Theobald was the younger son of Henry I of Champagne and Marie, a daughter of Louis VII of France. He succeeded as count of Champagne in 1197 upon the death of his older brother Henry II.
In 1198, Pope Innocent III called the Fourth Crusade. There was little enthusiasm for the crusade at first, but in 1199 various nobles of France gathered at Theobald's court for a tournament, including the preacher Fulk of Neuilly. There, they "took the cross," and elected Theobald their leader, but he died the next year and was replaced by Boniface of Montferrat.
Theobald married Blanche of Navarre, and was succeeded by his posthumous son by Blanche, Theobald IV. She was to rule as regent for the following 21 years, during which the succession was contested by Theobald's nieces.
Champagne evolved from the county of Troyes in the late eleventh century and Hugues of Champagne was the first to officially use the title "Count of Champagne".
Theobald I, Count of Troyes (or Thibaud) (1066–1089), son of Odo II Odo III, Count of Troyes (1089–1093), son of Theobald I
Theobald II (or Thibaud) (1125–1152), nephew to Hugh and son of Stephen of Blois and Adela, daughter of William "The Conqueror"
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