House of Flanders

House of Flanders
Arms of the County of Flanders
Country	France  Holy Roman Empire  Jerusalem Latin Empire
Founded	863
Founder	Baldwin Iron Arm
Final ruler	Jerusalem: Baldwin I Boulogne: Matilda I Flanders: Margaret II
Titles	Latin Emperor of Constantinople King of Jerusalem Defender of the Holy Sepulchre Queen Consort of England Duke of Lower Lorraine Margrave of Flanders Margrave of Namur Count of Flanders Count of Hainaut Count of Edessa Count of Boulogne Count of Namur Lord of Bouillon
Estate(s)	Flanders, Hainaut, Constantinople, Boulogne
Dissolution	10 February 1280
Cadet branches	House of Hainaut House of Boulogne House of Mons

The House of Flanders, also called the Baldwins (Latin: Balduini, French: Baudouinides, Dutch: Boudewijns), was a medieval ruling family of Frankish origin that was founded by Baldwin Iron Arm, son-in-law of Charles the Bald. The House of Flanders was the first dynasty to transform a county function of the Carolingian Empire into a hereditary fiefdom, the County of Flanders, falling under West Francia, created by the Treaty of Verdun in 843.^[1]

From 1051, the House of Flanders also reigned over the County of Hainaut, with Baldwin I of Hainaut. In 1119, on the death of Baldwin VII, the family had a series of setbacks, but in 1191, the family recovered the title of Count of Flanders with Baldwin VIII (Baldwin V of Hainaut).

The dynasty established the Latin Empire of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, and it also briefly ruled the County of Namur (1188–1212). The House of Flanders became extinct in 1280 with the death of Margaret II.

A cadet branch, the House of Boulogne, ruled over the County of Boulogne. Members of this house joined the First Crusade, established the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and produced its first kings.

Table of rulers

Ruler Born Reign Ruling part Consort Death Notes Baldwin I Iron Arm c.830 Son of Odoacer? 862 – 879 County of Flanders Judith of France 861/66 four children 879 Arras aged 48-49 First known member of the family. Developed himself as a very faithful supporter of Charles the Bald and played an important role in the continuing wars against the Vikings. Baldwin II the Bald c.865 Son of Baldwin I and Judith of France 879 – 10 September 918 County of Flanders Ælfthryth of Wessex c.895 four children 10 September 918 aged 52-53 By 883, he was forced to move north to Pagus Flandransis, which became the territory most closely associated with the Counts of Flanders.[2] Arnulf I the Great c.895 First son of Baldwin II and Ælfthryth of Wessex 10 September 918 – 27 March 964 County of Flanders Adele of Vermandois 934 five children 27 March 864 aged 68-69 Children of Baldwin II, divided their inheritance. Baldwin associated his eldest son to the throne. Baldwin III the Young c.940 Son of Arnulf I and Adele of Vermandois 958 – 1 January 962 Matilda of Saxony 934 one child 1 January 962 Bergues aged 21-22 Adelolf c.895 Second son of Baldwin II and Ælfthryth of Wessex 10 September 918 – 13 November 933 County of Boulogne Mathilde de Créquy three children 13 November 933 aged 37-38 Arnulf II c.920 Son of Adelolf and Mathilde de Créquy 13 November 933 – 971 County of Boulogne Unknown two children 971 aged 50-51 Regency of Baldwin of Boulogne and Dirk II, Count of Holland (965-976) Arnulf II the Young c.961 Son of Baldwin III and Matilda of Saxony 27 March 964 – 30 March 987 County of Flanders Rozala of Italy 976 two children 30 March 987 Ghent aged 25-26 Arnulf III c.940 Son of Arnulf II 971 – 990 County of Boulogne Unknown three children 990 aged 49-50 Profited from the minority of Baldwin IV of Flanders to achieve more independence for Boulogne. Regency of Matilda of Saxony and Rozala of Italy (987-c.994) Baldwin IV the Bearded c.980 Son of Arnulf II and Rozala of Italy 30 March 987 – 30 May 1035 County of Flanders Ogive of Luxembourg 1012 two children Eleanor of Normandy 1031 one child 30 May 1035 Ghent aged 54-55 Baldwin II c.960 First son of Arnulf III 990 – 1027 County of Boulogne (at Boulogne proper) Adelina of Holland c.990 one child 1027 aged 66-67 Children of Arnulf III, divided their inheritance. Arnulf IV's share was, after his death, absorbed by Flanders. Arnulf IV c.960 Second son of Arnulf III 990 – 1019 County of Boulogne (at Ternois) Unmarried? 1019 aged 58-59 Ternois annexed to the County of Flanders Eustace I the Pierced Eye c.990 Son of Baldwin II and Adelina of Holland 1027 – 1047 County of Boulogne Matilda of Louvain 1015 four children 1047 aged 56-57 Baldwin V the Pious 19 August 1012 Arras Son of Baldwin IV and Ogive of Luxembourg 30 May 1035 – 1 September 1067 County of Flanders Adela of France 1028 Amiens three children 1 September 1067 Lille aged 55 Eustace II the Long Moustache c.1015 Son of Eustace I and Matilda of Louvain 1047 – 1087 County of Boulogne Godgifu of Wessex 1035 no children Ida of Lower Lorraine 1049 four children 1087 aged 71-72 Baldwin VI & I the Good c.1030 First son of Baldwin V and Adela of France 1051 – 17 July 1070 County of Hainaut (jure uxoris, ruling with his wife) Richilde, Countess of Hainaut 1051 three children 17 July 1070 Hasnon aged 39-40 1 September 1067 – 17 July 1070 County of Flanders Regency of Richilde, Countess of Hainaut (1070-1071) Ruled under his mother. Died in battle against his uncle. Arnulf III the Unfortunate c.1055 First son of Baldwin VI & I and Richilde, Countess of Hainaut 17 July 1070 – 22 February 1071 County of Flanders (with County of Hainaut , ruling with his mother) Unmarried 22 February 1071 Battle of Cassel aged 15-16 Robert I the Frisian c.1035 Second son of Baldwin V and Adela of France 22 February 1071 – 13 October 1093 County of Flanders Gertrude of Saxony 1063 five children 13 October 1093 Torhout aged 57-58 After Arnulf's death, the counties divided: Robert, Arnulf's uncle, kept Flanders, and Baldwin and his mother ruled in Hainaut. Baldwin claimed his uncle's property for some time. Robert's nickname comes from his regency in the County of Holland. Regency of Richilde, Countess of Hainaut (1071-1076) Baldwin II 1056 Second son of Baldwin VI & I and Richilde, Countess of Hainaut 22 February 1071 – 1098 County of Hainaut (ruling with his mother until 1076) Ida of Louvain 1084 nine children 1098 İznik aged 41-42 Eustace III c.1050 Son of Eustace II and Ida of Lower Lorraine 1087 – 1125 County of Boulogne Mary of Scotland 1101 two children 1125 Rumilly aged 74-75 Robert II the Crusader c.1065 Son of Robert I and Gertrude of Saxony 13 October 1093 – 5 October 1111 County of Flanders Clementia of Burgundy 1092 three children 5 October 1111 Meaux aged 45-46 Regency of Ida of Louvain (1098-1102) Baldwin III 1088 Son of Baldwin II and Ida of Louvain 1098 – 1120 County of Hainaut Yolande of Guelders 1102 four children 1120 aged 31-32 Regency of Clementia of Burgundy (1111-1119) Left no children. He left the county to a maternal cousin. Baldwin VII With the Axe 1093 Son of Robert II and Clementia of Burgundy 5 October 1111 – 17 July 1119 County of Flanders Hawise-Agnes Fergent of Brittany 1110 (annulled) no children 17 July 1119 Roulers aged 25-26 Flanders inherited by the House of Estridsen (1119-1127), House of Normandy (1127-1128) and House of Lorraine (1128-1194) Regency of Yolande of Guelders (1120-1127) Baldwin IV the Builder 1108 Son of Baldwin III and Yolande of Guelders 1120 – 8 November 1171 County of Hainaut Alice of Namur 1130 eight children 8 November 1171 aged 62-63 Matilda I 1105 Boulogne Daughter of Eustace III and Mary of Scotland 1125 – 3 May 1152 County of Boulogne Stephen, King of England 1125 three children 3 May 1152 Hedingham Castle, Essex aged 56-57 Also Queen of England. Boulogne inherited by the House of Blois Baldwin V & VIII the Courageous 1150 Son of Baldwin IV and Alice of Namur 8 November 1171 – 17 December 1195 County of Hainaut (with Marquisate of Namur from 1189) Margaret I, Countess of Flanders 1169 seven children 17 December 1195 Mons aged 44-45 Through his marriage, the family regained Flanders. 1 August 1191 – 15 November 1194 County of Flanders (jure uxoris, until 1194) Baldwin VI & IX July 1172 Valenciennes First son of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders 15 November 1194 – July 1205 County of Flanders (with County of Hainaut from 1195) Marie of Champagne 6 January 1186 Valenciennes two children July 1205 Veliko Tarnovo aged 32-33 Children of Baldwin V/VIII, divided their inheritance. After the Fourth Crusade, Baldwin became the first Latin Emperor at Constantinople. Philip became regent of Flanders for his niece and, after his death, left Namur to his sister. Philip the Noble March 1174[3] Valenciennes Second son of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders 17 December 1195 – 9 October 1212 Marquisate of Namur Alice of Namur 1130 eight children 9 October 1212 Valenciennes aged 38 Regency of Philip, Marquis of Namur (1205-1212) Ruled with her husbands. Between 1214 and 1223, she ruled alone, as Ferdinand became a prisoner after his defeat at the Battle of Bouvines. Joan 1199 Valenciennes First daughter of Baldwin VI & IX and Marie of Champagne July 1205 – 5 December 1244 County of Flanders (with County of Hainaut) Ferdinand of Portugal 1 January 1212 Paris one child Thomas of Savoy, Lord of Piedmont 1237 no children July 1205 Marquette-lez-Lille aged 44-45 Yolande 1175 Valenciennes Daughter of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders 9 October 1212 – 1216 Marquisate of Namur Peter II of Courtenay 1193 twelve children August 1219 Constantinople aged 44-45 Sister of Philip and heiress of the Latin Empire, inherited Namur from her brother. All her property was inherited by her descendants, the House of Courtenay. Namur inherited by the House of Courtenay Margaret I & II the Black 1202 Valenciennes Second daughter of Baldwin VI & IX and Marie of Champagne 5 December 1244 – 10 February 1280 County of Flanders (with County of Hainaut) Bouchard of Avesnes 1212 (annulled 1215) two children William II of Dampierre 1223 five children 10 February 1280 Ghent aged 76-77 Divided her two counties between the sons of each of her husbands. Hainaut inherited by the House of Avesnes; Flanders inherited by the House of Dampierre

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