Amaury III of Montfort and the Revolt…

Amaury III of Montfort and the Revolt Against Henry I (1118 CE)

By 1118, Amaury III of Montfort emerged as one of Henry I’s most dangerous enemies, leading a rebellion of discontented Norman barons and even conspiring in an assassination plot against Henry.

Amaury’s hostility toward Henry I stemmed from both personal grievances and political ambition. As a powerful noble with deep ties to the Capetians, Angevins, and Norman aristocracy, his rebellion posed a serious threat to Henry’s rule over Normandy.

Amaury III’s Background and Early Conflicts

• Son of Simon I de Montfort and Agnès d’Évreux, Amaury III had a long history of shifting loyalties and rivalry with the Anglo-Norman crown.
• In 1098, during William Rufus’s campaign in France, Amaury initially defended Houdan before surrendering and joining William’s army.
• He later supported William II of England against his own brother, Simon II de Montfort, during a siege of Montfort-l’Amaury and Épernon.
• When Simon II died c. 1104, Amaury succeeded him as seigneur de Montfort, solidifying his power in northern France.

The Conflict Over Évreux and the Outbreak of Rebellion (1118 CE)

• When Amaury’s maternal uncle, William, Count of Évreux, died in 1118 without heirs, Henry I seized the county, refusing to grant it to Amaury.
• This was a direct provocation, as Amaury was already aligned with Henry’s enemies—his nephew, Fulk V of Anjou, had previously attacked Henry’s lands, and his sister, Bertrade de Montfort, had scandalized the French court through her bigamous marriage to Philip I of France.
• Seeking support, Amaury appealed to King Louis VI, who granted him the countship of Évreux, directly challenging Henry’s authority in Normandy.

The Betrayal of Évreux and Escalation of the Rebellion

• For six months, Henry refused to hand over Évreux, stationing his own troops in the castle to prevent Amaury from taking control.
• However, in a stunning act of betrayal, Henry’s constable, William Pointel, turned over Évreux Castle to his longtime friend Amaury while Henry was preoccupied in Rouen.
• Seeing the danger, Henry offered Amaury the title of Count of Évreux on the condition that he surrender the castle, but Amaury refused.

The Expansion of the Revolt

With Évreux now under his control, Amaury openly rebelled, encouraging more Norman barons to defy Henry I. His uprising:

• Aligned him even more closely with Louis VI, strengthening the Capetian effort to weaken Henry’s hold on Normandy.
• Inspired other rebellious nobles, further destabilizing Henry’s rule in Normandy and Maine.
• Escalated into open war, as Norman aristocrats dissatisfied with Henry’s centralized rule rallied to Amaury’s cause.

Henry now faced one of the most coordinated and dangerous insurrections of his reign, as Capetian, Angevin, and Norman forces united against his authority. The conflict over Évreux had transformed into a full-scale war for the survival of Henry’s control over Normandy.