Robert III of Artois

Robert III of Artois was a French nobleman whose failed claim to the county of Artois became a notorious legal and political dispute. His exile and support for Edward III helped feed the tensions that preceded the Hundred Years’ War.

In Maurice Druon’s The Iron King, Alongside the royal crisis, Robert of Artois renews his struggle against his aunt Mahaut for possession of the county, creating a conflict that will outlast Philip's reign. In Maurice Druon’s The Strangled Queen, the rival factions around Charles of Valois, Philip of Poitiers, Mahaut of Artois and Robert of Artois compete for influence over the inexperienced king. Other novels featuring Robert III of Artois include Maurice Druon’s The Poisoned Crown, Maurice Druon’s The Lily and the Lion, and Maurice Druon’s The Royal Succession.