Count Foulques III the Black of Anjou
- Born: 21 Jun 967, Anjou, France
- Marriage: Hildegarde of Lorraine
- Died: 21 Jun 1040, Metz, France at age 73
 General Notes:
Born: 979
Marriage: (1): Unknown
Marriage: (2): Hildegard of Lorraine
Died: 21 Jun 1040, Metz, France at age 61
Other names for Fulk were Fulco and Fulk III Nerra.
General Notes:
Fulk The Black, French Foulques Le Noir count of Anjou (987–1040), the most powerful of the early rulers of the Angevin dynasty. Exposed at first to the attacks of the counts of Brittany, Fulk had to fight for a long time to defend his frontiers, finally driving the Bretons back beyond the frontiers of Anjou. Having made himself master in the west, he turned his attention to the east and came into conflict with the count of Blois, Eudes II, over the territory of Saumur and a considerable part of Touraine. He defeated Eudes at Pontlevoy in 1016 and surprised and took Saumur 10 years later. A ruthless warrior who burned and pillaged the monasteries in his path, Fulk nevertheless felt the need for penance, making three pilgrimages to the Holy Land and founding or restoring several abbeys, including those in or near Angers, Loches, and Saumur. He also built strongly fortified castles of stone (instead of wood) along the border of his territory. For this reason he was called le Grand Bâtisseur (“the Great Builder”). He died on his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, having reigned 53 years. His first marriage was with Elisabeth of Vendîme.
Research Notes:
His year of birth is also recorded as ca 970.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: Count of Anjou, 987.
Foulques married Hildegarde of Lorraine. (Hildegarde of Lorraine was born in 964 in Anjou, France and died on 1 Apr 1046 in Jerusalem.)
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