Eudes III, Duke of Burgundy

Eudes III of Burgundy (1166 – July 6 1218) was duke of Burgundy between 1192 and 1218. Eudes was the eldest son of duke Hugh III and his first wife Alice, daughter of Matthias I, Duke of Lorraine. He was married twice, first to Teresa, princess of Portugal, daughter of king Afonso I of Portugal, then to Alice of Vergy.

Eudes did not follow his father's aggressive policies towards France and proved a worthy ally of king Philip II of France in his wars against John Lackland and the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV of Germany. He fought bravely against the latter in the Battle of Bouvines, where he lost, according to contemporary chroniclers, two horses beneath him. Eudes was also an important figure in the Crusade against the Cathars. When Philip II refused to get involved, the Duke of Burgundy stepped forward with the support of the local bishops and his vassals and organized the campaign of 1209 against the Cathar strongholds. From 1216 to 1222 he helped Philip II of France and Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor to bring an end to the War of Succession in Champagne.

Marriages and Issue

He married in 1194 Teresa of Portugal (1156-1218), the daughter of Alphonso I of Portugal, and Maud of Savoy, and the widow of Philip, Count of Flanders. She was repudiated in 1195, having produced no children.

In 1199, he married Alice of Vergy (1182-1252), the daughter of Hugues, Seigneur de Vergy by Gillette de Trainel. This marriage produced:

Jeanne (1200-1223), married Raoul II of Lusignan (died 1250), Seigneur d'Issoudun and Count of Eu.
Alix (1204-1266) married Robert I (died 1262) Count of Clermont et Dauphin of Auvergne
Hugh IV (1213-1272), his successor in the Duchy
Béatrice (born 1216), married Humbert III of Thoire (died 1279)