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Érard III de Chacenay de Chacenay (b. c. 1210, † 1253) was lord of Chacenay in Champagne. He is the son of Erard II of Chacenay, and Emmeline of Broyes.

Biography
Upon the death of his older brother Hugues, he inherited the seigneury of Chacenay.

Seventh Crusade
In 1248 he took part in the seventh Crusade. After leaving Chacenay's guard at Renaud de Grancey, Lord of Larrey, he boarded him with the Royal Army of Saint Louis at Aigues-Mortes, then spent the winter in Cyprus.

On the , he arrived in Damiette, strategic entry to Egypt and participated in the capture of Damiette. The next day, the inhabitants were put to flight, and the Crusaders found the city destroyed.

He was present at the battle of Mansourah and witnessed the fatal attack by Robert d'Artois on Al Mansourah.

He was taken prisoner with King Saint Louis by Muslims at the Battle of Fariskur.

The , the king obtained peace and liberation, as well as that of the crusaders, at the cost of great sacrifices, which caused the end of the crusade.

Érard returned to his land before the end of 1251.

Having no heir, he passed on the seigneury of Chacenay to his sister Alix de Chacenay at his death.

War of Succession of Flanders and Hainaut
In 1246 King Louis IX of France, arbitrator of inheritance rights, giving Flanders to the children of Dampierre, and Hainaut to the children of Avesnes. This seems to have resolved the issue, but in 1253 new problems arose. John the oldest son, of Avesnes being not satisfied with his fate, convinced William II, Count of Holland, king of Germania, his brother-in-law, to seize the Hainaut and the regions of Flanders which are within the limits of the empire.

A civil war followed, which ended with the victory of Avesnes' forces at the Battle of Westkapelle and the imprisonment of Guy de Dampierre, and in which Érard died after fighting alongside his countryman.

Marriage and children
He was not married and has no known offspring.

Related articles
Village of Chacenay
Château de Chacenay
Lords of Chacenay
Seventh Crusade
Taking Damiette
Battle of Mansourah
Battle of Fariskur

Sources
Marie Henry d'Arbois de Jubainville, History of the Dukes and Counts of Champagne, 1865.
Lucien Coutant, Historical and Genealogical Record of the Land and Barony of Chacenay (read online)
Charles Lalore, Les sires et les barons de Chacenay (read online)

Notes and references

Nobility of the Middle Ages in Champagne
History of the Dawn
13th century cross
Personality of the Seventh Crusade
Dart 3