Alix DE RÉTHEL, Regent of Jerusalem 1
- Born: Abt 1110, Rethel, Ardennes, Champagne-Ardennes, France
- Married: Autumn 1126
- Died: After 1136, Antioch
Research Notes:
She is named "Haalis" by William of Tyre who records her parentage and also her marriage in Autumn 1126. The Lignages d'Outremer name "Aalis la fille au roy Bauduin de Jerusalem" as wife of "Beymont…prince". Her marriage was arranged when her father became regent of Antioch, on behalf of her future husband, in 1119. The marriage took place when her father invested her husband as Prince of Antioch on his arrival at Antioch in Oct 1126. Her husband settled Latakieh and Jabala on Alix as her dower.
She assumed the regency of Antioch in Feb 1130 for her infant daughter immediately on the death of her husband, without waiting for her father to appoint a regent. To protect her position, she sent an envoy to Zengi atabeg of Aleppo requesting him to become her overlord provided he guaranteed her continued possession of Antioch, but the envoy was intercepted by King Baudouin. When the king entered the city in May 1130, he removed his daughter from the regency and banished her to Latakieh and Jabala. King Baudouin assumed the regency himself, leaving Joscelin de Courtenay Count of Edessa as guardian in Antioch when he returned to Jerusalem. After her father's death in 1131, she reasserted her claim to the regency of Antioch, but her forces were defeated by Foulques d'Anjou King of Jerusalem. She was allowed to return to Antioch in 1135, but forced into exile in May 1136. 2
Marriage Information:
Alix married Prince Bohémond II D' ANTIOCHE, son of Marco (Bohémond) DI APULIA, Prince of Taranto & Antioch, and Constance CAPET, Princess of France, in Autumn 1126. (Bohémond II D' ANTIOCHE was born in 1107/8 in Canosa di Puglia, Apulia, Italy and died on 5 Feb 1130-1131 in battle near Anazarbus, Cilicia.) |