Regnier III, Count of Hainaut
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Regnier III, Count of Hainaut from 940 to 958, was son of Regnier II, Count of Hainaut. His name is also given as Reginar, and other variants.
He was born c. 920 in Brabant. He died in 973. At that time he was in Bohemia, having been captured by Otto the Great; this followed exile imposed by Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne.
Together with his brother Rodolphe, he took part in the rebellion of his uncle, Gislebert of Lotharingia. When Gislebert was killed, in 939, Regnier had to make submission to Otto.
He then took up with Louis IV d'Outremer, but Otto sent duke Hermann of Swabia to quell the rebels in 944. Otto's nominee as duke of Lotharingia was Conrad the Red; who tried to diminish the power of Regnier.
Conrad then rose against the Emperor, and Regnier had the latter's support. In an anarchic situation, Regnier grabbed territory from the Empire and France. He appropriated the dowry of Queen Gerberge, Otto's sister and mother of the French king. He also took from church property. In the end Bruno of Cologne, who had been nominated duke of Lotharingia, restored some order. After fierce fighting he defeated Regnier, who refued to submit and was exiled.
Reginar IV, Count of Mons was his son, as was Lambert I of Leuven.
