Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy

Coucy Castle, watercolor, c. 1820 (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)

Enguerrand III de Boves, Lord of Coucy (c. 1182 – 1242) was a medieval French nobleman. The eldest son and successor of Ralph I, Lord of Coucy (c. 1134 – 1191) and , he succeeded as Lord of Coucy (sieur de Couci) in 1191, and held it until his death; he was also lord of Marle and Boves.

Biography Enguerrand III was born in Marle, Picardy, France. He became one of the most ambitious and powerful of all the French nobles, called by one historian "the greatest baron in all Picardy", and earning himself his epithet, Enguerrand le Grand, or Enguerrand "the Great".

Enguerrand had an illustrious military career, helping King Philip II of France reduce the French territories of the King of England. Enguerrand campaigned in Anjou in 1205, and in 1214, fought in the French victory over an Anglo-German alliance at the Battle of Bouvines led by Philip II Augustus. His arms at Bouvines were blazoned: Barry of six vair and gules. He was a notable member of the French force which invaded the Kingdom of England (1216–1217) to depose King John. He also participated in the Albigensian Crusade.

After the death of King Louis VIII of France, Enguerrand was chief among the nobles who resisted the regency of Blanche of Castile for her son Louis IX of France, although he eventually returned to the royal favor. Enguerrand made his mark on the Picardy landscape by constructing Coucy Castle.

Enguerrand is said by tradition to have started the famous rhyme associated with his successors:

Je suis ni roi, ni prince, ni comte aussi:Je suis le sire de Coucy! I am not king nor prince nor count either:I am the Sire of Coucy!

Relations Through his mother Alix de Dreux, Enguerrand III was related to King Louis IX of France. Enguerrand also married into the family of King Henry III of England, taking as his second wife the latter king's cousin, who was the granddaughter of King Henry II of England.

He married three times.

His first wife was Beatrice de Vignory, At the end of the 12th century, Enguerrand built the original Château de Condé in Condé, Picardy, constructed as a "keep" which had 2 meters thick walls and towering chimneys. Enguerrand and Marie had five children: Raoul II, Lord of Coucy, married Philippe of Dammartin, the daughter of Simon of Dammartin, Count of Ponthieu.

In 1242, Enguerrand III died by falling off of his horse onto his sword at Coucy, Picardy. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Raoul II.