William II, Count of Nevers

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Family

He was a son of Renauld II, Count of Nevers and his second wife Agnes of Baugency. [ [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley] ] .

He had an older half-sister, Ermengarde of Nevers, who married into the House of Courtenay. She was a daughter of Renauld II and his first wife Ida of Lyon and Forez.He had at least two younger brothers. The better known of them was Robert of Nevers, Viscount of Ligny-le-Château who joined his brother on the Crusade of 1101. The other was Hugh of Nevers, only mentioned in a charted dating to 1144. [ [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley] ] .

His paternal grandparents were William I, Count of Nevers and Ermengarde of Tonnerre. His maternal grandfather was Lancelin II, Lord of Baugency. [ [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley] ] .

Count

The "Origine et Historia Brevi Nivernensium Comitum" mentions that Renaud II served as co-ruler to his father but predeceased him on 5 August, 1089. His death left William I as the only Count of Nevers and William II as his heir apparent. On 20 June, 1098, his grandfather died and William II succeeded to the County of Nevers. (William II should not be confused with his paternal uncle William of Nevers, Count of Tonnere). [ [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley] ] .

He took part in the Crusade of 1101. He set out in February of 1101 with 15,000 men, but his army failed to take the heavily garrisoned Konya and was decimated by the disastrous Battle of Heraclea Cybistra. He arrived in Antioch with only a handful of knights. [cite book
title=The Crusades, C. 1071-c. 1291
first=Jean
last=Richard
publisher=Cambridge University Press
id=ISBN 0521625661
pages=73]

He persuaded Louis VI to break peace with Henry I and throw his support behind William Clito in 1115.cite book
title=Henry I
first=Charles Warren
last=Hollister
year=2003
publisher=Yale University Press
id=ISBN 0300098294
pages=244] He was imprisoned shortly afterwards by Theobald, count of Blois.

He participated in the Council of Troyes which opened on 14 January [cite book
title=What Islam Did for Us: Understanding Islam's Contribution to Western Civilization
first=Tim
last=Wallace-Murphy
year=2006
publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
id=ISBN 1842932012
pages=151] 1129 [cite book
title=The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple
first=Malcolm
last=Barber
pages=14
year=1995
publisher=Cambridge University Press
id=ISBN 0521420415] and is known for his support of the Second Crusade.

He is believed to have been buried in Chartreuse, where Bernard of Clairvaux attempted and failed to resurrect him. [cite book
title=Prophets in Their Own Country: Living Saints and the Making of Sainthood in the Later Middle Ages
first=Aviad M.
last=Kleinberg
pages=160
year=1992
publisher=University of Chicago Press
id=ISBN 0226439712]

Marriage and children

William II married Adelais. Her family name and ancestry are unknown. They had at least four children [ [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley] ] . :

*William III, Count of Nevers (c. 1107 - 21 November, 1161).
*Renaud of Nevers, Count of Torrene (d. 1148). Died while participating in the Second Crusade.
*Robert of Nevers. Only mentioned in a charter dating to 1134.
*Anne of Nevers. Married William VIII, Count of Auvergne.

References

External links

* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDIAN%20NOBILITY.htm#GuillaumeIINeversdied1148B His profile in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley]