About Alix of France, Countess of Blois:
Known for: French princess whose birth was a disappointment to parents who wanted a son to inherit the French throne
Occupation: French royal princess; regent for her husband when he went on crusade
Dates: 1151-1197
Background, Family:
- Mother: Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Father: Louis VII of France
- Stepmother: Constance of Castile, then Adèle of Champagne
- Full siblings: sister Marie, Countess of Champagne; half siblings (father Louis VII): Marguerite of France, Alys of France, Philip II of France, Agnes of France. She also had half-siblings from her mother's second marriage, but there's not much evidence she interacted with them.
Marriage, Children:
- husband: Theobald V, Count of Blois (married 1164)
- children: Theobald, Louis, Henry, Philip, Margaret, Isabella, Alix
More About Alix of France:
Alix of France was the object of disappointment at her birth. Her parents, whose marriage was already shaky, realized that they were not likely to have a son to inherit the crown of France, and under Salic Law, the crown could not pass to a daughter or a daughter's husband. Alix was named for her mother's sister Petronilla, who was called Alix.
Her parents' marriage was annulled the year after Alix' birth, and her father had custody of Alix and her older full sister Marie.
In 1164, Alix' marriage was arranged with Theobald, Count of Blois. He was the brother of Henry, Count of Champagne, married to Alix's sister, Marie. When Theobald went on crusade, he left Alix as his regent.
They had seven children before Theobald died in 1191. Alix died in 1197. Three sons predeceased Alix; her second son succeeded his father as Louis I, Count of Blois. Louis died in Constantinopole in 1206. When Louis' son, who was striken with leprosy, died in 1218, his two aunts (Alix of France's daughters), Margaret and Isabelle, inherited his properties. Margaret became Countess of Blois.
Alix' youngest daughter, also named Alix, became abbess at Fontevrault Abbey, where many family members including Eleanor of Aquitaine spent their retirement or were buried.
