The Rise of Fulk V of Anjou and the Marriage Alliance with Maine (1109–1110 CE)

Fulk V of Anjou, born between 1089 and 1092, was the son of Count Fulk IV ("Fulk the Surly") and Bertrade de Montfort. His mother’s controversial bigamous marriage to King Philip I of France in 1092 had drawn condemnation from the Church and strained Angevin-Capetian relations. However, despite this family scandal, Fulk V inherited the County of Anjou in 1109 following the death of his father, embarking on a rule that would restore Angevin authority and expand its influence in Western France.

Marriage to Erembourg and the Securing of Maine (1110 CE)

In 1110, Fulk V strengthened his position by marrying Erembourg of Maine, the heiress to the strategically vital County of Maine. This union cemented Angevin control over the region, ensuring that Maine remained firmly aligned with Anjou, rather than falling under Norman or Capetian influence.

The marriage had profound consequences for the balance of power in France:

• It consolidated Angevin power, giving Fulk V a stronger base from which to challenge Henry I of England in the struggle for Normandy.
• It antagonized Henry I, who had long sought to dominate Maine as a buffer between Normandy and Anjou.
• It deepened Angevin ties to France, as Fulk's marital alliance placed him in closer alignment with King Louis VI, who also opposed Henry I.

Fulk’s assertive leadership and strategic alliances would make Anjou a major force in Atlantic West Europe, setting the stage for further conflicts between the Angevins, Normans, and Capetians in the decades to come.