Hugues III du Puiset

Hugh III, Seigneur of Le Puiset (French: Hugues III du Puiset) (d. 1132 in Palestine), son of Éverard III, Seigneur of Puiset and Viscount of Chartres, and Adelaide, Countess of Corbeil. Count of Corbel. Hugh's father took part in the First Crusade and died in Palestine in 1099 while Hugh was still a child. His uncle Hugh II was regent of Puiset before going to the Holy Land in 1106, becoming Count of Jaffa (as Hugh I of Jaffa). Hugh was tutored by Theobald of Étampes, a 12th-century scholar and theologian who was one of the first lecturers at Oxford. As Lord of Puiset, he oppressed and plundered neighboring lands, sparing neither churches nor monasteries. With impunity and wanting to increase his fortune, he attacked the county of Chartres, which was then in the dowry of his future mother-in-law Adela of Normandy, mother of Theobald II, Count of Champagne. The latter tried to send troops subdue the turbulent vassal, but without success. He then appealed to King Louis VI. The king summoned a council in Melun, where the Archbishop of Sens and the bishops of Orleans and Chartres testified against Hugh. Since the charges were powerful, the king decided to intervene, but knowing that Hugh had a powerful army, he proceeded with caution. In 1111, Louis summoned Hugh to his court, but the latter refrained from appearing and was condemned by default. Meanwhile, with the consent of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, he had a fortress built at Toury, close to Le Puiset, administered by his secretary Suger. When the work was finished, the royal host was summoned and laid siege to the Puiset fortress. Hugh was unable to resist, the castle was taken and set on fire, and the lord was captured and imprisoned at Château-Landon.