Hervé IV of Donzy

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Hervé IV of Donzy (1173– 22 January 1222Template:Sfn) was a French nobleman and participant in the Fifth Crusade. By marriage in 1200 to Mahaut de Courtenay (1188–1257),Template:Sfn daughter of Peter II of Courtenay, he became Count of Nevers.Template:Sfn

In a dispute over the château de Gien with Peter of Courtenay, Hervé came to a settlement in 1199, having defeated and captured his overlord Peter at Cosne-sur-Loire.Template:Sfn After Peter's death in 1219, he became Count of Auxerre and Tonnerre also;Template:Sfn with Philip II, Marquis of Namur and Robert de Courtenay contesting Auxerre. He acquired Liernais also, in 1210.

Hervé and his countess were active in developing the Nivernais, his lands around Donzy adjoining the Nivernais and Burgundy. In 1209 they founded a Carthusian abbey at Template:Ill.Template:Sfn He reconstructed the château Musard, Billy-sur-Oisy, around 1212–5. The priory at Beaulieu was founded in 1214.

In 1204–05 Hervé supported the French against the English in fighting in Normandy, Poitou and Touraine,Template:Sfn and in 1209 would take part in the Albigensian Crusade.Template:Sfn In 1214 he took part in the Battle of Bouvines, on the side of King John of England,Template:Sfn later with John's intervention Hervé would obtain King Philip's pardon.Template:Sfn In 1217 he would be involved in the French invasion of England.Template:Sfn

His death, at Saint-Aignan, has been attributed to poisoning.Template:Sfn

Family

The daughter of Hervé and Mahaut,

• Agnès de Donzy (1205–1225),Template:Sfn married in 1217 Philippe de France, eldest son of the future Louis VIII of France.Template:Sfn Philippe died the following year. Agnès then married Count Guy II of Saint-Pol (died 1226).Template:Sfn They had three children, including Yolande I.Template:Sfn

Following Hervé's death in 1222, Mahaut married Guigues IV of Forez in 1226.Template:Sfn