BLOIS

blois, countship of. from 865 to about 940 the countship of blois was one of those which were held in fee by the margrave of neustria, robert the strong, and by his successors, the abbot hugh, odo (or eudes), robert ii. and hugh the great. it then passed, about 940 and for nearly three centuries, to a new family of counts, whose chiefs, at first vassals of the dukes of france, hugh the great and hugh capet, became in 987, by the accession of the capetian dynasty to the throne of france, the direct vassals of the crown. these new counts were orjginally very powerful. with the countship of blois they united, from 940 to 1044, that of touraine, and from about 950 to 1218, and afterwards from 1269 to 1286, the countship of chartres remained in their possession. the counts of blois of the house of the theobalds (thibauds) began with theobald i., the cheat, who became count about 940. he was succeeded by his son, odo (eudes) i., about 975. theobald ii., eldest son of odo i., became count in 996, and was succeeded by odo ii., younger son of odo