Walter II of Avesnes

Walter II of Avesnes (c. 1170–1244), eldest son of the crusader James of Avesnes, held lordships in Hainaut and became count of Blois and Chartres through his marriage to Countess Margaret. He fought at Bouvines in 1214, then went to the Holy Land; captured and ransomed by the Templars, he donated 1,000 bezants towards building Château Pèlerin in 1218.

Using income from Guise, he modernized his castles and built one at Englancourt to control the road through Hainaut, and later helped free Count Ferdinand of Flanders.