Gervais de Château-du-Loir

Gervais de Château-du-Loir (1007–1067) 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.

Sketch of Gervais's episcopal ring

• France portal

His father was Aimon de Château-du-Loir,^[1] whilst his mother was Hildeburge de Bellême, daughter of Yves de Bellême.^[2] His maternal uncle, Avesgaud de Bellême, Bishop of Le Mans,^[3] raised Gervais and groomed him to succeed to the Bishopric of Le Mans.^[1] 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.^[4] Henry I appointed him Archbishop of Reims in 1055.^[1] 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.^[1] Gervais died in 1067 and was buried in Reims Cathedral.^[1]