City · Held directly of the king · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Beauvais

The cloth city of the Beauvaisis, whose bishop is both count and peer, and whose commune is one of the oldest and proudest in the north.

Its warrior bishop was taken in arms by Mercadier and John in 1197 and is still in prison.

Who holds it

Name
Philip of Dreux, bishop and count of Beauvais, John's prisoner since 1197
Title
Count-bishop
Since
1175
Family
Capetian, brother of Robert II of Dreux
Confidence
high

campaign notes Part 6 A; en.wikipedia (Philip of Dreux).

Lord in 1200

The bishop-count Philip of Dreux, a prisoner of John since 1197; the chapter and his officers govern in his absence. The commune has its mayor and peers.

Allies and rivals

Commune against the bishop's officers; the vidame of Gerberoy.

How things stand that morning

Bishop captive, release coming in 1200 by exchange.

Wealth

Cloth.

Military

Communal militia; frontier with Normandy at Gournay and Gerberoy.

Threats

  • Raids from the Norman Bray if war resumes.

Charter

Commune recognised by Louis VI and confirmed by Louis VII (1144) and Philip (1182).

Council

Mayor and peers (pairs) of the commune.

Communities

Jews after 1198 [not pinned; Beauvais is not royal demesne].

Militia

A strong communal militia owed to the host.

Walls and castle

Roman castrum enlarged; the bishop's palace-castle.

Trade and crafts

Woollen cloth and dyeing on the Therain; tanning.

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. 1200, date not pinnedThe bishop is freed in exchange for the bishop-elect of Cambrai.Depends on: The peace. Stopped by: Renewed war.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Commune and bishop firm.

Primary sources for Held of the king

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 Andres, William of Andres (about 1220 to 1234). The chronicle and cartulary of a small abbey between Guines and Ardres, near the border of Flanders and Boulogne. Read online
  • Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online
  • Chronicles of Saint-Martial of Limoges, Bernard Itier and other monks of Saint-Martial; Geoffrey of Vigeois for the earlier chronicle (Geoffrey's chronicle to 1184; Bernard Itier's notes about 1195 to 1225). Bernard Itier, librarian of Saint-Martial, kept dated notes through 1200 of what reached Limoges: Richard's death at Chalus in 1199, the viscounts of Limoges and the lords of the Limousin, John's passage through Aquitaine in 1200 and the affairs of Angouleme and the Lusignans, and the abbey's own elections and prices. Read online
  • The Great Chronicle of Tours, Anonymous (a canon of Saint-Martin of Tours) (about 1227). The Loire valley's view of the Angevin succession. 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
  • 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
  • History of the Counts of Guines, Lambert of Ardres (about 1196 to 1203, unfinished). A house history of the counts of Guines and lords of Ardres, written while Count Baldwin II and his son Arnold were alive and finishing in 1203. Read online

4 more in the sources library for France and Iberia.

Sources and studies

  1. Philip of Dreux
  2. Beauvais

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