Louis I, Count of Loon

Louis I, Count of Loon

The castle of the Counts of Loon in Brustem
Spouse(s) Agnes of Metz
Noble family House of Loon
Father Arnold II, Count of Loon
Mother Agnes
Born after 1107
Died 11 August 1171(1171-08-11)
Chapel of the infirmary in Borgloon

Louis I, Count of Loon (Looz) (after 1107 11 August 1171) was the fifth Count of Loon. He ruled from 1139 until his death.

Life

He was the son of Arnold II, Count of Looz, and his wife Adeide. Frequently, Louis' mother is identified as Agnes, which causes some confusion as both his wife and daughter were of that name.

He was vogt of Averbode Abbey. In 1154, he donated Laethof Manor (also known as the Bolderberg winning) to the abbey. The manor is now park in Heusden-Zolder, named domein Bovy, after Joseph Bovy, a governor of Limburg province who lived at the manor for a while.

He constructed a castle in Brustem (now part of Sint-Truiden). In 1155, he inherited the County of Rieneck from his brother Gerhard.

Louis married Agnes of Metz (c.1114 c.1175/1180), the daughter of Folmar V, Count of Metz, and Matilda of Dagsburg, the heiress of Longwy. Agnes commissioned Hendrik van Veldeke to write his "Life of Saint Servatius". Louis I served as burgrave of Metz from 1159 to 1162. Via his wife, he also had a claim on the Duchy of Luxembourg, however, he could not realize this claim.

In 1171, Louis attempted to conquer the County of Duras. However, Gilles, Count of Duras, called in the help of the citizens of Sint-Truiden and together they defeated Louis' army. Louis died during this battle, on 11 August 1171. He was buried in the chapel of the infirmary in Borgloon. His grave can still be found there.

Issue

Louis and Agnes had the following children:

Louis was succeeded as Count of Loon by his son Gerard II.

Louis I, Count of Loon
House of Loon
Born: after 1107 Died: 11 August 1171
Preceded by
Arnold II
Count of Loon
1139–1171
Succeeded by
Gerhard

Sources

Baerten, J. (1965), "Les origines des comtes de Looz et la formation territoriale du comté", Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire 43 (2), 1965

Medieval Lands Project, Comtes de Looz


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