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Alphonse JourdainCount of Toulouse
Date of Birth: 01.01.1103
Country:  Dive |
Content:
- Early Life and Accession
- Conflict with the Duke of Aquitaine
- Restoration to Power
- Conflict with the Count of Barcelona
- Acquiring the Viscounty of Narbonne
- Second Crusade and Death
- Marriage and Children
- Raymond V (1134-1194), succeeded as Count of Toulouse
Early Life and Accession
Alphonse Jordan, Count of ToulouseAlphonse Jordan was born in 1103 in Mont-Pelegrin, present-day Lebanon. His father, Raymond IV of Toulouse, departed on the First Crusade in 1096, leaving his eldest son Bertrand to govern the County of Toulouse. Upon Raymond IV's death in 1105, Alphonse's half-brother, William Jordan of Cerdagne, seized the County of Tripoli and brought Alphonse and his mother, Elvira of Castile, back to Toulouse in 1108. Bertrand, recognizing Alphonse's legitimacy, relinquished the county to him and returned to the Holy Land, where he reconquered Tripoli.
Conflict with the Duke of Aquitaine
In 1113, William IX of Aquitaine, claiming rights through his marriage to Philippa of Toulouse, invaded and occupied Toulouse, taking advantage of Alphonse's youth. William's control extended over the vast domains of Toulouse, including the counties of Saint-Gilles and Provence. Elvira, presumably, left for Castile, where she later married Fernando Fernández in 1117. Resistance to William's rule manifested through passive means, such as acts omitting his name in official documents, and occasional revolts.
Restoration to Power
In 1119, William of Aquitaine left Toulouse for Spain, leaving behind his lieutenant, William de Montmore. Seizing the opportunity, the people of Toulouse rebelled, storming the lieutenant's palace, imprisoning him, and reinstating Alphonse Jordan as their count.
Conflict with the Count of Barcelona
The County of Barcelona posed a significant rival to Toulouse, with territorial disputes and ongoing military conflicts. During Alphonse's reign, a major dispute arose over Provence. In 1115, a power vacuum in Provence allowed Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, to assert his claims. He invaded and defeated Alphonse in 1123, forcing him to sign a treaty in 1125 that divided Provence: Alphonse retained the northern portion, named the "Marquisate of Provence," while Ramon Berenguer took the southern part, the "County of Provence."
Acquiring the Viscounty of Narbonne
In 1134, Emeric II, Viscomte of Narbonne, died, leaving his underage daughter Ermengarde as his heir. Alphonse arranged a betrothal with her, hoping to gain control of the viscounty. However, a large faction of the Toulousain nobility, influenced by Ramon Berenguer III, forced Alphonse to break the engagement in 1141.
Second Crusade and Death
In 1146, Alphonse Jordan joined the Second Crusade at the urging of Bernard of Clairvaux. In August 1147, he sailed from Tour-de-Bouc, unlike most other crusaders who traveled overland. He reached Acre in April 1148. Tragically, Alphonse Jordan died on August 16, 1148, in Caesarea, reportedly from poisoning. His nephew Raymond II of Tripoli was suspected as the perpetrator, fearing Alphonse's potential claims on his county.
Marriage and Children
In 1125, Alphonse Jordan married Faydive of Uzès. They had three children:
Raymond V (1134-1194), succeeded as Count of Toulouse
Alphonse II (d. 1175/1189), served as co-ruler of ToulouseFaydive (d. 1154), married Humbert III, Count of Savoy
