs and besieged the castle. King Foulques attempted to relieve the siege, but his army was massacred, and he was obliged to seek refuge in the castle which he was eventually obliged to surrender as the price for his own release. He agreed an alliance with Unur of Damascus in 1139 against Zengi atabeg of Aleppo, who was threatening Damascus, and forced the latter's retreat to Aleppo. King Foulques died after being thrown from his horse during a hunting party. The necrology of Angers Cathedral records the death "IV Id Nov" of "Fulco prius Andegavorum comes postea rex Hierusalem".

m firstly (before 14 Apr 1109, 11 Jul 1110) EREMBURGE du Maine, daughter and heiress of HELIE de la Flèche Comte du Maine & his first wife Mathilde de Château-du-Loir ([1096]-14 Jan 1126). Her parentage is stated by Orderic Vitalis, who also records her marriage and specifies that it was arranged by her father. The Gesta Consulum Andegavorum records that "Fulcone Richin filius eius Fulco" was married to "Helia Cenomannensi comite, unicam filiam suam" who had been betrothed to "Martellus frater suus". A charter dated 25 Apr 1120 records that "comes Andergavensis Fulco Fulconis et comitissa uxor eius Aremburgis filia comitis Helie" were present at the consecration of the church of Le Mans. She succeeded her father in 1110 as Comtesse du Maine. "Arenburgim Andegavensem comitissam…vir meus Fulco Andegavensium comes Fulconis comitis filius" donated property to the abbey of Fontevraud by charter dated 18 Aug, dated to [1109/15]. The necrology of Angers Cathedral records the death "XVIII Kal Feb" of "Haremburgis Andegavorum nobilis comitissa". The Chronicæ Sancti Albini records the death in 1126 of "Arenburgis comitissa". The necrology of the Prieuré de Fontaines records the death "15 Jan" of "Aremburgis comitissa".

m secondly (Jerusalem 2 Jun 1129) MELISENDE of Jerusalem, daughter of BAUDOUIN II King of Jerusalem & his wife Morphia of Melitene (-11 Sep 1161). She is named by William of Tyre who also records her parentage. In 1127, her father sent Guillaume de Bures and Guy Brisebarre to France to offer her hand in marriage to Foulques V Comte d'Anjou as part of his plan for her eventual succession to the throne of Jerusalem. "Milisenda filia regis…" subscribed the charter dated Mar 1128 under which "Balduinus…rex Iherusalem Latinorum secundus" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. She succeeded her father in 1131 as MELISENDE Queen of Jerusalem, crowned with her husband 14 Sep 1131. She founded the convent of St Lazarus at Bethany in 1143, and installed her sister Yvette as abbess. After her husband's death, she and her son Baudouin were crowned as king and queen together 25 Dec 1144, but Queen Melisende assumed the government of the kingdom herself. She took as her adviser her first cousin Manassès de Hierges, Constable of Jerusalem. She was in open breach with her son, after he was crowned again as an adult 2 Apr 1151 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, without informing his mother. A council agreed that he would rule in Galilee and the northern part of the kingdom, while Mélisende retained Jerusalem and Nablus. King Baudouin demanded Jerusalem from her but she refused. He captured Constable Manassès at his castle of Mirabel in 1152 and expelled him from Palestine, after which his mother was obliged to yield Jerusalem. Queen Mélisende presided over a council of regency in 1157 while her son was absent from Jerusalem on campaign.

Comte Foulques V & his first wife had four children: Alice, Geoffroy, Sibylle and Helias. ¹

  Events

• Title: Comte d'Anjou et de Tours, 1109-1129.

• Title: Comte du Maine, 1110-1129.

• Title: King of Jerusalem, 1131-1143.

Foulques married Erembourg du Maine Comtesse du Maine, Dame de Château-du-Loir, daughter of Hélie I de la Flèche Comte du Maine and Mathilde de Château-du-Loir, on 11 Jun 1110. (Erembourg du Maine Comtesse du Maine, Dame de Château-du-Loir was born in 1096 and died 15 Jan 1126 or 12 Oct 1126.)

Foulques next married Mélisende de Jérusalem Queen of Jerusalem on 11 Jun 1110. (Mélisende de Jérusalem Queen of Jerusalem was born in 1105 and died on 11 Sep 1161 in Jerusalem, IL.)