Background
He was son of Odo II, Count of Blois and Ermengarde of Auvergne. Upon his father's death in 1037, Theobald inherited amongst others the counties of Blois, Tours, Chartres.
He was son of Odo II, Count of Blois and Ermengarde of Auvergne. Upon his father's death in 1037, Theobald inherited amongst others the counties of Blois, Tours, Chartres.
Châteaudun and Sancerre, and also in Champagne: Château-Thierry, Provins and St. Florentin. By 1044, Geoffrey Martel, the Count of Anjou, was besieging Tours and Theobald responded by attempting to relieve the city. They met in battle at Nouy and Theobald was captured and had to give up the county of Touraine in order to regain his freedom.
From then on the centre of power for the House of Blois moved to Champagne. In 1054, Theobald recognized the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III as his liege which precipitated a meeting at Ivois between Henry I and the emperor. Theobald found ways to become close to the royal court again and gained political influence and began calling himself, Count Palatine.
Following Theobald's death in 1089, Philip I, King of France, was able to arrange for Blois and Champagne to be divided between Theobald's sons.
