William IX is best known as the first troubadour – a vernacular lyric poet from the Occitan region – whose work survived. He is also remembered as one of the leaders of the Crusade of 1101.

He is my 23 x great-grandfather.

He was born in Aquitaine, France, on 22 October 1071, son of William VIII of Aquitaine and Hildegarde of Burgundy^{1 2}.

Titles

In 1086, William succeeded his father as William, IX Duke of Aquitaine¹, and William, VII Count of Poitou¹.

Family

In 1089 William married Ermengarde d’Anjou and divorced her a year later¹.

In 1094, William IX married Phillipa Mathilda, Duchess consort of Toulouse^{1 2 3}. Together they had six children^{1 3}:

• William of Aquitaine, who was the father of Eleanor of Aquitaine who married King Henry II of England.
• Agnes, who married Ramiro II, King of Aragon and Navarre.
• Four unnamed daughters.

William took Amauberge, wife of the Viscount of Châtellerault, as his mistress¹. Together they had two children, who were probably illegitimate:

• Raymond of Poitiers
• Henri, who is only mentioned in one document referring to his brother’s marriage in Antioch.

Philippa left him after his affairs and they divorced in 1115¹.

Notable events

In 1088, Philippa’s father had left on pilgrimage leaving Toulouse in the hands of his brother, Raymond of Saint-Gilles³. By 1094, Philippa was due to inherit Toulouse when her father died³. Her uncle refused to acknowledge her claim as her father’s heir³. It’s possible Philippa married William to have an ally help her get Toulouse back. When Raymond left for a Crusade in 1096 his son, Bertrand, took over as Count of Toulouse³. William and Philippa invaded two years later and took Toulouse without fighting any battles³.

Eventually, William led a Crusade in 1101⁴.

In 1113, Bertrand died allowing William IX to take Toulouse back. Philippa moved back to Toulouse to be able to properly take care of her land. When she returned to Poitiers she was horrified to discover William IX had installed his mistress in the matrimonial home.

In total, William was excommunicated twice. The first time was because he didn’t pay his church taxes in time and he demanded absolution from the bishop by threatening to kill him. The second time was because he took Amauberge, wife of the Viscount of Châtellerault, as his mistress¹.

We have one quotation of William’s which has survived the sands of time⁵

“God let me live long enough to get my hands under her cloak!”

William, IX Duke of Aquitaine

Troubadour

William’s greatest legacy was as a troubadour using Provencal or Occitan¹. He is the earliest troubadour we have evidence for and there is an argument to be made that he may have started the tradition⁶.

Here is one of his compositions called, “I will compose [a song], and then sleep”

There are some more songs, and music, of his which is available. The lyrics are all in Occitane and influences from early Latin are clear. For more 11th century music:

• Companho Tant Ai Agut D’avols Conres performed by Brice Duisit on RTE FM’s Vox Nostra (Episode 14 January 2024).
• Pos De Chantar M’es Pres Talens performed by Brice Duisit on RTE FM’s Vox Nostra (Episode 4 February 2024).
• Postlude Instrumental performed by Brice Duisit on RTE FM’s Vox Nostra (Episode 4 February 2024).

Death

He died in Aquitaine, France, on 10 February 1126 after suffering an unknown illness¹. It is not known where they buried him.

Lineage

He is my 23 x great-grandfather.

1. Dukes of Aquitaine; Charles Cawley; Medieval Lands; (Retrieved 2023-10-17) [↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
2. Two thousand years one hundred generations again; Robert Page; p67; ISBN 9781446193990[↩][↩]
3. Philippa of Toulouse; Columbia.edu; (Retrieved 2023-10-17) [↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
4. Dukes of Aquitaine; Charles Cawley; Medieval Lands; (Retrieved 2019-10-22) [↩]
5. The Tudors in Love; Sarah Gristwood. St Martin’s Press[↩]
6. The Chivalrous Melodies and Colorful Lives of the Medieval Troubadours; Robbie Mitchell; Ancient Origins; 2024-01-14[↩]