Elias II (Maine)
Elias II of Maine (French: Hélie or Élie ; *?; † January 15, 1151 ) was a Count of Maine from the House of Château-Landon . He was a younger son of Count Fulk V of Anjou and his first wife Eremburge de La Flèche († 1126), heiress of the county of Maine.
According to his father's will, Elias should succeed him in the county of Maine, but was prevented from inheriting by his older brother Gottfried V von Anjou . Elias therefore sought proximity to Norman barons in order to win them as allies. He married Philippa, a daughter of Count Rotrou III. von Perche , who through her mother was a granddaughter of the Norman ruler Heinrich I. Beauclerc . Although Gottfried himself was a son-in-law of Heinrich Beauclerc, Elias could be certain that Gottfried would be rejected by the Norman barons, who rejected an inheritance from the Norman Empire to Anjou.
In fact, after the death of Heinrich Beauclerc in 1135, Gottfried was initially unable to assert himself in Normandy because the Normans, including Elias father-in-law, supported Stephan von Blois . But in 1141 the Count of Perche and with him almost the entire nobility of Normandy switched to Gottfried's side, who took Rouen in 1144 . Robbed of his allies, Elias dared to rebel against his brother in 1145, but was beaten and imprisoned by him. Elias was only released again in 1151 and probably recognized by Gottfried in Maine, but died soon after of a fever.
From his marriage Elias had a daughter, Beatrix, who married Count John I of Alençon . Beatrix's possible inheritance rights on Maine were ignored by her cousin Heinrich II Plantagenet (Gottfried's son).
annotation
- ^ John of Marmoutier: Historia Gaufredi ducis Normannorum et comitis Andegavorum.
Web links
- Helias d'Anjou at fmg.ac (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Elias II |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Elias II of Maine (full name); Hélie; Élie |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Earl of Maine |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 11th century or 12th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 15, 1151 |