Counts of Flanders

Today the area that constituted Flanders in the Middle Ages is part of Belgium, Holland and France. Most of the area is covered by the Provinces of East and West Flanders in Belgium. Flanders varied considerably in size in the course of its history and at one time it also included Artois and parts of Picardy. In Belgian Flanders, Dutch is spoken by the majority of the inhabitants.

In 862, Baldwin Bras-de-Fer (Iron Arm), a son-in-law of Emperor Charles II, became the first count of Flanders. Baldwin's bravery in fighting the Vikings had won him the surname of Iron Arm. He fell in love with Judith, daughter of the Emperor Charles the Bald, who at first opposed their marriage. When Judith eloped with Baldwin, Charles relented and granted Flanders to the two of them.

In the divisions of the Carolingian empire, Flanders became a fief of the French crown, but its powerful counts enjoyed virtual independence. In the 12th century the direct line of counts died out, and in 1191 the counts of Hainault (with which Flanders previously had been briefly united) also became counts of Flanders. ..... more

Castle Gravensteen in the city of Ghent, the original built by the Counts of Flanders.

• A1 = Lyderic, d:802;
  • B1 = Engelgram, d:824;
    • C1 = Odacre;
      • D1 = Baldwin "Bras-de-Fer", Margarve of Flanders, lvd:862/879, m. Princess Judith;  ==>  Carolingian Dynasty
        • E1 = Widnille of Flanders, m. Count Wifredo of Aragon;  <==  Aragon
        • E2 = Baldwin II, Margarve of Flanders and Artois, d:918, m. Elfrida de Guise;  ==>  House of Wessex
          • F1 = Count Arnulf I "The Great" of Flanders and Artois, d:964, m. Adlele of Vermandois;  ==>  Carolingian Dynasty
            • G1 = Elsrtude of Flanders, m. Siegfried the Dane;  <==  le Blount family
            • G2 = Count Baldwin III of Flanders, d:962, m. Matilda of Saxony;
              • H1 = Count Arnulf II of Flanders, lvd:961/987, m. Roslele of Ivrea;  ==>  Kings of Italy
                <========
  • I1 = Count Baldwin IV of Flanders, d:1035, m. Ogivia of Luxembourg;  ==>  Counts of Luxembourg
    • J1 ~ Judith, m. Duke Welf IV of Bavaria;  <==  Welf Dynasty
    • J2 = Count Baldwin V of Flanders, d:1067, m. Princess Adele de Contenance;  ==>  House of Capet
      • J1 = Mathilda of Flanders, lvd:1032/1083, m. King William I of England;  <==  Normans
      • J2 = Count Baldwin VI of Flanders, d:1070, m. Richilde of Hainault;
        • K1 = Count Baldwin II of Hainault, lvd:1088/1098, m. Ida of Louvain;
          • L1 = Count Baldwin III of Hainault, lvd:1088/1122, m. Yolande van Wassenberg;
            • M1 = Count Baldwin IV of Hainault, d:1171, m. Alice of Namur;
              • N1 = Count Baldwin V of Hainault and Flanders, lvd:1150/1195, m. Margaret of Lorraine;
                • O1 = Isabelle, Countess of Artois, lvd:1170/1190, m. King Philippe II of France;  <==  House of Capet
                • O2 = Yolande of Namur, lvd:1175/1219, m. Pierre II de Courtena;  <==  House of Capet
                • O3 = Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, lvd:1171/1215, m. Marie de Champegne;  ==>  Counts of Champagne
                  • P1 = Margaret of Flanders, lvd:1202/1280, m1. Bouchard, Sn d'Avesnes;  <==  Counts of Hainault
                                 m2. Guillaume II de Dampierre;  <==  Dampierre