• Born: Between 1090 and 1095, Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre, France
• Married: 1123
• Died: 8 Jan 1151/2
• Buried: 10 Jan 1151/2, Lagny-sur-Marne, France

  Research Notes:

Orderic Vitalis records that “Stephanus Blesensis palatinus comes” and his wife had “filios quatuor: Guillelmum et Tedbaldum, Stephanumque et Henricum”, adding that Thibaut was “hæres hæreditatis paternæ”. "Henricus comes cognomina Stephanus necnon et Adela uxor eius cum filiis nostris" granted immunities to Chartres Notre-Dame by charter dated [Oct 1100/1101], signed by "Stephani comitis, Adele comitisse, Guillelmi, Stephani, Odonis, Teobaldi", which suggests that Thibaut may have been the fourth son although this is inconsistent with his having succeeded his father. It does not appear from other sources that Thibaut was younger than his brother Etienne. Orderic Vitalis provides some indication of his birth year when he records that his mother Ctss Adela provided troops to Louis VI King of France at the time of the siege of Montmorency in [1108] "because Count Stephen her husband had gone on crusade and her eldest sons, William and Theobald, who were not yet of age, were unable to command troops of knights". The description is confused because Count Etienne had died several years earlier, but it nevertheless provides some indication of the comparative youth of the brothers Guillaume and Thibaut at the time. This is corroborated by the charter dated 2 Apr 1104 under which "Hugo comes Campanie Teotbaldi comitis filius" donated property to the abbey of Molesme which names "…comitissam Adelaidem uxorem fratris mei comitis Stephani nepotes…" and is subscribed by "Teotbaldus puer filius Stephani comitis nepos huius comitis Hugonis".

He succeeded his father in 1102 as THIBAUT IV “le Grand/le Vieil” Comte de Blois, de Troyes. He was invested with the county of Chartres in 1107. Chibnall speculates that the delay in this investiture may have been due to lack of proof that his father was dead rather than Thibaut's own youth, but Thibaut’s age is the obvious reason. Orderic Vitalis states that Comte Thibaut supported Hugues du Puiset during his rebellion against Louis VI King of France in 1111, which led to more widespread warfare culminating in Thibaut defeating the king's forces near Meaux later in 1111. Henry of Huntingdon records that Thibaut rebelled against King Louis in 1116, aided by his uncle Henry I King of England. It is assumed that these two reports refer to the same rebellion, with contradictory dating. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records that "Hugo comes Campanie" became a Knight Templar in 1125 and was succeeded by "Theobaldus nepos eius". Orderic Vitalis states that Thibaut was proposed as successor to Henry I King of England by Normans at a meeting at Neubourg in Dec 1135, but when they heard that his younger brother had forestalled him, they agreed to serve King Stephen. Orderic Vitalis also records that he was offered the crown of England in 1141 after his brother Stephen was captured at Lincoln, but declined the offer. He entered into conflict with Raoul Comte de Vermandois in 1142-43. Louis VII King of France declared war against him, laid siege to and captured Vitry but signed peace at Vitry in 1143.

The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the death "1152 VI Id Jan" of "comes Campanie Theobaldus" and his burial "apud Latinicacum". A list of foundations at Troyes records the memory "10 Jan" of "Thibault Comte de Champagne décédé ce jour". The necrology of Saint-Etienne, Troyes records the death "10 Jan" of "Theobaldus comes Campanie". The necrology of Saint-Loup, Troyes records the death "10 Jan 1152" of "Teobaudus comes" and his burial "in ecclesia de Lagny". The necrology of Chartres cathedral records the death "IV Id Jan" of "Teobaldus comes palatinus", stating that "cuius filius Teobaldus comes Blesensis et Francie senescallus…matris sui Matildis" donated property for his soul. ¹