NameHildegarde
Death1 Apr 1040, Jerusalem
Spouses
Birthabt 970
Death21 Jun 1040
MotherAdelaide de Vermandois (950-985)
ChildrenErmengarde (1018-1076)
Notes for Foulques III "The Black" (Spouse 1)
Fulk III Nerra
b. c. 970
d. June 21, 1040, Metz, Fr.byname FULK THE BLACK, French FOULQUES LE NOIR, count of Anjou (987-1040), the most powerful of the early rulers of the Angevin dynasty.

Exposed at first to the attacks of the counts of Brittany, Fulk had to fight for a long time to defend his frontiers, finally driving the Bretons back beyond the frontiers of Anjou. Having made himself master in the west, he turned his attention to the east and came into conflict with the count of Blois, Eudes II, over the territory of Saumur and a considerable part of Touraine. He defeated Eudes at Pontlevoy in 1016 and surprised and took Saumur 10 years later.

A ruthless warrior who burned and pillaged the monasteries in his path, Fulk nevertheless felt the need for penance, making three pilgrimages to the Holy Land and founding or restoring several abbeys, including those in or near Angers, Loches, and Saumur. He also built strongly fortified castles of stone (instead of wood) along the border of his territory. For this reason he was called le Grand Bâtisseur ("the Great Builder"). He died on his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, having reigned 53 years.
Last Modified NewCreated 8 Mar 2016 using Reunion for Macintosh