William III (913 – 3 April 963), called Towhead (French: Tête d'étoupe, Latin: Caput Stupe) from the colour of his hair, was the "Count of the Duchy of Aquitaine" from 959 and Duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the Count of Poitiers from 935 and Count of Auvergne from 950. The primary sources for his reign are Ademar of Chabannes, Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and William of Jumièges.
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In this Dossier
William III of Aquitaine in the context of Count of Poitiers
Among the people who have borne Carolingian Counts the title of Count of Poitiers (French: Comte de Poitiers, Latin: Comes Pictaviensis; or Poitou, in what is now France but in the Middle Ages became part of Aquitaine) are:
- Bodilon
- Warinus (638–677), son of Bodilon
- Hatton (735–778)
- Bernard I (814–828)
- Renaud (795–843)
- Bernard II (840–844)
- Emenon or Emeno (828 – 839), brother of Bernard II
- Ranulph I (839–866)
- Ranulph II (866–890), son of Ranulph I
- William I, Duke of Aquitaine
- William II, Duke of Aquitaine
- Ebalus (or Ebles Manzer) (890–892) (illegitimate son of Ranulph II) (first reign– 890–893) (second reign– 902–935)
- Aymar (892–902) (son of Emenon)
- Ebalus (or Ebles Manzer) (restored) (902–935)
- William III (935–963)
- William IV (963–995)
- William V (969–1030)
- William VI (1030–1038)
- Odo (Eudes) (1038–1039)
- William VII (1039–1058)
- William VI (1058–1086)
- William VII (1071–1126)
- William VIII (1099–1137)
- Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine
- Louis VII of France (1137–1152) obtained title through marriage to Eleanor
- Henry II of England (1152, 1156–1189) obtained title through marriage to Eleanor
- William, styled Count of Poitiers (1153–1156) son of Eleanor and Henry II of England
- Richard I (1169–1196) son of Eleanor and Henry II of England
- Otto (1196–1198)
- Richard I again (1198–1199)
- Richard II (1224) younger brother of Henry III of England
- Alphonse I (1220–1271) son of Louis VIII of France
- Philip I (1293–1322)
- John I (1319–1364)
- John II (1340–1416) son of John I
- John III (1398–1417) son of Charles VI of France
- Charles (1403–1461)
- Francis (r. 1695–1715)
William III of Aquitaine in the context of House of Poitiers
The Ramnulfids, or the House of Poitiers, were a French dynasty of Frankish origin ruling the County of Poitou and Duchy of Aquitaine in the 9th through 12th centuries. Their power base shifted from Toulouse to Poitou. In the early 10th century, they contested the dominance of northern Aquitaine and the ducal title to the whole with the House of Auvergne. In 1032, they inherited the Duchy of Gascony, thus uniting it with Aquitaine. By the end of the 11th century, they were the dominant power in the southwestern third of France. The founder of the family was Ramnulf I, who became count in 835.
Ramnulf's son, Ramnulf II, claimed the title of King of Aquitaine in 888, but it did not survive him. Through his illegitimate son Ebalus he fathered the line of dukes of Aquitaine that would rule continuously from 927 to 1204, from the succession of William III to the death of Eleanor, who brought the Ramnulfid inheritance first to Louis VII of France and then to Henry II of England.
William III of Aquitaine in the context of Counts of Poitou
Among the people who have borne Carolingian Counts the title of Count of Poitiers (French: Comte de Poitiers, Latin: Comes Pictaviensis; or Poitou, in what is now France but in the Middle Ages became part of Aquitaine) are:
- Bodilon
- Warinus (638–677), son of Bodilon
- Hatton (735–778)
- Bernard I (814–828)
- Renaud (795–843)
- Bernard II (840–844)
- Emenon or Emeno (828 – 839), brother of Bernard II
- Ranulph I (839–866)
- Ranulph II (866–890), son of Ranulph I
- William I, Duke of Aquitaine
- William II, Duke of Aquitaine
- Ebalus (or Ebles Manzer) (890–892) (illegitimate son of Ranulph II) (first reign– 890–893) (second reign– 902–935)
- Aymar (892–902) (son of Emenon)
- Ebalus (or Ebles Manzer) (restored) (902–935)
- William III (935–963)
- William IV (963–995)
- William V (969–1030)
- William VI (1030–1038)
- Odo (Eudes) (1038–1039)
- William VII (1039–1058)
- William VI (1058–1086)
- William VII (1071–1126)
- William VIII (1099–1137)
- Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine
- Louis VII of France (1137–1152) obtained title through marriage to Eleanor
- Henry II of England (1152, 1156–1189) obtained title through marriage to Eleanor
- William, styled Count of Poitiers (1153–1156) son of Eleanor and Henry II of England
- Richard I (1169–1196) son of Eleanor and Henry II of England
- Otto (1196–1198)
- Richard I again (1198–1199)
- Richard II (1224) younger brother of Henry III of England
- Alphonse I (1220–1271) son of Louis VIII of France
- Philip I (1293–1322)
- John I (1319–1364)
- John II (1340–1416) son of John I
- John III (1398–1417) son of Charles VI of France
- Charles (1403–1461)
- Francis (r. 1695–1715)