Research Notes:

The Acta Sanctorum commentary on the life of St Simon de Valois, based on an undated manuscript of the abbey of Saint-Claude, records that "Nocherius seu Nocherus, Achardi filius" married in 992 "Alaidem comitissam Suessionensem, filiam comitis Gilberti, viduam Guidonis Viromanduensis, et matrem Rainaudi comitis Suessionensem". According to Europäische Stammtafeln, he was Renaud, possible son of Nocher Comte de Bar-sur-Aube & his wife Adelisa Ctss de Soissons. This is consistent with the same source stating that Nocher’s wife was the daughter, not the widow, of Guy Comte de Soissons, but the primary source (if any) on which the information is based has not been identified. As Renaud named his son Guy, it appears more likely that the Acta Sanctorum version is correct.

Comte de Soissons. Henri I King of France donated the churches in "villa…Carcrisia…Corciaci atque…Colomellæ…Colisiaci…Bruelii atque…Nantoilo" to Notre-Dame de Soissons by charter dated 18 May 1057, which records that "mortuis eodem anno Rainaldo comite et eius filio Vuidone et obsessa turre Suession. ab Henrico rege".

The name of Renaud's wife is not known. Two sources may provide some indication of the family connections of Renaud’s wife. Firstly, the Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis which names "comes Suessionis et comes de Dommartin et comes de Ronaco et Manasses cui agnomen Calva-asina" as brothers ("fratres") of "Helduino comiti de Ramerut", naming "Rainaldum comitem Suessionis et Iohannem, qui fratri successit in comitatum, et Manassem Suessionensem episcopum et filias" as the children of "supradictus comes Suessionis Guilermus…frater iam dicti Helduini". It is clear from other sources that Guillaume Comte de Soissons descended from the family of the dukes of Normandy. The only way in which the Genealogiæ could make sense is if "fratres" can be interpreted as including brothers-in-law (an interpretation which has been observed and confirmed as correct in other cases). If that is correct, it is possible that Renaud’s wife had married firstly, as his second wife, Hilduin [III] Seigneur de Ramerupt. If this is correct, Renaud would have married after 1032, the last date when Hilduin [II] is recorded. This timing appears to fit with the general chronology of the Soissons family, although if it is correct it is likely that Hilduin’s widow would have been Renaud’s second wife. Secondly, one version of the Gesta Episcoporum Cameracensium (Continuatio) names “Manasses Remensium archiepiscopus, electi Manassæ avunculus”, the latter referring to Manassès Bishop of Cambrai and later Bishop of Cambrai, who was Renaud’s grandson, and the former to Manassès Archbishop of Reims who was the son of Manassès “le Chauve” Vidame de Reims.... It appears unlikely that the family connection was through the Normandy family of Renaud’s son-in-law Guillaume “Busac” d’Eu. On the other hand, the connection may have been through the previous generation, asssuming that “avunculus” in the source in question can be interpreted loosely. This second hypothesis would also provide an explanation for the introduction of the name Manassès into the family of the comtes de Soissons. If this hypothesis is correct, Renaud’s wife was ---, niece of Guy Archbishop of Reims, daughter of ---. ²