Fulk III of Anjou

Fulk III "Nerra" (970–1040), was a French nobleman who was the Count of Anjou from 987 to his death. He built up Angevin power by building a network of castles. 

 Early career 

Fulk was the son of Geoffrey I, Count of Anjou and Adele of Meaux.Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 1 (J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 116 He was born about 970.K.S.B. Keats-Rohan, Family Trees and the Root of Politics; A Prosopography of Britain and France from the Tenth to the Twelfth Century (Woodbridge UK: The Boydell Press, 1997), p. 265 Fulk was born into a dynasty of counts going back nearly a hundred years. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather and second great-grandfather had all been counts of Anjou before him.Bernard S. Bachrach, Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), pp. 1–4 His father, Geoffrey I had been preparing Fulk to be count as he raised him.Tom Holland, The Forge of Christendom: The End of Days and the Epic Rise of the West (New York : Doubleday Books, 2009), p. 139 He was about age seventeen when his father died and Fulk became the next count. Two years earlier, in 985, his father arranged for him to be married to Elizabeth de Vendome, daughter of Bouchard, Count of Vendome. His nickname "Nerra" meant 'the Black'. It was probably given to him after his death.Bernard S. Bachrach, Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), p. 24

 Count of Anjou 

His first years as count were a constant fight for survival. His western borders and his holdings in Touraine were not secure.Bernard S. Bachrach, 'The Angevin Strategy of Castle Building in the Reign of Fulk Nerra, 987-1040', The American Historical Review, Vol. 88, No. 3 (Jun., 1983), p. 538 His concerns were mainly holding and defending Angevin interests. Fulk also faced opposition from the church. Bishop Renaud of Angers and Guntarius abbot of St. Aubin both thought they could take advantage of an inexperienced young count. They wanted to take back lands they lost to Fulk's father, Geoffrey. But Fulk had a powerful ally in his uncle, Bishop Guy of Le Puy. Guy stepped in and sent the abbot on a pilgrimage and used force against Bishop Renaud.Jerome Kroll; Bernard S. Bachrach, 'Medieval Dynastic Decisions: Evolutionary Biology and Historical Explanation', The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Summer, 1990), pp. 9-10

Fulk fought against Conan I of Rennes at the Battle of Conquereuil on 27 June 992. Even though Conan had lost a battle to Fulk's father years before,Bernard S. Bachrach, Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), p. 15 he was still a powerful force in the region. Defeating and killing Conan gave Fulk Nerra a reputation as a very capable commander. Fulk then extended his power over Maine and Touraine. 

Fulk Nerra had a longstanding rivalry with Odo II, Count of Blois.Jim Bradbury. The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328 (London; New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2007), p. 90 Hugh Capet, the king of France had supported the Angevins against Blois. But king Robert II of France had been married to Bertha, (Odo II's mother) and supported Blois against Anjou. The king opposed Fulk's designs on Touraine and this forced him to pull back to Anjou. When Fulk went to the Holy Land Odo II tried to take advantage. He built three new castles to counter those built by Fulk. When Robert II married again, this time to Constance of Arles, she was Fulk's cousin. Relations between the king and Fulk improved. When Count Hugh of Beauvais, a favorite of King Robert, began speaking against his new wife Constance, Fulk had him killed. This turned the king and the church against Fulk. To ask forgiveness, Fulk took a trip to the Holy Land (he made four total).Jim Bradbury. The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328 (London; New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2007), p. 91 When he returned he built a new monastery. The king decided to stay with Constance. He and Fulk reconcilled in Rome in 1016. That same year war broke out between Fulk and Odo II of Blois. Fulk allied with Herbert I, Count of Maine, called Wakedog, and they attacked Tours. Odo II came in response and the two met on 6 July 1016. Although he was knocked off his horse, Herbert Wakedog rescued him. Fulk defeated Odo II at the Battle of Pontlevoy. 

Odo II fell out of favor with king Robert. Robert asked Fulk to help him against Odo II, which he did. In 1026 when Odo II beseiged Montboyau, Fulk Nerra attacked Saumur. Fulk kept Samur while Odo II lost Montboyau. In the later part of his reign Fulk made several gains in the south including much of Poitou and built a castle there to protect his interests.

In defending his territory Fulk had a large number of castles and other fortifications built.Bernard S. Bachrach, 'The Angevin Strategy of Castle Building in the Reign of Fulk Nerra, 987-1040', The American Historical Review, Vol. 88, No. 3 (Jun., 1983), p. 533 Fulk used these castles both offensively and defensively. Some of his fortresses cut in half the territory of a neighboring lord. Others were used as forward bases for attacking Touraine.Bernard S. Bachrach, 'The Angevin Strategy of Castle Building in the Reign of Fulk Nerra, 987-1040', The American Historical Review, Vol. 88, No. 3 (Jun., 1983), p. 534

Fulk was a ruthless man. His treatment of his first wife is an example. By age 20, she had only given birth to a daughter, and appeared to be sterile, as no other pregnancies occurred in the continuing years of their marriage. Nerra sought to be rid of her by accusing her of adultery. According to the account given in La Chronique de Saint Aubin d'Angers, cited in Ina Caro's book, The Road from the Past, he "had her tried at an ecclesiastical court in Angers, by judges he knew would convict her; then he had her dressed in her gaiest clothes and personally led her out to be burned at the stake in the square in front of the cathedral."  Fulk continued to control Vendome through their daughter, Adele, and her family.Steven Fanning, 'A Bishop and His World before the Gregorian Reform: Hubert of Angers, 1006-1047', Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, Vol. 78, No. 1 (1988), p. 3 In 1028 Fulk and his second wife, Hildegarde, founded the abbey of Le Ronceray.Henk Teunis, The Appeal to the Original Status: Social Justice in Anjou in the Eleventh Century (Hilversum, Netherlands: Uitgeveri Verloren, 2006), p. 38 Originally a church dedicated to St. Mary, Hildegard was very active in its rebuilding into an abbey. They gave the abbey many gifts including the forest of Lattay. Fulk died 1 April 1040 while returning from his last pilgrimage.Chroniques des comtes d'Anjou et des seigneurs d'Amboise, ed. Louis Halphen; René Poupardin (Paris, 1913), pp. 232-38

 Family 

Fulk's first wife was Elizabeth de Vendome. Together they had a daughter: 
 Adèle. She married Bodon de Nevers, count of Vendome (jure uxoris).

His second wife was Hildegard of Lorraine. Together they had two children: 
 Geoffrey Martel, his successor.
 Ermengarde-Blanche.

 References 

Category:970s births
Category:1040 deaths
Category:Counts of Anjou