Renard II of Choiseul

Renard II of Choiseul
Lord of Choiseul
Coat of arms of the House of Choiseul (Azure, a cross or, each canton adorned with eighteen billets of the same.).
Tenure	Before 1198 - 1239
Predecessor	Foulques II of Choiseul
Successor	John I of Choiseul
Other names	Latin: Renardus de Causeoli
Born	Around 1175
Died	1239
Noble family	Choiseul family
Spouse(s)	Clémence of Faucogney, Alix of Dreux
Father	Foulques II of Choiseul
Mother	Alix of Vignory

Renard II of Choiseul, also known as Raynard II of Choiseul or Renaud of Choiseul, was the son of Foulques II and Alix of Vignory. He held the title of lord of Choiseul in Champagne during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The region is located in the current department of Haute-Marne.

He married Clémence of Faucogney as his first wife, the heiress of the lordship of Faucogney in the county of Burgundy, which they both ruled. He took part in the war of the succession of Champagne and supported the claims of his cousin Érard of Brienne against Countess Blanche of Navarre and her son, the future Thibaut IV. He then participated in the Fifth Crusade, where he likely fought during the siege of Damietta alongside another cousin, John of Brienne, the king of Jerusalem.

Upon returning to France, he entered into a prestigious marriage with Alix de Dreux, his second wife, who hailed from Capetian lineage and was the lady of Traves. In 1228, he joined forces with Count Thibaut IV of Champagne in a battle against a coalition led by a half-brother of the king who was dissatisfied with Queen Mother Blanche of Castille's regency.

As a vassal of the Bishop of Langres, he was generous with the clergy throughout his life. He sought to enhance the influence of his house while preserving independence from neighboring powers such as the counts of Burgundy, Champagne, and Bar. He passed away in 1239 and was laid to rest in the Abbey of Morimond. His eldest son, John I of Choiseul, assumed control of the lordship of Choiseul, while his youngest son, Robert of Choiseul, received the lordship of Traves as part of his wife's dowry.