Deatht of Renaud of Dammartin, count of Boulogne

[Peter Stewart]

A misprint in ES has caused a wrong year to become widespread online for the
death of Renaud - 1217 was given in error instead of the correct 1227. The
date of his suicide was 21 April, the anniversary of his second wife's
death.

Renaud was taken prisoner along with Fernando of Portugal, count of
Flanders, at the battle of Bouvines in July 1214. Fernando was finally
released in 1226, and Renaud eviidently lost hope after that. Contemporary
sources are few but clear about the length of his imprisonment: we are told
by the annalist of Anchin that he was kept at the end in Goulet, an island
fortress in the Seine, after the release of Fernando, and by William, abbot
of Andres that he was held in chains for almost 13 years. Alberic of
Troisfontaines confirms the year of his death, after Easter (that fell on 11
April in 1227), adding that this was reportedly suicide. Several necrologies
record 21 April as the date.

Peter Stewart