See also: Counts of Flanders family tree.
The count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders, beginning in the 9th century.[1] Later, the title would be held for a time, by the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain. During the French Revolution, in 1790, the county of Flanders was annexed to France and ceased to exist. In the 19th century, the title was appropriated by Belgium and granted twice to younger sons of Belgian kings. The most recent holder died in 1983.[2]
In 862 Baldwin I was appointed as the first Margrave of Flanders by King Charles II. It was a military appointment, responsible for repelling the Viking raids from the coast of Francia. The title of margrave (or marquis) evolved into that of count. Arnulf I was the first to name himself as count, by the Grace of God. The title of margrave largely fell out of use by the 12th century. Since then, the rulers of Flanders have only been referred to as counts.
The counts of Flanders enlarged their estate through a series of diplomatic marriages. The counties of Hainaut, Namur, Béthune, Nevers, Auxerre, Rethel, Burgundy, and Artois were all acquired in this manner. However, the County of Flanders suffered the same fate in turn. As a result of the marriage of Countess Margaret III with Philip II, Duke of Burgundy, the county and the subsidiary counties entered a personal union with the Duchy of Burgundy in 1405.[3]
The counts of Flanders were also associated with the Duchy of Brittany prior to its union with France. In, Joan, the daughter of Arthur II, Duke of Brittany, married the second son of Count Robert III. Joanna of Flanders, the granddaughter of Count Robert III and daughter of his son, Count Louis I, married John Montfort.[4] During Montfort's imprisonment, she fought on his behalf, alongside English allies, during the Breton War of Succession for the ducal crown, which was won definitively by her son John V, Duke of Brittany. It was through this alliance that the Duchy of Brittany was eventually joined to the throne of France.[5]
| Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin I | – 879 | 862 – 879 | Judith of Flanders 4 children | Married Judith, daughter of Charles the Bald | |
| Baldwin II | – 10 September 918 | 879 – 10 September 918 | Ælfthryth 4 children | Son of Baldwin I and Judith | |
| Arnulf I | /899 – 27 March 964 | 10 September 918 – 27 March 964 | Adele of Vermandois 934 5 children | Son of Baldwin II | |
| Baldwin III | 958-962 | Matilda of Saxony 1 son | Ruled jointly with his father Arnulf I | ||
| Arnulf II | – 30 March 987 | 965 – 30 March 987 | Rozala of Italy 976 2 children | Son of Baldwin III | |
| Baldwin IV | 980 – 30 May 1035 | 988 – 30 May 1035 | (1) Ogive of Luxembourg 1012 1 son (2) Eleanor of Normandy 1031 1 daughter | Son of Arnulf II | |
| Baldwin V | 19 August 1012 – 1 September 1067 | 30 May 1035 – 1 September 1067 | Adela of France 1028 3 children | Son of Baldwin IV | |
| Baldwin VI | – 17 July 1070 | 1 September 1067 – 17 July 1070 | Richilde, Countess of Hainaut 2 sons | Son of Baldwin V; also Count of Hainaut | |
| Arnulf III | – 22 February 1071 | 17 July 1070 – 22 February 1071 | Never married | Son of Baldwin VI; also Count of Hainaut | |
| Robert I | – 13 October 1093 | 22 February 1071 – 13 October 1093 | Gertrude of Saxony 1063 5 children | Son of Baldwin V | |
| Robert II | – 5 October 1111 | 13 October 1093 – 5 October 1111 | Clementia of Burgundy 1097 1 son | Son of Robert I | |
| Baldwin VII | 1093 – 17 July 1119 | 5 October 1111 – 17 July 1119 | Hawise of Brittany 1105 no issue | Son of Robert II |
| Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theoderic | – 17 January 1168 | 28 July 1128 – 17 January 1168 | (1) Margaret of Clermont (or Swanhilde) before 1132 1 daughter (2) Sibylla of Anjou 6 children | Grandson of Robert I, recognised by Louis VI of France | |
| Philip I | 1143 – 1 August 1191 | 17 January 1168 – 1 August 1191 | (1) Elisabeth of Vermandois 1159 no issue (2) Theresa of Portugal no issue | Son of Thierry; also Count of Vermandois | |
| Margaret I | - 15 November 1194 | 1 August 1191 - 15 November 1194 | (1) Ralph II of Vermandois 1160 no issue (2) Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut 8 children | Daughter of Thierry |
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin VIII | 1150 – 17 December 1195 | 1 August 1191 - 17 December 1194 | Margaret I 8 children | Husband of Margaret I | ||
| Baldwin IX | July 1172 – | 1194 - 1205 | Marie of Champagne 6 January 1186 Valenciennes 2 daughters | Son of Margaret I and Baldwin VIII, also Latin Emperor of Constantinople | ||
| Joan | – 5 December 1244 | 1205 – 5 December 1244 | (1) Ferdinand of Portugal 1212 Paris no issue (2) Thomas of Savoy-Piedmont 2 April 1237 no issue | Daughter of Baldwin IX | ||
| Ferdinand | 24 March 1188 – 27 July 1233 | 1212 – 27 July 1233 | Joan, Countess of Flanders 1212 Paris no issue | Husband of Joan | ||
| Thomas | – 7 February 1259 | 2 April 1237 – 5 December 1244 | Joan, Countess of Flanders 2 April 1237 no issue | Husband of Joan | ||
| Margaret II | 1202 – 10 February 1280 | 5 December 1244 – 29 December 1278 | (1) Bouchard IV of Avesnes 3 sons (2) William II of Dampierre 18 August/15 November 1223 5 children | Sister of Joan |
In 1244, the Counties of Flanders and Hainaut were claimed by Margaret II's sons, the half-brothers John I of Avesnes and William III of Dampierre in the War of the Succession of Flanders and Hainault. In 1246, King Louis IX of France awarded Flanders to William.
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William II | 1224 – 6 June 1251 | 1247 - 6 June 1251 | Beatrice of Brabant November 1247 no issue | Son of Margaret II and William II of Dampierre | ||
| Guy | – 7 March 1305 | 6 June 1251 - 7 March 1305 | (1) Matilda of Béthune June 1246 8 children (2) Isabelle of Luxembourg March 1265 8 children | Brother of William II | ||
| Robert III | 1249 – 17 September 1322 | 7 March 1305 – 17 September 1322 | (1) Blanche of Sicily 1265 1 son (died young) (2) Yolande II, Countess of Nevers 5 children | Son of Guy: also Count of Nevers | ||
| Louis I | – 26 August 1346 | 17 September 1322 – 26 August 1346 | Margaret I, Countess of Burgundy 1320 1 son | Grandson of Robert III | ||
| Louis II | 25 October 1330 – 30 January 1384 | 26 August 1346 – 30 January 1384 | Margaret of Brabant 1347 1 daughter | Son of Louis I; also Count of Burgundy | ||
| Margaret III | 13 April 1350 – 16 March 1405 | 30 January 1384 – 16 March 1405 | (1) Philip I, Duke of Burgundy 1355 no issue (2) Philip II, Duke of Burgundy 19 June 1369 9 children | Daughter of Louis II |
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip II | 17 January 1342 – 27 April 1404 | 1363 – 27 April 1404 | Margaret III 19 June 1369 9 children | Husband of Margaret III; also Duke of Burgundy | ||
| John | 28 May 1371 – 10 September 1419 | 27 April 1404 – 10 September 1419 | Margaret of Bavaria 12 April 1385 Cambrai 8 children | Son of Philip II and Margaret III | ||
| Philip III | 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467 | 10 September 1419 – 15 June 1467 | (1) Michelle of Valois June 1409 1 daughter (died young) (2) Bonne of Artois 30 November 1424 Moulins-les-Engelbert no issue (3) Isabella of Portugal 7 January 1430 3 sons 18 illegitimate children | Son of John | ||
| Charles II | 10 November 1433 – 5 January 1477 | 15 June 1467 – 5 January 1477 | (1) Catherine of France 19 May 1440 Blois no issue (2) Isabella of Bourbon 30 October 1454 Lille 1 daughter (3) Margaret of York 3 July 1468 Damme no issue | Son of Philip III | ||
| Mary | 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482 | 5 January 1477 – 27 March 1482 | Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor 19 August 1477 Ghent 3 children | Daughter of Charles II |
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximilian I | 22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519 | 19 August 1477 – 27 March 1482 | (1) Mary of Burgundy 19 August 1477 Ghent 3 children (2) Anne, Duchess of Brittany 19 December 1490 Rennes Cathedral no issue (3) Bianca Maria Sforza 16 March 1494 Hall in Tirol no issue | Husband of Mary | ||
| Philip IV | 22 July 1478 – 25 September 1506 | 27 March 1482 – 25 September 1506 | Joanna of Castile 20 October 1496 Lier 6 children | Son of Mary and Maximilian I | ||
| Charles III | 24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558 | 25 September 1506 – 25 October 1555 | Isabella of Portugal 10 March 1526 Alcázar Palace 7 children | Son of Philip IV |
Charles V proclaimed the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 eternally uniting Flanders with the other lordships of the Low Countries in a personal union. When the Habsburg empire was divided among the heirs of Charles V, the Low Countries, including Flanders, went to Philip II of Spain, of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg.
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip V | 21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598 | 16 January 1556 – 6 May 1598 | (1) Maria Manuela of Portugal 12 November 1543 Salamanca 1 son (2) Mary I of England 25 July 1554 Winchester Cathedral no issue (3) Elisabeth of Valois 1559 Guadalajara 2 daughters (4) Anna of Austria May 1570 5 children | Son of Charles III | ||
| Isabella Clara Eugenia | 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633 | 6 May 1598 – 13 July 1621 | Albert VII, Archduke of Austria 18 April 1599 Valencia no issue | Daughter of Philip V; ruled jointly with her husband Albert VII, Archduke of Austria | ||
| Albert | 13 November 1559 – 13 July 1621 | 6 May 1598 – 13 July 1621 | Isabella Clara Eugenia 18 April 1599 Valencia no issue | Husband of Isabella Clara Eugenia | ||
| Philip VI | 8 April 1605 – 17 September 1665 | 13 July 1621 – 17 September 1665 | (1) Elisabeth of France 18 October 1615 Bordeaux 8 children (2) Mariana of Austria 7 October 1649 Navalcarnero 5 children | Grandson of Philip V | ||
| Charles IV | 6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700 | 17 September 1665 – 1 November 1700 | (1) Marie Louise d'Orléans 19 November 1679 Quintanapalla no issue (2) Maria Anna of Neuburg 14 May 1690 Valladolid no issue | Son of Philip VI |
Between 1706 and 1714, Flanders was invaded by the English and the Dutch during the War of the Spanish Succession. The fief was claimed by the House of Habsburg and the House of Bourbon. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht settled the succession and the County of Flanders went to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg.
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles V | 1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740 | 7 September 1714 – 20 October 1740 | Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1 August 1708 Santa Maria del Mar 4 children | Great-grandson of Philip III, also Holy Roman Emperor | ||
| Maria Theresa | 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780 | 20 October 1740 – 29 November 1780 | Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor 12 February 1736 Augustinian Church, Vienna 16 children | Daughter of Charles V, jointly with Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor | ||
| Francis I | 8 December 1708 – 18 August 1765 | 21 November 1740 – 18 August 1765 | Maria Theresa 12 February 1736 Augustinian Church, Vienna 16 children | Husband of Maria Theresa | ||
| Joseph | 13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790 | 18 August 1765 – 20 February 1790 | (1) Isabella of Parma October 1760 Vienna 5 children (died young) (2) Maria Josepha of Bavaria 25 January 1765 Schönbrunn Palace no issue | Son of Maria Theresa and Francis I | ||
| Leopold | 5 May 1747 – 1 March 1792 | 20 February 1790 – 1 March 1792 | Maria Luisa of Spain 16 February 1764 Madrid 16 children | Brother of Joseph | ||
| Francis II | 12 February 1768 – 2 March 1835 | 1 March 1792 – 17 October 1797 | (1) Elisabeth of Württemberg 6 January 1788 Vienna 1 daughter (died young) (2) Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily 15 September 1790 12 children (3) Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este 6 January 1808 no issue (4) Caroline Augusta of Bavaria 29 October 1816 no issue | Son of Leopold |
The title was abolished de facto after revolutionary France annexed Flanders in 1795. Emperor Francis II relinquished his claim to the Low Countries in the Treaty of Campo Formio of 1797, and the area remained part of France until the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
In modern times, the title was granted to two younger sons of the kings of the Belgians.
The title, Count of Flanders, is one of the titles of the Spanish Crown. It is a historical title which is only nominally and ceremonially used.