Hugo IV (Maine)

Hugo IV of Maine (French: Hugues ; * around 1018 to 1022; † March 26, 1051 ) was a count of Maine since 1032 or 1035 . He was the son and successor of Count Herbert I. watchdog from the second house Maine .

When his father died, Hugo was still under the age of majority, which is why his great-uncle Herbert Baco took over the reign for him. He was a supporter of the Count of Anjou , the nominal feudal lord over Maine, but this provoked the resistance of the Bishop of Le Mans , Gervais de Château-du-Loir (Gervais de Bellême), who was a staunch opponent of the Anjou. At a general council in Le Mans , Gervais achieved the regent's disempowerment and banishment and declared Hugo to be of age. He then brokered a marriage between the Count and a sister of Count Theobald III. from Blois , the traditional enemy of the Angevin. In return, this called Count Gottfried II. Martel von Anjou on the plan, who feared for his influence in Maine, which is why he took Le Mans in a coup in 1048 and imprisoned the bishop.

Anjou thus effectively took power in Maine, and after his release in 1050, Bishop Gervais went into Norman exile. There he managed to win over the young Duke Wilhelm II the Bastard for his cause, which marked the beginning of a generational conflict between Angevinen and Normans over the Maine. Count Hugo IV himself died in 1051.

Hugo IV had been married to Bertha von Blois († 1085) since April 14, 1046. She outlived her husband by 34 and her children by 22 years. The children were:

• Herbert II († March 9, 1062), Earl of Maine
• Margarethe († around 1063 in Fécamp ), engaged to Robert Kurzhose around 1062

predecessor	Office	successor
Herbert I. Watchdog	Earl of Maine 1032-1051	Herbert II.