Aimery IV of Thouars, was born in Thouars in 1024 and died in 1093. He was the son of Geoffrey II and Agnes of Blois, daughter of Odo I, count of Blois and Bertha of Burgundy.
11th Viscount of Thouars: 1055 and 1058-1093
He was a man of war, but also a man of culture and knowledge, which was rare at this brutal time.
In 1055 he began to ally with Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou against William, Duke of Normandy, and he participated in the siege of Ambrières, a castle built by William at the border of the County of Maine.
After a stay at Thouars in 1056, he went to assist William VIII of Aquitaine, Duke of Aquitaine (called Guy Geoffroy) to fight against the Saracens in Spain. He participated in the capture of Barbastro and brought a rich booty to his town of Thouars.
At the battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, he commanded an army corps consisting of Poitevins, Bretons and Angevins. Aimery IV would not settle in England, he received in return large sums of money.
Back in Thouars, he rebuilt the castle in 1080. Aimery IV is also Lord of the Chaize (near La Roche sur Yon).
He built a Castle near a church he built and dedicated to saint Nicholas.
In the year 1090 he made war with Pierre de Mortagne and took his castle. Finally he died assassinated by two of his Knights in 1093. He was buried in the Church of Saint Nicolas de La Chaize.
In 1045, he married Aremgarde de Mauléon (v1030-v1070) daughter of Geoffroy de Mauléon and sister of Raoul de Mauléon. Their children:
Aimery (1090)
Raoul (1060-1092) is the stem of the Lords of Mauléon
Eleanor or Eleanor (1050-1093) who married Boson II Viscount of Châtellerault (1050-1092).
Hildegard, wife to 1065 Hugh VI of Lusignan called the devil.
In 1070 he married Ameline. Their children
Herbert II
Geoffroy III
Geoffroy de Thouars, died 1131.