Gervais de Château-du-Loir

Who was Gervais de Château-du-Loir?

Gervais de Château-du-Loir was a French nobleman, bishop, and a powerful figure of his time in Northern France. He was Bishop of Le Mans from 1036, and Archbishop of Reims from 1055.

His father was Amon de Château-du-Loir., his mother Hildeburge de Bellême, daughter of Yves de Bellême. His uncle Avesgaud de Bellême, Bishop of Le Mans raised Gervais and groomed him to succeed to the Bishopric of Le Mans. He was a strong supporter of the family of Blois, and opposed to the Angevins, at one point he had to seek refuge at the court of William, Duke of Normandy. Henry I appointed him Archbishop of Reims in 1055. As Archbishop, he crowned Philip I of France in 1059. Philip's father Henry I of France was then alive, but died in 1060. Gervais was then regent, with Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, until 1066. Gervais died in 1067 and was buried in Reims Cathedral.