An Ardennes county between Bar's Stenay and Luxembourg, on the Semois and Chiers, with its comital court at Ivois (Carignan) and a new castle at Chiny built at the end of the 12th century.
Its counts regularly did homage to the counts of Bar, so it is put in Bar's realm.
Who he is
- Name
- Louis IV
- Title
- Count of Chiny
- Since
- about 1189 (his father Louis III did liege homage to Bar in spring 1189); not pinned
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- House of Chiny. Dies 1226 leaving two daughters; the elder, Jeanne, marries Arnold of Loon, who succeeds.
- Confidence
- medium
fr.wikipedia Comte de Chiny (incomplete on dates)
Overlord
Partly the count of Bar, to whom the counts of Chiny did liege homage; other parts of the county held of other lords (not pinned).
What it holds
- Chiny castle on the Semois
- Ivois (Carignan), the leading town, with the comital castle and court
- Florenville and the Semois valley
- Chauvency and Montmedy on the Chiers (Montmedy becomes the capital only between 1221 and 1239)
How it was acquired
Inheritance of the house of Chiny.
Allies and rivals
Vassal of Bar for part of the county; rival of Luxembourg.
How things stand that morning
Held by Louis IV (not pinned to a 1200 charter). Neighbours: Bar (Stenay) to the south, Luxembourg to the east, the archbishop of Reims's Mouzon to the west, the abbey of Orval within.
Wealth
Forests, iron, the Chiers road; the Ivois market. No figures.
Military
Castles of Chiny, Ivois and Chauvency. No numbers.
Threats
- Being squeezed between Bar and Luxembourg, now in one hand.
Places of note
- Ivois (Carignan): Comital town and court
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The Bar homage is attested; the count's dates and the county's 1200 extent are not pinned.
On the map: Rough extent.
Primary sources for Bar
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
- Deeds of the archbishops of Trier, continuations (continuations written in the 13th century). The Trier house history for Archbishop John I (1190 to 1212), who held the Moselle between the two kings. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.