The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders, beginning in the 9th century. Later, the title would be held for a time, by the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain. In 1790, the ruler and his title ceased to exist when the county was annexed to France during the French Revolution. 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.
In 862 Baldwin I was appointed as the first Margrave of Flanders by French 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.
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. 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.
List of counts House of Flanders
NameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionBaldwin I – 879862 – 879Judith of Flanders4 childrenMarried Judith, daughter of Charles the BaldBaldwin II – 10 September 918879 – 10 September 918Ælfthryth4 childrenSon of Baldwin I and JudithArnulf I/899 – 27 March 96410 September 918 – 27 March 964Adele of Vermandois9345 childrenSon of Baldwin IIBaldwin III958-962Matilda of Saxony1 sonRuled jointly with his father Arnulf IArnulf II – 30 March 987965 – 30 March 987Rozala of Italy9762 childrenSon of Baldwin IIIBaldwin IV980 – 30 May 1035988 – 30 May 1035(1) Ogive of Luxembourg10121 son(2) Eleanor of Normandy10311 daughterSon of Arnulf IIBaldwin V19 August 1012 – 1 September 106730 May 1035 – 1 September 1067Adela of France10283 childrenSon of Baldwin IVBaldwin VI – 17 July 10701 September 1067 – 17 July 1070Richilde, Countess of Hainaut2 sonsSon of Baldwin V; also Count of HainautArnulf III – 22 February 107117 July 1070 – 22 February 1071Never marriedSon of Baldwin VI; also Count of HainautRobert I – 13 October 109322 February 1071 – 13 October 1093Gertrude of Saxony10635 childrenSon of Baldwin VRobert II – 5 October 111113 October 1093 – 5 October 1111Clementia of Burgundy10971 sonSon of Robert IBaldwin VII1093 – 17 July 11195 October 1111 – 17 July 1119Hawise of Brittany1105no issueSon of Robert II
House of Estridsen PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionCharles I1084 – 2 March 11271119 – 2 March 1127Margaret of Clermontno issueSon of Canute IV of Denmark and Adela of Flanders, cousin of Baldwin VII and designated by him. Also grandson of Robert I.
House of Normandy PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionWilliam I25 October 1102 – 28 July 11282 March 1127 – 28 July 1128(1) Sibylla of Anjouno issue(2) Joanna of Montferratno issueGreat-grandson of Baldwin V, designated by Louis VI of France
House of Alsace or House of Metz PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionTheoderic – 17 January 116828 July 1128 – 17 January 1168(1) Margaret of Clermont (or Swanhilde)before 11321 daughter(2) Sibylla of Anjou6 childrenGrandson of Robert I, recognised by Louis VI of FrancePhilip I1143 – 1 August 119117 January 1168 – 1 August 1191(1) Elisabeth of Vermandois1159no issue(2) Theresa of Portugalno issueSon of Thierry; also Count of VermandoisMargaret I - 15 November 11941 August 1191 - 15 November 1194(1) Ralph II of Vermandois1160no issue(2) Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut8 childrenDaughter of Thierry
House of Flanders PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionBaldwin VIII1150 – 17 December 11951 August 1191 - 17 December 1194 Margaret I8 childrenHusband of Margaret IBaldwin IXJuly 1172 – 1194 - 1205 Marie of Champagne6 January 1186Valenciennes2 daughtersSon of Margaret I and Baldwin VIII, also Latin Emperor of ConstantinopleJoan – 5 December 12441205 – 5 December 1244(sole-rule between 1214 and 1223) (1) Ferdinand of Portugal1212Parisno issue(2) Thomas of Savoy-Piedmont2 April 1237no issueDaughter of Baldwin IXFerdinand24 March 1188 – 27 July 12331212 – 27 July 1233Joan, Countess of Flanders1212Parisno issueHusband of JoanThomas – 7 February 12592 April 1237 – 5 December 1244Joan, Countess of Flanders2 April 1237no issueHusband of JoanMargaret II1202 – 10 February 12805 December 1244 – 29 December 1278(1) Bouchard IV of Avesnes3 sons(2) William II of Dampierre18 August/15 November 12235 childrenSister 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.
House of Dampierre PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionWilliam II1224 – 6 June 12511247 - 6 June 1251Beatrice of BrabantNovember 1247no issueSon of Margaret II and William II of DampierreGuy – 7 March 13056 June 1251 - 7 March 1305(1) Matilda of BéthuneJune 12468 children(2) Isabelle of LuxembourgMarch 12658 childrenBrother of William IIRobert III1249 – 17 September 13227 March 1305 – 17 September 1322(1) Blanche of Sicily12651 son (died young)(2) Yolande II, Countess of Nevers5 childrenSon of Guy: also Count of NeversLouis I – 26 August 134617 September 1322 – 26 August 1346Margaret I, Countess of Burgundy13201 sonGrandson of Robert IIILouis II25 October 1330 – 30 January 138426 August 1346 – 30 January 1384Margaret of Brabant13471 daughterSon of Louis I; also Count of BurgundyMargaret III13 April 1350 – 16 March 140530 January 1384 – 16 March 1405(1) Philip I, Duke of Burgundy1355no issue(2) Philip II, Duke of Burgundy19 June 13699 childrenDaughter of Louis II
House of Burgundy PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionPhilip II17 January 1342 – 27 April 140430 January 1384 – 27 April 1404Margaret III19 June 13699 childrenHusband of Margaret III; also Duke of BurgundyJohn28 May 1371 – 10 September 141927 April 1404 – 10 September 1419Margaret of Bavaria12 April 1385Cambrai8 childrenSon of Philip II and Margaret III Philip III31 July 1396 – 15 June 146710 September 1419 – 15 June 1467(1) Michelle of ValoisJune 14091 daughter (died young)(2) Bonne of Artois30 November 1424Moulins-les-Engelbertno issue(3) Isabella of Portugal7 January 14303 sons18 illegitimate childrenSon of JohnCharles II10 November 1433 – 5 January 147715 June 1467 – 5 January 1477(1) Catherine of France19 May 1440Bloisno issue(2) Isabella of Bourbon30 October 1454Lille1 daughter(3) Margaret of York3 July 1468Dammeno issueSon of Philip IIIMary13 February 1457 – 27 March 14825 January 1477 – 27 March 1482Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor19 August 1477Ghent3 childrenDaughter of Charles II
House of Habsburg PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionMaximilian I22 March 1459 – 12 January 151919 August 1477 – 27 March 1482(1) Mary of Burgundy19 August 1477Ghent3 children(2) Anne, Duchess of Brittany19 December 1490Rennes Cathedralno issue(3) Bianca Maria Sforza16 March 1494Hall in Tirolno issueHusband of MaryPhilip IV22 July 1478 – 25 September 150627 March 1482 – 25 September 1506Joanna of Castile (Joan the Mad) 20 October 1496Lier6 childrenSon of Mary and Maximilian I, known as Philip the FairCharles III24 February 1500 – 21 September 155825 September 1506 – 25 October 1555Isabella of Portugal10 March 1526Alcázar Palace7 childrenSon of Philip IV, also King of Spain as Charles I, titular Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders, Holland and Zeeland, Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V
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.
PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionPhilip V21 May 1527 – 13 September 159816 January 1556 – 6 May 1598(1) Maria Manuela of Portugal12 November 1543Salamanca1 son(2) Mary I of England25 July 1554Winchester Cathedralno issue(3) Elisabeth of Valois1559Guadalajara2 daughters(4) Anna of AustriaMay 15705 childrenSon of Charles III (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V), also King of Spain as Philip IIIsabella Clara Eugenia12 August 1566 – 1 December 16336 May 1598 – 13 July 1621Albert VII, Archduke of Austria18 April 1599Valenciano issueDaughter of Philip V; ruled jointly with her husband Albert VII, Archduke of AustriaAlbert13 November 1559 – 13 July 16216 May 1598 – 13 July 1621Isabella Clara Eugenia18 April 1599Valenciano issueHusband of Isabella Clara EugeniaPhilip VI8 April 1605 – 17 September 166513 July 1621 – 17 September 1665(1) Elisabeth of France18 October 1615Bordeaux8 children(2) Mariana of Austria7 October 1649Navalcarnero5 childrenGrandson of Philip VCharles IV6 November 1661 – 1 November 170017 September 1665 – 1 November 1700(1) Marie Louise d'Orléans19 November 1679Quintanapallano issue(2) Maria Anna of Neuburg14 May 1690Valladolidno issueSon of Philip VI
House of Bourbon PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionPhilip VII19 December 1683 – 9 July 17461 November 1700 – 14 March 1713(1) Maria Luisa of Savoy2 November 17014 sons(2) Elisabeth Farnese16 September 1714Parma6 childrenGreat-grandson 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.
House of Habsburg PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccessionCharles V1 October 1685 – 20 October 17407 September 1714 – 20 October 1740Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1 August 1708Santa Maria del Mar4 childrenGreat-grandson of Philip III, also Holy Roman EmperorMaria Theresa13 May 1717 – 29 November 178020 October 1740 – 29 November 1780Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor12 February 1736Augustinian Church, Vienna16 childrenDaughter of Charles V, jointly with Francis I, Holy Roman EmperorFrancis I8 December 1708 – 18 August 176521 November 1740 – 18 August 1765Maria Theresa12 February 1736Augustinian Church, Vienna16 childrenHusband of Maria TheresaJoseph13 March 1741 – 20 February 179018 August 1765 – 20 February 1790(1) Isabella of ParmaOctober 1760Vienna5 children (died young)(2) Maria Josepha of Bavaria25 January 1765Schönbrunn Palaceno issueSon of Maria Theresa and Francis ILeopold5 May 1747 – 1 March 179220 February 1790 – 1 March 1792Maria Luisa of Spain16 February 1764Madrid16 childrenBrother of JosephFrancis II12 February 1768 – 2 March 18351 March 1792 – 17 October 1797(1) Elisabeth of Württemberg6 January 1788Vienna1 daughter (died young)(2) Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily15 September 179012 children(3) Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este6 January 1808no issue(4) Caroline Augusta of Bavaria29 October 1816no issueSon of Leopold