He was born in Brosse, Île-de-France, France. He was bishop of Chartres in 1165, archbishop of Sens (1169 – 1176), archbishop of Reims (1175 – 1202), and first Peer of France to bear that title. He was a son of Theobald the Great, count of Blois and count of Champagne, and Matilda of Carinthia. Pope Alexander III created him Cardinal Priest of Santa Sabina in March 1179; as such, he signed the papal bulls between 8 April 1179 and 23 December 1201. He died on 7 Sep 1202. He anointed his nephew, Philip Augustus, as co-king on 1 November 1179 in Rheims.