Theobald was son of
Theobald II of Champagne and
Matilda of Carinthia. Although he was the second son, Theobald inherited Blois (including
Chartres), while his elder brother,
Henry got the more important
county of Champagne. Theobald first married Sybil of Chateaurenault, which made him
jure uxoris Lord of Chateaurenault. Next, in 1164, he married
Alix of France, daughter of
Louis VII of France and his first wife
Eleanor of Aquitaine. According to medieval Jewish sources, in 1171 Theobald was responsible for orchestrating the first
blood libel in continental Europe. His alleged Jewish mistress
Pulcelina of Blois unsuccessfully attempted to prevent him. As a result of a church-sponsored trial, 30 or 31 members of the Jewish community were burned at the stake. Theobald lived primarily in Chartres and had its city walls renovated. After joining his brother
Henry and a number of other nobles in opposing the young king
Philip II, he reconciled with the king and supported him on the
Third Crusade. He arrived in the summer of 1190 in the Holy Land and died on 20 January 1191, during the
Siege of Acre. ==Family==