The House of Flanders, also called the Baldwins (, , ), 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.
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.
Rulers
Baldwinid dynasty
+ Hainaut underHouse of Reginar rule(c.900-1051)Namur underHouse of Namur rule(946-1189)County ofBoulogne(918-1152)County of Flanders(862-1119) County ofHainaut(1071-1195) Boulogne inheritedby the House of BloisInherited by the Estridsen,Normandy and Lorraine/Metzdynasties (1119-1194) County of Flanders(1191-1280)(Hainaut branch)Marquisateof Namur(1195-1216)Inherited bythe House of CourtenayDivided between the House of Avesnes and theHouse of Dampierre
Ruler BornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes Baldwin I Iron Arm c.830Son of Odoacer?862 – 879County of FlandersJudith of France861/66four children879Arrasaged 48-49First 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.865Son of Baldwin I and Judith of France879 – 10 September 918County of FlandersÆlfthryth of Wessexc.895four children10 September 918aged 52-53By 883, he was forced to move north to Pagus Flandransis, which became the territory most closely associated with the Counts of Flanders.David Nicholas, Medieval Flanders (Longman Group UK, Ltd., 1992), pp. 17–18 Arnulf I the Great c.895First son of Baldwin II and Ælfthryth of Wessex10 September 918 – 27 March 964County of FlandersAdele of Vermandois934five children27 March 864aged 68-69Children of Baldwin II, divided their inheritance. Baldwin associated his eldest son to the throne. Baldwin III the Young c.940Son of Arnulf I and Adele of Vermandois958 – 1 January 962Matilda of Saxony934one child1 January 962Berguesaged 21-22 Adelolf c.895Second son of Baldwin II and Ælfthryth of Wessex10 September 918 – 13 November 933County of BoulogneMathilde de Créquythree children13 November 933aged 37-38 Arnulf II c.920Son of Adelolf and Mathilde de Créquy13 November 933 – 971County of BoulogneUnknowntwo children971aged 50-51 Regency of Baldwin of Boulogne and Dirk II, Count of Holland (965-976) Arnulf II the Young c.961Son of Baldwin III and Matilda of Saxony27 March 964 – 30 March 987County of FlandersRozala of Italy976two children30 March 987Ghentaged 25-26 Arnulf III c.940Son of Arnulf II971 – 990County of BoulogneUnknownthree children990aged 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.980Son of Arnulf II and Rozala of Italy30 March 987 – 30 May 1035County of Flanders1012two childrenEleanor of Normandy1031one child30 May 1035Ghentaged 54-55 Baldwin II c.960First son of Arnulf III990 – 1027County of Boulogne(at Boulogne proper)Adelina of Hollandc.990one child1027aged 66-67Children of Arnulf III, divided their inheritance. Arnulf IV's share was, after his death, absorbed by Flanders. Arnulf IV c.960Second son of Arnulf III990 – 1019County of Boulogne(at )Unmarried?1019aged 58-59Ternois annexed to the County of Flanders Eustace I the Pierced Eye c.990Son of Baldwin II and Adelina of Holland1027 – 1047County of BoulogneMatilda of Louvain1015four children1047aged 56-57 Baldwin V the Pious 19 August 1012ArrasSon of Baldwin IV and 30 May 1035 – 1 September 1067County of FlandersAdela of France1028Amiensthree children1 September 1067Lilleaged 55 Eustace II the Long Moustache c.1015Son of Eustace I and Matilda of Louvain1047 – 1087County of BoulogneGodgifu of Wessex1035no childrenIda of Lower Lorraine1049four children1087aged 71-72 Baldwin VI & I the Good c.1030First son of Baldwin V and Adela of France1051 – 17 July 1070County of Hainaut(jure uxoris, ruling with his wife)Richilde, Countess of Hainaut1051three children17 July 1070Hasnonaged 39-401 September 1067 – 17 July 1070County of FlandersRegency of Richilde, Countess of Hainaut (1070-1071)Ruled under his mother. Died in battle against his uncle. Arnulf III the Unfortunate c.1055First son of Baldwin VI & I and Richilde, Countess of Hainaut17 July 1070 – 22 February 1071County of Flanders(with County of Hainaut, ruling with his mother)Unmarried22 February 1071Battle of Casselaged 15-16 Robert I the Frisian c.1035Second son of Baldwin V and Adela of France22 February 1071 – 13 October 1093County of Flanders Gertrude of Saxony1063five children13 October 1093Torhoutaged 57-58After 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 1056Second son of Baldwin VI & I and Richilde, Countess of Hainaut22 February 1071 – 1098County of Hainaut(ruling with his mother until 1076)Ida of Louvain1084nine children1098İznikaged 41-42 Eustace III c.1050Son of Eustace II and Ida of Lower Lorraine1087 – 1125County of BoulogneMary of Scotland1101two children1125Rumillyaged 74-75 Robert II the Crusader c.1065Son of Robert I and Gertrude of Saxony13 October 1093 – 5 October 1111County of Flanders Clementia of Burgundy1092three children5 October 1111Meauxaged 45-46Regency of Ida of Louvain (1098-1102) Baldwin III 1088Son of Baldwin II and Ida of Louvain1098 – 1120County of Hainaut1102four children1120aged 31-32Regency of Clementia of Burgundy (1111-1119) Left no children. He left the county to a maternal cousin. Baldwin VII With the Axe 1093Son of Robert II and Clementia of Burgundy5 October 1111 – 17 July 1119County of Flanders 1110(annulled)no children17 July 1119Roulersaged 25-26Flanders inherited by the House of Estridsen (1119-1127), House of Normandy (1127-1128) and House of Lorraine (1128-1194)Regency of (1120-1127) Baldwin IV the Builder 1108Son of Baldwin III and 1120 – 8 November 1171County of HainautAlice of Namur1130eight children8 November 1171aged 62-63 Matilda I 1105BoulogneDaughter of Eustace III and Mary of Scotland1125 – 3 May 1152County of BoulogneStephen, King of England1125three children3 May 1152Hedingham Castle, Essexaged 56-57 Also Queen of England.Boulogne inherited by the House of Blois Baldwin V & VIII the Courageous 1150Son of Baldwin IV and Alice of Namur8 November 1171 – 17 December 1195County of Hainaut(with Marquisate of Namur from 1189)Margaret I, Countess of Flanders1169seven children17 December 1195Monsaged 44-45 Through his marriage, the family regained Flanders.1 August 1191 – 15 November 1194County of Flanders(jure uxoris, until 1194) Baldwin VI & IX July 1172ValenciennesFirst son of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders15 November 1194 – July 1205County of Flanders(with County of Hainaut from 1195)Marie of Champagne6 January 1186Valenciennestwo childrenJuly 1205Veliko Tarnovoaged 32-33Children 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 1174Jean-Marc Frénéa, HERATLAS, Société Historique et Archéologique du Forez, 1997-2002.ValenciennesSecond son of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders17 December 1195 – 9 October 1212Marquisate of NamurAlice of Namur1130eight children9 October 1212Valenciennesaged 38Regency 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 1199ValenciennesFirst daughter of Baldwin VI & IX and Marie of ChampagneJuly 1205 – 5 December 1244County of Flanders(with County of Hainaut)Ferdinand of Portugal1 January 1212Parisone childThomas of Savoy, Lord of Piedmont1237no childrenJuly 1205Marquette-lez-Lilleaged 44-45 Yolande 1175ValenciennesDaughter of Baldwin V & VIII and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders9 October 1212 – 1216Marquisate of NamurPeter II of Courtenay1193twelve childrenAugust 1219Constantinopleaged 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 1202ValenciennesSecond daughter of Baldwin VI & IX and Marie of Champagne5 December 1244 – 10 February 1280County of Flanders(with County of Hainaut)Bouchard of Avesnes1212(annulled 1215)two childrenWilliam II of Dampierre1223five children10 February 1280Ghentaged 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
Genealogy
Baldwin Iron Arm, Count of Flanders († 879) Baldwin II the Bald, Count of Flanders († 918) Arnulf I the Great, Count of Flanders († 965) Elftrude, born circa 932, married in 964 to Siegfried, Count of Guînes († 965) Hildegarde (934 † 990), married in 943 to Dirk II, Count of Holland (930 † 988) Egbert (937 † 953) Liutgarde (938 † 964), married in 950 to Wichmann IV, Count of Hamaland and Ghent. Baldwin III, Count of Flanders († 962) Arnulf II, Count of Flanders († 988) Mathilda († 995 or before) Baldwin IV the Bearded (v.980 † 1035), Count of Flanders († 1035) Baldwin V of Lille, Count of Flanders († 1067) Baldwin VI the Good, (1030 - 1070), Count of Flanders and of Hainaut Arnulf III of Flanders (1055 † 1071), Count of Flanders and Hainaut Baldwin II of Hainaut (1056 † 1098), Count of Hainaut Baldwin III of Hainaut (1088 † 1120), Count of Hainaut Baldwin IV the Builder (1108 † 1171), Count of Hainaut Agnes of Hainaut, married Ralph I, Lord of Coucy Baldwin V of Hainaut (1150 † 1195), Count of Hainaut Isabella of Hainault (°1170- †1190), married Philip II of France Baldwin VI of Hainaut (°1171- †1205), Count of Flanders and Hainaut, Latin Emperor of Constantinople Joan (1199-1200 † 1244), Countess of Flanders and of Hainaut Margaret II ( † 1280), Countess of Flanders and of Hainaut Yolanda (°1175- †1219), married Peter II of Courtenay, Latin Emperor of Constantinople Philip the Noble, Marquis of Namur (°1175- †1212) Henry (°1176- †1216), Latin Emperor of Constantinople Sybille (°1179- †1217), married to Guichard IV, Sire of Beaujeu Eustace (†1217), regent of the Kingdom of Thessalonica Matilda (1032 - 1083), married in 1053 to William the Conqueror Robert the Frisian, (1033 - 1093), Count of Flanders from 1071 to 1093 Robert II, Count of Flanders from 1093 to 1111 Baldwin VII (1093-1119), Count of Flanders Guillaume (1094-1109) Philip (1095-) (died young) Adela of Flanders († 1115), married firstly Canute IV of Denmark. Married secondly Roger Borsa, Duke of Apulia. Charles I, Count of Flanders (1084 – 1127) Gertrude (1080 - † 1117), married to Henry III († 1095) Count of Louvain and Brussels, then in 1096 to Theodoric II, Duke of Lorraine († 1115).