Research Notes:

"Filia Wilelmi comitis de Burgundia Hermentrudis et filii sui Fridericus, Raginaudus, Theodericus" founded the Cluniac abbey of Froidefontaine by charter dated 8 Mar 1105 in which she names "suis antecessoribus…filiis autem Theoderici atque sue uxoris Hermentrudis, Lodewico, Wilelmo, Hugone". The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Raynaldum comitem filium Theoderici Barrensis".

Comte de Bar et de Mousson. Seigneur de Commercy: as "comte Renaud", he sold the fortress of Commercy to the abbé de Saint-Mihiel in 1106. During the dispute between Pope Pascal II and Heinrich V King of Germany concerning the election of Richard de Grandpré as Bishop of Verdun, comte Renaud arrested the Pope's representative and imprisoned him in the château de Grandpré. The Bishop-elect confiscated the avouerie of Dieulouard from Renaud and gave it to Guillaume Comte de Luxembourg, in addition investing the latter with the counties of Stenay and Mouzay. The resulting war lasted from 1111 to 1114, ending with the storming of the château de Bar in Jun 1114 and the Emperor's capture of comte Renaud, who was released in return for a promise of homage. Comte Renaud reached a compromise with Guillaume de Luxembourg, which included the cession of Stenay and Mouzay. Comte Renaud also acquired the county of Verdun, although the citizens of the town wounded him while resisting his occupation. Emperor Heinrich V confiscated Verdun in 1120, in revenge for Renaud's military assistance for the installation of Henri de Blois as Bishop of Verdun, and awarded the county to Henri Comte de Grandpré. Comte Renaud finally made peace at Chalade in 1124 and regained possession of Verdun. "Comes Rainaldus" restored property at Maidières to Liège Saint-Lambert on the advice of "fratris nostri Stephani Metensi episcopi" by charter dated 1128, subscribed by "comes Paganus, comes Folmarus, Hugonellus heres et filius meus". He claimed the fortress of Bouillon from the Bishop of Liège, as successor to Godefroi de Bouillon [Boulogne] Duke of Lower Lotharingia, to whom he was distantly related through his paternal grandmother, and captured the castle in 1134. Etienne Bishop of Metz donated “prædium in feodo Commarciensi...Bernaicuria...sylvam etiam Commarciensem...Foreid” to Riéval “per manum comitis Rainaldi præfati Commarciensis feodi possessoris...collaudante filiisque eius Hugone et Rainaldo” by undated charter, witnessed by “Gerardo castellano...”. The dispute over Bouillon continued, and the bishop besieged the castle in 1141, the death of his oldest son finally persuading Renaud to relinquish possession 22 Sep 1141. Henri Bishop of Toul confirmed the donation of property “molendinum in Commarciensi” made by “comite...Renaldo et ab utroque eius filio Ugone et Renaldo, a dominoque Stephano Metensi episcopo” by charter dated 9 Mar 1141 (O.S.?). “Raynaudus...comes Muntiensis” confirmed the donation made by “Bernacrius vir militaris de castro Montiensi” to the church of Saint-Thiébaut-lez-Saint-Mihiel by charter dated 1145.

Comte Renaud took part in the Second Crusade in 1147, but died during the return sea voyage. The necrology of Verdun Saint-Vanne records the death "V Kal Mar" of "Raynardus comes Barensis". ²