Herbert I, Count of Maine

Herbert I (died 1036), called Wakedog or Evigilans Canis (Eveille-Chien), was the count of Maine from 1015, the son and successor of Hugh III.

Under the last Carolingian and first Capetian kings of France, royal power declined sharply and many royal rights were amassed by the greater and lesser nobility. Herbert of Maine even struck coins with his own monogram. He purchased the loyalty of his vassals by doling out his land to them and granting them the right to build castles, which proliferated, as at Sablé, Château-du-Loir, Mayenne, Laval, La Ferté Bernard, Saint Calais, Sillé (after 1050), La Suze, Malicorne, La Milesse, Montfort, and Sourches.

From the beginning of his reign, he was constrained to aid his suzerain, Fulk III of Anjou, in a war against Odo II of Blois, both of whom had designs on the Touraine. In 1016, following an attack on the fortress of Montrichard, Odo met the forces of Fulk at the Battle of Pontlevoy on 6 July. Despite Odo's numerical advantage, by the intervention of Herbert, the battle went to Fulk. One of the consequences of the battle was to create a balance of power in the region, which was followed by peace for several years.

By marrying his son to Bertha of Chartres, daughter of Odo II of Blois, Herbert was able to maintain himself independent of his legal suzerain. He also allied with the count of Rennes, who threatened Fulk from the west. He made enemies with the king, Robert II, and even expelled the bishop of Le Mans, Avesgaud of Bellème, from his diocese. Finally, on 7 March 1025, he was arrested in Saintes by Fulk, who kept him imprisoned for two years until a coalition forced his release. Herbert then did homage to Fulk.

Herbert left four children:

• Hugh IV, successor, married Bertha, daughter of Odo of Blois
• Biota, married Walter III of the Vexin
• Paula, either wife or mother of John de Beaugency, among whose children was Elias to whom Maine eventually passed
• Gersenda, married firstly Theobald III of Blois; divorced in 1048 and married secondly Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan

External links

• Herbert (I) of Maine in the "MedLands" database hosted on the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy website

Preceded by Hugh III

Count of Maine 1014–1036

Succeeded by Hugh IV