1201–1253 · Count of Champagne, king of Navarre and leader of the Barons' Crusade
Theobald IV of Champagne
Count of Champagne and king of Navarre; he led the Barons' Crusade of 1239–1240 and, despite the defeat at Gaza, made treaties securing territorial gains by exploiting rivalries among the Ayyubid emirs.
BIOGRAPHICAL DOSSIER
Life and historical role
Life and political setting
Theobald was born after the death of his father, Count Theobald III of Champagne, and grew up under his mother's regency. In 1234 he inherited the kingdom of Navarre from his uncle. He is also known as one of the most famous trouvère poets of his time.
Role in the Crusades
At Pope Gregory IX's call he reached Acre in September 1239. In November 1239 an unauthorised raid by some nobles ended in a heavy defeat at Gaza. Theobald then exploited the rivalry between the Ayyubid rulers of Damascus and Egypt to make treaties that brought castles such as Shaqif Arnun and Safed to the Franks. He returned to Europe in September 1240.
Historical significance and source problems
The Barons' Crusade brought diplomatic successes that extended the Kingdom of Jerusalem to its greatest size since 1187, though these gains were largely lost in the disaster of 1244. Theobald's own poems, the Eracles continuations and the Rothelin continuation are the sources for the crusade.
Biographical information is linked to the sources shown on the page and to the connected event records. Disputed dates are given as approximate, gaps are not filled by conjecture, and later literary or visual depictions are not treated as contemporary portraits.