(d. 1152). Seneschal of France. An ardent supporter of the Capetian monarchy, Raoul was the eldest son of Adele, heiress of Herbert IV, count of Vermandois, and Hugues le
Grand (d. 1102), brother of Philip I of France. He became count of Verman-dois in 1117, answered the royal summons to oppose an imperial invasion in 1124, lost an eye in royal service in 1128, and was the sole supporter of Louis VI against the revolt of the Garlande family in 1131. In that year, he first appears as royal seneschal. In 1137, he and his archrival, Thibaut II le Grand, count of Champagne, led the entourage that escorted the future Louis VII to Bordeaux for his marriage to Eleanor, heiress of Aquitaine.
Raoul’s influence continued under Louis VII (r. 1137-80). His repudiation in 1142 of Thibaut II’s niece Eleanor to wed Petronilla (Alix), the queen’s sister, led not only to his excommunication but also to war in Champagne. He refused to put Petronilla aside, even after the burning of Vitry led to the king’s accommodation with the church. He became co-regent with Suger, abbot of Saint-Denis, during the king’s absence on the Second Crusade (1147-49). Upon the death of Suger in 1151, Raoul was replaced as royal seneschal, and he died the following year.
Raoul left three children by Petronilla: Raoul le Lepreux, count of Vermandois (r. 1152-67): Elizabeth (d. 1183), whose husband, Philippe d’Alsace, count of Flan-ders, ruled Vermandois until 1191: and Eleanor, who was forced to divide the inheritance of Vermandois with the king, Philip II Augustus, who acquired the remainder on her death in 1213.
R. Thomas McDonald
[See also: CHAMPAGNE: ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE: GARLANDE: LOUIS VI THE FAT: LOUIS VII: VERMANDOIS]
World History
