During the revolt of 1091, which installed his cousin
Hugh V of Maine as count, Elias supported him, taking over the castle of
Ballon, and imprisoning
Hoel, bishop of Le Mans, at his castle of
La Flèche. Hugh was finally unable to build a sustainable position in the county, and sold it to Elias for 10,000 shillings in 1092. After some peaceful years, he declared for the crusade in 1096, but later decided not to go, since
William Rufus let him know that he planned to retake Maine. There was a first round of conflict in February–April 1098, where
Robert of Bellême played a key role as William's ally. After some initial successes against Robert, Elias was captured and imprisoned (28 April 1098). At this point, Count
Fulk IV of Anjou, whose son Geoffrey was engaged to Elias's daughter
Eremburga, intervened, entering Le Mans. William started campaigning again in June, obtained the surrender of the castle of Ballon but was unable to take Le Mans. An unsuccessful Angevin attack on Ballon allowed William to take many prisoners and force a peace treaty. By its terms, Elias was released, but Maine remained under William's control. Elias was unhappy with the outcome, and there was a fallout between him and William. Elias's wife Matilda died in March 1099, and soon afterwards, he resumed the war against William, besieging Le Mans. The ensuing hostilities burned the city, but the Norman garrison resisted in the forts. A quick and strong intervention by William forced Elias's retreat, but William could not press his advantage, since he was unable to take Mayet, where Elias's troops made a stand. After William's death in 1100, Elias and Fulk took over Le Mans and expelled the Norman garrison, which surrendered after not obtaining help either from the Duke
Robert Curthose or King
Henry Beauclerc. It is likely that Henry surrendered his claims to Maine in exchange for Elias's support, since from this point on Elias supported the king in almost all his regional conflicts. In the king's conflict with Robert Curthose, he led a sizable Manceaux contingent in the campaign of 1105, was present at the siege of Bayeux, and was a crucial ally at the decisive
Battle of Tinchebray in 1106, where he commanded the Manceaux/Breton infantry which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. The only exception was his abrupt withdrawal at the siege of
Falaise. After Elias' death, the county of Maine passed to his daughter Eremburga and her husband, Fulk V of Anjou. ==Family==