William of Blois (c.1137-October 11, 1159) was Count of Boulogne (1153-1159) and Earl of Surrey (1153-1159). He was the second son of King Stephen of England and Matilda of Boulogne. October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in Leap years). ... Events Heiji Rebellion in Tunis is conquered by the Almohad caliphs. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer became the centre of the County of Boulogne in the 9th century. ... The Earldom of Surrey was first created in 1088 for William de Warenne. ... Stephen (1096 - October 25, 1154), the last Norman King of England, reigned from 1135 to 1154, when he was succeeded by his cousin (or, as the gossip of the time had it, his natural son) Henry II, the first of the Angevin or Plantagenet Kings. ... Matilda of Bolougne (1105 - May 3, 1152), also nicknamed Maud, was queen consort of England, the wife of King Stephen. ...

When his elder brother, Eustace IV of Boulogne, died in 1153, William was passed over in the succession to England. His father instead conceded the throne to the young Henry Plantagenet. The new King Henry was quite generous in his treatment of William of Blois, confirming his possession of the Earldom of Surrey jure uxoris (in right of his wife). Eustace IV (c. ... Henry II of England, depicted in Cassells History of England, Century Edition, published circa 1902 Henry II (March 25, 1133–July 6, 1189), ruled as Duke of Anjou and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. ...

However, Gervase of Canterbury asserts a plot against Henry's life was discovered in 1154 among some Flemish mercenaries. The plan was to assassinate Henry in Canterbury, and allegedly William of Blois had knowledge of this plot or was in connivance with the mercenaries. Whatever the truth, Henry fled Canterbury and returned to Normandy.

William of Blois had married Isabella de Warenne, Countess of Surrey in her own right, in 1148. They had no children before his death in 1159. He was succeeded as Count of Boulogne by his sister Marie. His widow remarried to Hamelin Plantagenet. Hamelin de Warenne (d. ...

Annals of Monte Fernando 1159: "Ob. Willelmus comes Bolonie."

Arms: Gules, three palets vair, on a chief or, an eagle displayed gules membered azure.

Sources

• Davis, R.H. King Stephen, 1967

Eustace IV (c. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer became the centre of the County of Boulogne in the 9th century. ...