Reginald proclaimed independence from Emperor Lothair III,[3] but was defeated by King Conrad III of Germany and forced to relinquish all his lands east of the Jura. The name of the region Franche-Comté is derived from his title, franc-compte, meaning "free count".
In 1148, Reginald was traveling in France when he fell ill with multiple illnesses.[6] He died so suddenly that he could not even appoint a regent for his young daughter, Beatrice I, who succeeded him.
Foerster, Thomas (2016). "Crossing the Alps and Crossing the Channel. The 'Empires' of Frederick I and Henry II". In Plassman, Alheydis; Buschkin, Dominik (eds.). Staufen and Plantagenets: Two Empires in Comparison. Bonn University Press.
Gislebertus (of Mons) (2005). Chronicle of Hainaut. Translated by Napran, Laura. The Boydell Press.
Bouchard, Constance Brittain (1987). Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198. Cornell University Press.
McKitterick, Rosamond; Abulafia, David, eds. (1999). The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 5, C.1198-c.1300. Cambridge University Press.