Barons and castellans · County of Champagne · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Châtillon

Gaucher of Chatillon is the most courted knight of the region: butler of Champagne, seneschal of Burgundy, son-in-law and heir by marriage of the count of Saint-Pol, and a trusted man of Philip Augustus.

His own lands are the castle of Chatillon on the Marne between Epernay and Chateau-Thierry, Troissy, and the Brie lordships of Montjay and Crecy close to Lagny. He stood surety for Theobald's oath to the king.

Who he is

Name
Gaucher III of Chatillon (Gaucher III de Chatillon)
Title
Lord of Chatillon-sur-Marne, Troissy, Montjay and Crecy; butler of Champagne; seneschal of Burgundy; husband of the heiress of Saint-Pol
Since
After his elder brother Guy III died at the siege of Acre (1189-1191)
Born
About 1166, probably at Chatillon-sur-Marne
Family
Second son of Guy II of Chatillon (died 1170) and Alix of Dreux. Married Elisabeth of Saint-Pol, daughter and heiress of Count Hugh IV, in 1196. A veteran of the Third Crusade (Acre, Arsuf, Jaffa).
Confidence
high

French Wikipedia: butler of Champagne from about 1189 in succession to Anseau II of Trainel; seneschal of Burgundy from about 1196 at Odo III's request; surety for Theobald III's oath to Philip at Melun and witness of Theobald's wedding at Chartres. He becomes count of Saint-Pol only when Hugh IV dies in 1205.

Overlord

Theobald III for Chatillon, Troissy, Montjay and Crecy; Philip II for Pierrefonds; Odo III of Burgundy for the seneschalcy of Burgundy

What it holds

  • Chatillon-sur-Marne: castle over the Marne
  • Troissy on the Marne
  • Montjay (Montjay-la-Tour) near Lagny in Brie
  • Crecy (Crecy-la-Chapelle) in Brie
  • Pierrefonds in the Valois, held of the king (drawn by the Royal researcher)
  • The office of butler of Champagne
  • The seneschalcy of Burgundy (since about 1196)

How it was acquired

Chatillon and Montjay by inheritance from his brother Guy III; Crecy, Troissy and Pierrefonds in the late twelfth century; Saint-Pol expected through his wife.

Allies and rivals

Philip Augustus; Theobald III; Odo III of Burgundy; his father-in-law Hugh IV of Saint-Pol, who will lead men on the crusade.

How things stand that morning

Held. Gaucher is in Champagne as butler. He is not yet count of Saint-Pol: Hugh IV is alive.

Wealth

Marne valley lands and vineyards; Brie lordships near the Lagny fair; the profits of two household offices.

Military

Castle of Chatillon; a seasoned crusader and royal captain.

Threats

  • Pulled between Champagne, Burgundy, Saint-Pol and the king

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1205 (later course)Becomes count of Saint-Pol in his wife's right when Hugh IV dies at Constantinople.Depends on: Hugh IV's death on crusade. Stopped by: Hugh surviving.

Where the sources disagree

  • The assignment calls Gaucher count of Saint-Pol by marriage. On 1 January 1200 Hugh IV of Saint-Pol is alive and is the count; Gaucher is the heiress's husband and takes the title only in 1205.

Evidence: His offices and marriage are well attested; the extent of each lordship is reconstructed.

On the map: Small clusters around his castles; Pierrefonds is left to the Royal researcher.

Primary sources for Champagne

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

  • Chronicle of Alberic of Trois-Fontaines, Alberic of Trois-Fontaines (about 1227 to 1241, at the Cistercian abbey of Trois-Fontaines in Champagne). The widest net of any Latin chronicle for 1200, compiled from dozens of sources, many now lost. Read online
  • Chronicle of Robert of Auxerre, Robert of Auxerre (Robert of Saint-Marien) (about 1190 to 1211; continued at Saint-Marien to 1227). A universal chronicle whose last twenty years are contemporary and well informed from Burgundy and the Auxerrois. Read online
  • Universal Chronicle of the Anonymous of Laon, Anonymous (an English-born canon of Laon) (about 1219). A Picard chronicle whose author had lived in England and keeps an eye on both kingdoms. Read online
  • Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
  • Deeds of Philip Augustus, Rigord (about 1186 to 1206, in stages). The French court's own chronicle for the year, from the monk of Saint-Denis who called himself the king's chronographer. Read online
  • Deeds of Philip Augustus; The Philippide, William the Breton (Guillaume le Breton) (Gesta about 1214 to 1220; Philippide 1214 to 1224). William abridged Rigord for the years before 1207 and then continued him, so for 1200 the Gesta is a shortened Rigord with a few added touches: the Le Goulet settlement, Blanche's marriage, and the interdict. Read online
  • The Conquest of Constantinople (Villehardouin), Geoffrey of Villehardouin (about 1207 to 1213). Opens with the preaching of Fulk of Neuilly and the tournament at Ecry (28 November 1199) where Theobald III of Champagne and Louis of Blois took the cross, then the taking of the cross by Baldwin of Flanders, Hugh of Saint-Pol, Geoffrey of Perche and others through early 1200, the assemblies at Soissons and Compiegne in 1200, and the six envoys sent to Venice in the winter of 1200 to 1201. Read online
  • The Conquest of Constantinople, Robert de Clari, knight of Picardy (about 1205 to 1216). A rank-and-file crusader's account that begins with the preaching of the crusade and the taking of the cross in 1199 to 1200 by the counts of Flanders, Blois and Champagne and by the Picard lords, among them Peter of Amiens, Robert's own lord, then the negotiations with Venice. Read online

3 more in the sources library for France and Iberia.

Sources and studies

  1. Gaucher III de Chatillon (fr.wikipedia)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.