Background

He was the son of Theobald V and Alix of France.

Career

Louis promulgated a charter in 1196 abolishing serfdom in his domains. He left France in 1202. During the July 1203 siege of Constantinople, Louis was one of eight division commanders, the others including Boniface of Montferrat (the crusade leader), Doge Enrico Dandolo (leader of the Venetians), Baldwin of Flanders (who controlled the largest division and later became Latin Emperor of Constantinople), and Baldwin"s brother Henry.

Louis was later afflicted with a severe fever for months, and missed participating in the capture of Constantinople in 1204.

He had just recuperated when he participated in the Battle of Adrianople, where he was slain by a force of Cumans led by Kaloyan of Bulgaria ("Johanitza"). Raoul, who died young

Jeanne, who died young

Theobald VI of Blois (died 1218).

Achievements

• He was too ill to take part in the subsequent forays of his men into Asia Minor, where he had been created Duke of Nicaea, a title he never vindicated as the city was captured by Theodore I Laskaris, founder of the Empire of Nicaea.

Connections

enemy:

Baldwin I