The Flanders Connection part one

Exploring family trees can lead to unexpected discoveries providing greater knowledge and understanding of the past. Many years ago I discovered links in our family tree to William the Conqueror plus the Norman and Plantagenet kings of England as well as royalty in Scotland. Exploring William's ancestry leads to the arrival of Vikings in France many years earlier. But the family tree of his wife, Matilda of Flanders, also meanders through other important paths of our history.

Flanders

The County of Flanders is located in Belgium with one border on the North Sea. The county borders France in the south-west and it is across the sea from England. The area is part of the Low Countries.

Duchy of Normandy in 1066 - north east border with Flanders.

As Normandy and Flanders were neighbours it is not surprising that marriages had occurred for generations between the two locations.

Matilda of Flanders 

Matilda of Flanders was born 1031 in Bruges, Belgium. Her father was Count Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1079) and her mother was Adela of France (1009-1079). Adela was the daughter of Robert II, King of the Franks (later known as France) and Adelaide of Aquitaine making Matilda the granddaughter of the French king. She could therefore be said to have royal connections.

Matilda probably married William, Duke of Normandy in 1051. As William's parents were not married when he was born he was considered to be base-born. Marrying Matilda with her royal connections helped raise William's status. Initially Pope Leo IX would not recognise the marriage as Matilda and William were distantly related. However Pope Nicholas II finally gave approval to the marriage in 1059. 

Matilda and William had about ten children (records vary). The sons were Robert II, duke of Normandy, Richard Curthose, William Rufus and Henry I. There were at least five daughters.

Matilda assisted William ruling Normandy and later in England. She was appointed regent when he was away. Matilda was also crowned Queen of England. Matilda had had a good education and ensured that her children, daughters as well as sons, were educated.

When her sons argued about inheritance Matilda infuriated William when he realised that she had given Robert money to assist him with his claim. Generally, however, William and Matilda worked together.

Matilda died on 2 November 1083 and was buried at buried in Caen at l'Abbaye aux Dames. William died four years later.

A longer post about Matilda of Flanders can be found in this blog. 

Count Baldwin V of Flanders

Count Baldwin V of Flanders was the father of Matilda of Flanders. He was born in 1012 and died 1067. In 1028 he married Adela of France (1009 -1079). They had three children including Matilda of Flanders. Baldwin V supported the King of France in most of his endeavours. He only partially supported his son-in-law on William's planned invasion of England as Baldwin V had previously supported Edward the Confessor in some of his decisions.

During his reign, Baldwin V secured the union between Flanders and Hainaut through strategic marriage alliances. He served as co-regent for his nephew Philip I of France from 1060 to 1067.

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders, Known as the Bearded, was born in 980 and died in 1035. In around 1012 he married Otgivia (or Ogiva or Otgive) Luxembourg who was born in 955 and died in 30 May 1035.

Baldwin IV became Count of Flanders in 987 after the death of his father, Arnulf II. His mother, Rozala of Italy, served as regent until he reached maturity. Baldwin IV focused on expanding his influence eastward, delegating the southern parts of his territory to his vassals. He acquired Zeeland as a fief from Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and later gained control of Valenciennes, parts of Cambresis, Saint-Omer, and the northern Ternois. He was succeeded by his son, Baldwin V Count of Flanders.

Arnulf II Count of Flanders

Arnulf II was Count of Flanders from 965 until his death in 987. He was born to Baldwin III of Flanders and Matilda of Saxony, and became count as an infant after his father's death in 962. His grandfather Arnulf I managed Flanders until his own death in 965, after which Baldwin Balso served as regent until 973. Upon reaching majority in 976, Arnulf II faced territorial losses in Flanders, including parts of Picardy and Ponthieu. Arnulf II died on 30 March 987 at the age of 26.

Arnulf II married Rozala of Italy, daughter of Berengar II of Italy in 976. They had two children Count Baldwin III and Mathilda. After the death of her husband, Rozala became regent until in 988 she married Robert II and changed her name to Susannah. They divorced in 996.