General Notes

1  NAME Fulk III /Nera/
1  BIRT
2  DATE ABT. 970
FIMA pp 70, 72, 76, 111 "FULK Nerra of Anjou and Robert, duke of Normand
y, both set out on this perilous journey [crusade], taking leave of the
ir frirends and families as if they were close to death."
pc 19 "FULK NERRA (987-1040), violent, charismatic and cruel, and a mast
er of strategic castle-building"
p 24-8 "Fulk Nerra, ever a friend to God-fearing souls and a young m
an of no mean spirit, bravely set out to defend his land from its many ene
mies, for wars always break out quickly against a new ruler. On
the advice of that scoundrel Landry lord of Chateaudun, Odo II, count of B
lois and of Champagne and Gelduin lord of Saumur tried to expel Fulk fr
om Touraine, imagining that the counts of Amboise and Loches would help th
em.  Landry pointed out to them that the time was ripe for Sulpice the tre
asurer of St Martin's abbey at Tours had lost his brother recently, and w
as ruling Amboise for the count single-handedly. Our stout-hearted hero d
id not delay in preparing the enemy's defeat nor flinch from exposing hims
elf to danger.  He gathered together the largest army he could and bold
ly invaded the land of his enemies, marching past Blois to reach Chateaudu
n.
The inhabitants of that place girded their city well with rings of so
ldiers and, protected by their arms, they made ready for battle in the man
ner of defenders of a camp.  Quickly crowding together, they attacked t
he count and his men.  The Angevins held off their repeated attacks unt
il evening but, when they attempted to retreat, were unable to avoid the t
hrong of attackers because the men of Chateaudun were pressing on them fr
om behind, even as they yielded. When the count's army could toil no longe
r, neither to withdraw nor to check their opponents,  the encircled men ve
ntured to return step by step and
fight them. With the men of Amboise forcing their way ahead, the Angevi
ns attacked on every side and enclosed and overcame the enemy. The m
en of Chateaudun were seized by fear and, falling out of formation, to
ok to their heels. But the battle continued, and the count pursued them in
to their own camp, capturing many of the populace and putting others to t
he sword.  That night,  the Angevins were able to rest there, guarding t
he two hundred knights who had been taken prisoner and bound with other ca
ptives. They pillaged the lands round about on the next day and brought ru
in upon those who tilled the earth. Drunk with the )oy of victory, they re
turned to Amboise three days later.
At Amboise, the count besieged the stronghold of Landry. So ferocious
ly did his men gather to
storm that man's house that they struck desperation into the hearts of tho
se resisting. Knowing that they could not hold out and that if captured th
ey would be unable to avoid the punishment of death they deserved, the bes
ieged began to negotiate through envoys to surrender the stronghold to t
he count in return for their lives. When this was considered, it seemed go
od to everyone that such a great peril should be removed without dang
er to the attackers. And so the besieged were spared, the stronghold utter
ly destroyed and Landry and his men expelled from their encampment.
After this, the count crossed the Loire and sayed at a dwelling he h
ad reinforced, known as Caramantum in years gone by, though now coalled Mo
raud; then to Semblancay, where he had also strengthened the defences, a
nd through the land of his vassal and friend, Hugh of Alluyes, who was lo
rd of Chateau-la-Valliere and of Saint-Christophe.  He entered Vallee a
nd descended freely to Angers, despite the wishes of the people of Tour
s.  Indeed, he took control of Mirebeau, Loudun, Chinon (which had been he
ld by Odo) Saumur and Montsoreau, from which he frequently fought the m
en of I'lle-
Bouchard, before he returned to Loches through the territory of Guennon, l
ord of Nouatre.  To complete his d