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William III Talvas
William III Talvas (1179-October 4, 1221) was Count of Ponthieu . He was son and heir of John I of Ponthieu .
He was married on August 20, 1195 to Alys, Countess of the Vexin, the daughter of King Louis VII of France. She was some eighteen years older than him, and had previously been the mistress of King Henry II of England while betrothed to his son, King Richard the Lion-Hearted. Richard sent her back to her brother, King Philip II of France, refusing to marry his father's mistress. Philip then arranged for Alys to marry William Talvas, with the intent that the couple would be childless, and he would thusly gain control of Ponthieu, a small but strategically important county. However, Alys then gave birth to a daughter and heiress, Marie , in 1197/1198.
Sources
Monicat, M.J. Recueil des Actes de Philippe Auguste Roi de France , 1996.
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