Biography.guide
Home › People › Feudatory › William I, Count of Boulogne
Portrait of William I, Count of Boulogne

William I, Count of Boulogne

1135 – 1159

English noble

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About William I, Count of Boulogne

Lived 1135 – 1159 (aged 23–24). William I, Count of Boulogne was an English feudatory.

William I ( 1137 – 11 October 1159) , also referred to as William of Blois, was Count of Boulogne and Earl of Surrey jure uxoris from 1153 until his death. He was the second son of Stephen, King of England, and Matilda I, Countess of Boulogne.

William married Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey, in 1148. In 1153, Stephen agreed to pass over William's elder brother Eustace IV of Boulogne as heir to the throne, conceding the succession to Henry Plantagenet, son of his cousin and rival Empress Matilda. Eustace died shortly afterwards and when his father signed the Treaty of Wallingford, William received the lands intended for both brothers, making him immensely rich. The treaty ended the Anarchy, a succession struggle between Stephen and Matilda of which both sides were growing weary.

Stephen died in 1154, and Henry initially allowed William to retain the earldom of Surrey jure uxoris (in right of his wife). However, Gervase of Canterbury asserts a plot against Henry's life was discovered in 1154 among some Flemish mercenaries. The plan was to assassinate Henry in Canterbury, and allegedly William had knowledge of this plot or was in connivance with the mercenaries. Whatever the truth, William fled Canterbury and returned to Normandy.

William had no children. He died in 1159 of disease near Toulouse, and was buried at the Poitevin abbey of Montmorel . He was succeeded in his county by his sister Marie I. His widow remarried to Henry's half-brother Hamelin.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1135
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
William of Boulogne de Blois, 4th Earl of Surrey

People in William I, Count of Boulogne's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William I, Count of Boulogne's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William I, Count of Boulogne?

English noble

When was William I, Count of Boulogne born?

William I, Count of Boulogne was born in 1135.

When did William I, Count of Boulogne die?

William I, Count of Boulogne died on 11 October 1159 in Toulouse.

What was William I, Count of Boulogne's occupation?

William I, Count of Boulogne was a feudatory.

What nationality was William I, Count of Boulogne?

William I, Count of Boulogne was English.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William I, Count of Boulogne

· Wikidata: Q456846

· DBpedia: William I of Boulogne

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William I, Count of Boulogne. https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-boulogne/

MLA: "William I, Count of Boulogne." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-boulogne/.

Chicago: "William I, Count of Boulogne." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-boulogne/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:32 UTC