Guitier, Count of Rethel

Guitier (Ithier) of Rethel, son of Odo of Vitry and Matilda, Countess of Rethel, (sister to Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem). Count of Rethel, succeeding his mother. [His father is named as count but it is not clear that he ever served.] Châtelain de Vitry. In March 1129, Guitier travelled to the Holy Land although it is not clear if he participated in the Crusade of that year.

Guitier married Beatrix of Namur, daughter of Godfrey I, Count of Namur, and Erminside. Guitier and Beatrix had eleven children:

• Beatrix de Rethel (1130-30 March 1185), married Roger II, King of Sicily
• Jean de Rethel (d. after 1144)
• Manasses de Rethel (d. after 1144)
• Hugues de Rethel (d. after 1166), monk at Reims
• Manasses IV, Count of Rethel
• Henri de Rethel (d. 1191), Châtelain de Vitry
• Baudouin de Rethel (d. 1198 or after), Seigneur de Chemery
• Albert de Rethel (d. 1213 or after), Archdeacon at Liège
• Simon de Rethel
• Clemence de Rethel (d. after 1190), married Hugh of Pierrepont, Bishop of Liège
• Unnamed daughter, married Geoffroy, Vidame de Châlons.

Upon his death, he was succeeded as Count of Rethel by his son Manasses.

Sources

Riley-Smith, Johathan, The First Crusaders, 1095-1131, Cambridge University Press, London, 1997

Medieval Lands Project, Comtes de Rethel, Châtelain de Vitry