The War of Succession of Champagne (1216–1222): The Struggle Between Blanche of Navarre and Erard de Brienne

The War of Succession of Champagne (1216–1222) arose from a dispute over the rightful rule of the County of Champagne, following the deaths of Henry II of Champagne (1197) and Theobald III (1201). The claimants were:

• Theobald IV of Champagne, the posthumous son of Theobald III and Blanche of Navarre, whose mother acted as regent from his birth.
• Philippa of Champagne, daughter of Henry II of Champagne, and her husband Erard de Brienne-Ramerupt, a noble from Champagne living in the Holy Land.

While Theobald IV’s claim was direct, Erard sought to challenge his right to rule through his wife Philippa, supported by several local barons and outside nobles, including Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine. However, Blanche of Navarre’s political and diplomatic skill proved decisive, ensuring that her son’s rule was eventually secured.

Background: The Origins of the Conflict

1. Henry II of Champagne’s Death and the Succession of Theobald III (1197–1201)

   • Henry II of Champagne died in 1197, leaving behind only daughters, meaning his younger brother, Theobald III, inherited the county.
   • Theobald III died unexpectedly in 1201, leaving his widow, Blanche of Navarre, nine months pregnant with their son, Theobald IV.
   • Theobald IV’s birth made him the rightful heir, but as an infant, his rule was vulnerable to challenges.

2. Blanche of Navarre’s Regency (1201–1216)

   • Blanche acted as regent, proving herself a strong and efficient ruler.
   • Many nobles who might have opposed her departed on the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), giving her time to consolidate her position.
   • She was supported by Queen Mother Adèle of Champagne (aunt of Theobald III), who guided Blanche until her death in 1206.
   • Blanche secured crucial alliances with King Philip II of France and Pope Innocent III, ensuring her son’s legitimacy.

The Succession Dispute and the War (1216–1222)

1. Philippa of Champagne and Erard de Brienne’s Challenge (1215–1216)

   • Philippa married Erard de Brienne-Ramerupt, a nobleman linked to the ruling house of Jerusalem.
   • Encouraged by Erard, Philippa claimed Champagne as her inheritance, arguing that Theobald IV was only a posthumous heir and that her father Henry II had been the rightful count.
   • Erard gathered local Champagne barons to support their claim, creating a rebellion against Blanche and Theobald IV.

2. The Role of Philip II of France and Pope Innocent III

   • Philip II fully supported Blanche and Theobald IV, partly due to Theobald’s bravery at the Battle of Bouvines (1214).
   • Pope Innocent III excommunicated rebel barons, further weakening Erard’s support.

3. Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine, Joins the War (1216–1217)

   • Theobald I of Lorraine, recently released from captivity after fighting at Bouvines on the losing side, sided with Erard de Brienne.
   • However, his suzerain, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, opposed this and viewed it as a felony.
   • Frederick retaliated by occupying Rosheim, a city he had previously granted to Theobald’s father.

The Conclusion of the War (1218–1222)

• By 1218, Erard and Philippa’s forces were weakened by papal and royal opposition.
• In 1222, when Theobald IV reached the age of majority, their remaining supporters abandoned their claims.
• Theobald IV was officially recognized as Count of Champagne, and Erard lost his bid for power.

Impact and Legacy

1. Blanche of Navarre’s Triumph

   • Blanche’s political and diplomatic skill ensured Theobald IV’s succession, making her one of the most successful medieval female rulers.

2. Capetian Influence Strengthened

   • With Philip II’s intervention, Champagne remained closely tied to the French Crown, reinforcing Capetian dominance.

3. Frederick II’s Growing Power

   • The war demonstrated Frederick II’s authority in the Holy Roman Empire, as he punished Theobald I of Lorraine for defying him.

The War of Succession of Champagne (1216–1222) was a pivotal moment in feudal France, showcasing the increasing power of the monarchy and the Church over rebellious nobles while securing the rule of Theobald IV.

Theobald I of Lorraine Retaliates Against Emperor Frederick II (1218 CE)

In 1218, in response to Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II’s occupation of Rosheim, Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine, launched a counteroffensive, retaking the city and ravaging Alsace. This act escalated the ongoing power struggle between the emperor and rebellious regional lords.

Background of the Conflict

• Theobald I had joined the War of Succession of Champagne (1216–1222) in support of Erard de Brienne, who was challenging Theobald IV of Champagne.
• His participation in the war defied Frederick II, who had supported Theobald IV, seeing Erard’s rebellion as a violation of feudal loyalty.
• As punishment, Frederick II occupied Rosheim, a city he had previously granted to Theobald’s father.

Theobald’s Military Response (1218)

• Theobald retook Rosheim by force, demonstrating his continued defiance of the emperor.
• He led a destructive campaign in Alsace, targeting imperial holdings to weaken Frederick’s influence in the region.

Consequences of Theobald’s Offensive

• Frederick II’s authority in Alsace was directly challenged, forcing him to redirect imperial resources to secure the region.
• Theobald’s actions further strained relations with the emperor, making him a persistent adversary of the Hohenstaufens.
• The conflict foreshadowed ongoing resistance by regional lords against Frederick’s efforts to centralize imperial power.

Theobald I’s bold response in 1218, retaking Rosheim and devastating Alsace, marked a significant act of defiance against imperial authority, intensifying the broader struggles between the Holy Roman Emperor and rebellious nobles in the early 13th century.

Josel of Rosheim: Defender and Leader of Alsatian Jewry (c. 1476–1516)

Josel of Rosheim, a prominent rabbinic and communal leader born around 1476 in Haguenau, Alsace, emerged as a pivotal advocate for Jewish rights and protections in early sixteenth-century Europe. A descendant of Jacob ben Jehiel Loans, physician to Emperor Frederick III and Hebrew tutor to the celebrated humanist Johannes Reuchlin, Josel embodied both the possibilities and perils faced by European Jews during this era.

Family Origins and Early Challenges

Josel’s lineage exemplifies the paradoxical condition of Jews at the turn of the sixteenth century. While his ancestor, Jacob ben Jehiel Loans, had enjoyed imperial favor—being ennobled for medical service—Josel's immediate family endured persecution and displacement. In 1470, three of his uncles, including Rabbi Elias, faced accusations of ritual murder in Endingen, reflecting the perilous status of Jews in the Rhineland and Alsace. His father, Gerschon, fled persecution in Oberehnheim (Obernai) in 1476, settling in Haguenau, where Josel was likely born that same year.

Early Leadership and Advocacy (c. 1507–1510)

From early adulthood, Josel balanced multiple roles as rabbi, merchant, and moneylender. His early advocacy was evident around 1507, during the expulsion of Jews from Colmar, when he effectively intervened with imperial authorities to prevent a similar fate for the Jewish community in Oberehnheim. Drawing on the Roman legal concept of "civibus Romanis," Josel argued persuasively that Jews deserved equal rights of participation in markets alongside Christians.

Recognizing his commitment and effectiveness, in 1510 the Jewish communities of Lower Alsace appointed Josel as their parnas u-manhig ("sworn guide and leader"), initially sharing this responsibility with Rabbi Zadoc Parnas. His leadership involved both communal administration—enacting regulations and enforcing religious discipline through excommunication (cherem)—and diplomatic advocacy before imperial authorities.

Imprisonment and Relocation to Rosheim (1514–1515)

Josel’s activism placed him personally at risk. In 1514, while residing in Mittelbergheim, he was falsely accused, along with other local Jews, of profaning the consecrated host—a common medieval accusation against Jewish communities. After several months of imprisonment, he was vindicated, prompting his relocation to the town of Rosheim in Alsace, where he would remain for the rest of his life.

Imperial Advocacy and the Safe-Conduct of 1515–1516

In 1515–1516, Josel decisively intervened to protect the Jewish community of Oberehnheim once more. Appealing directly to Emperor Maximilian I, Josel personally presented the grievances of his coreligionists. His diplomatic efforts proved successful: Maximilian issued a special imperial safe-conduct, significantly easing persecution and providing the community temporary respite from ongoing harassment.

Historical Significance and Legacy

Josel’s early successes laid the foundation for his lifelong role as a tireless advocate for Jewish rights. Through persistent diplomacy, skillful negotiation, and effective invocation of legal precedents, Josel became a powerful figure in Jewish-European relations. His leadership reflected both Jewish resilience amid persecution and the complex interactions between Jewish communities and imperial authorities in Renaissance Europe.

Josel’s actions in Alsace during these formative years set the stage for his later prominence and the broader Jewish struggle for recognition and justice in the Holy Roman Empire. His persistent advocacy during a period marked by intense hostility and shifting political landscapes underscores the historical significance of his leadership and diplomatic acumen in early modern European Jewish history.

In 1520, Josel of Rosheim, the influential leader and advocate for German Jewry, becomes keenly aware of the precarious and increasingly vulnerable position of Jewish communities caught between competing imperial, municipal, and Christian religious authorities.

Demonstrating exceptional diplomatic skill, Josel finds influential listeners at the court of the newly crowned Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who himself seeks to strengthen imperial oversight of Jewish affairs. Shortly after Charles’s coronation in Germany, Josel seizes the initiative and presents to the emperor a carefully argued memorandum that effectively counters widespread allegations claiming the Jews to be allies of the expanding Ottoman Empire. His persuasive arguments prove decisive, successfully averting the implementation of proposed anti-Jewish measures.

Charles, who demonstrates a generally protective attitude toward the Jews under his rule, notably refrains from levying the customary coronation tax usually imposed on Jewish communities. Seizing on this favorable atmosphere, Josel takes further steps to reduce anti-Jewish hostility by attempting to persuade the imperial government that the Jewish population is uniformly committed to improving relations with their Christian rulers.

To substantiate this claim, Josel organizes an unprecedented assembly, convening representatives from Jewish communities throughout Germany. The resolutions from this assembly, addressing Jewish business practices and community relations, are then formally submitted to the Diet of Augsburg for approval, representing a significant and strategic effort to solidify official recognition and protection of Jewish rights and interests.

Josel of Rosheim and the Defense of Alsatian Jews (1525)

Josel of Rosheim, a prominent advocate for Jewish communities in Germany, repeatedly interceded effectively with King Ferdinand, brother of Emperor Charles V, securing protections for Jews in Bohemia and Moravia. His diplomatic skills and extensive political connections made him indispensable during crises, particularly amid the upheaval of the German Peasants' War in 1525.

Negotiations and Persuasion during the Peasants' War

During the widespread violence and looting that characterized the uprising in Alsace, Josel skillfully negotiated with representatives of the insurgent peasantry, combining careful persuasion with strategic bribery. He successfully secured a promise that the town of Rosheim, home to a significant Jewish community, would be the last town pillaged.

When peasant forces, heavily laden with booty from previous attacks, finally arrived at Rosheim’s gates, two leading Protestant reformers, Wolfgang Capito and Martin Bucer (Butzer), attempted but failed to convince the peasants to spare the city. Josel, however, undertook lengthy and skillful negotiations, ultimately persuading the peasant forces to withdraw without harming the town or its Jewish residents.

Contrasts and Consequences

The successful defense of Rosheim starkly contrasted with events in the region of Sundgau, where peasants expelled the Jewish communities from the towns entirely. Josel’s successful intervention thus highlighted both the precarious vulnerability of Jewish communities during the Peasants' War and the significance of strong, persuasive communal leadership.

Long-term Significance

Josel’s defense of Rosheim demonstrated the critical role played by individual advocates in safeguarding minority communities during periods of intense social unrest. His actions established a precedent for future advocacy, positioning him as a central figure in the protection and representation of German Jewry throughout the early Reformation period.

Charles V Reconfirms Jewish Privileges (1530)

In 1530, Emperor Charles V reconfirms the privileges he had previously granted to the Jewish communities within the Holy Roman Empire, notably responding to the advocacy of Josel of Rosheim, a prominent Alsatian Jewish leader and diplomat. Josel has become a respected figure at Charles's court, effectively countering rising anti-Jewish sentiments fueled by Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.

Recognizing Josel’s diplomatic influence and persuasive arguments, Charles not only renews legal protections and freedoms for the Jewish populations but also explicitly defends their status and presence against Luther’s increasingly harsh anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Broader Significance and Context

This reaffirmation demonstrates Charles V’s willingness to maintain traditional imperial protections for minorities within his territories, in spite of intensifying religious tensions. It also highlights the influential role of Josel of Rosheim, whose diplomatic skills secure significant legal and social safeguards for Jewish communities amid the turbulent climate of the early Reformation.