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Albert IIICount of Namur, youngest son of Albert II
Date of Birth: 01.01.1027
Country:  Belgium |
Content:
- Early Life and Succession
- Involvement in Conflicts
- Duchy of Lower Lorraine
- Later Life and Legacy
- Marriage and Children
- Geoffrey I (c. 1068-1139), Count of Namur
Early Life and Succession
Albert III, Count of Namur, was the younger son of Albert II and Adelaide of Lorraine. His exact date of birth is unknown, but his father's death is believed to have occurred in 1063 or 1064. A document dated 1070 indicates that Albert III had been ruling Namur for seven years, providing an estimate of his father's passing.
Involvement in Conflicts
After the death of Baldwin VI in 1070, a power struggle ensued between Richilda of Hainaut, guardian of her underage sons Arnulf III and Baldwin, and their uncle, Robert I the Frisian. Albert III supported Richilda and her sons, but Arnulf was killed, and Richilda was forced to surrender Flanders. Albert III also became involved in the succession dispute over the Duchy of Lorraine in 1076, aligning himself with Matilda of Tuscany, the widow of the late Duke Godfrey III the Hunchback.
Duchy of Lower Lorraine
Albert III claimed the Duchy of Bouillon through his mother, Regilindis of Lorraine, and fought against his cousin, Godfrey of Bouillon. Albert even unsuccessfully besieged the fortress of Bouillon. Negotiations between the two cousins failed, prompting imperial intervention. Emperor Henry IV awarded the County of Verdun to Matilda of Tuscany and the Margraviate of Antwerp to Godfrey. Albert III was made vice-duke of Lower Lorraine, but had little actual authority.
In 1085, Albert III killed Herman II, the Palatine Count of Lorraine, at the Battle of Dalhem, incurring the emperor's displeasure. Albert III continued to conflict with Godfrey. Eventually, in 1086, Bishop Godfrey I of Verdun brokered a truce between Albert and Godfrey, who was preparing for the First Crusade. Albert was stripped of his vice-ducal title in 1087 when Conrad, the emperor's son, became King of Germany.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1099, Bishop Odo of Liège granted Albert III the County of Brunengeruz. He appears in documents with his son, Geoffrey I, as late as 1101. Together, Albert and his sons founded the Church of Saint James in Liège on June 1, 1101. Albert III died on June 22, 1102, and Geoffrey was named Count of Namur in 1105.
Marriage and Children
Albert III married Ida of Saxony, daughter of Duke Bernard II of Saxony, around 1065/1066. They had several children:
Geoffrey I (c. 1068-1139), Count of Namur
Henry I (c. 1070-before 1138), Count of La RocheFrederick (d. 1121), Bishop of Liège
Albert (d. 1122), Count of Jaffa
Alix (d. after 1124), married Otto II, Count of Chiny
