ROBERT de Flandre, son of GUY Count of Flanders & his first wife Mathilde de Béthune ([1249]-Ypres 17 Sep 1322, bur Ypres Saint Martin, transferred to Ypres Cathedral). The Genealogia Comitum Flandriæ names (in order) "Robertum, Willelmum, Iohannem episcopum Leodiensum, Balduinem et Philippum" as the sons of "Guido…ex Mathilde filia Roberti Tenremontensis"[667]. The Annales Blandinienses name "Robbertum comitem Nivernensem et Philipphum" as sons of Guy Count of Flanders, when recording their war against Floris Count of Holland in 1290[668]. He was installed by his father in 1264 as Seigneur et châtelain de Béthune, Seigneur de Dendermonde, after the death of his mother. He accompanied his father-in-law Charles Comte d’Anjou in the conquest of Sicily in 1266, fighting at the battle of Benevento[669]. Comte de Nevers in 1272, in right of his second wife. He served in his father’s war against France, defeated at Courtrai by Charles Comte de Valois in 1299. The Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis records that "Karolus comes Valesii" captured "Guido comes Flandrensium...cum duobus filiis Roberto et Guillermo" in 1299[670]. His father appointed him Governor of his lands 3 Nov 1299. He was captured by the French, but released under the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge which the Flemish were obliged to sign in Jun 1305[671], a few months after he had succeeded his father as ROBERT III "de Béthune" Count of Flanders. He was forced to cede Lille, Douai and Orchies to France under the Treaty of Pontoise 11 Jul 1312, and under the terms of the Treaty of Arras in Jul 1313 Courtrai was placed under French rule. In 1314, Count Robert ejected the French from Courtrai and besieged Lille. He was preparing to attack Lille again in 1319, but renewed his allegiance to the French crown under the Treaty of Paris 5 May 1320, which was sealed by the betrothal of his grandson to the King of France's daughter[672].
m firstly (1266) BLANCHE d’Anjou, daughter of CHARLES de France Comte d’Anjou, [later CHARLES I King of Sicily] & his first wife Béatrice Ctss de Provence (1250-before 10 Jan 1270, bur Abbaye de Flines near Douai). The Genealogia Comitum Flandriæ names "Blancham filiam Karoli regis Sicilie" as first wife of "Robertus primogenitus Guidonis"[673]. The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon names "Blancham filia Karoli regis Sicilie" as wife of "Robertus primogenitus Guidonis et Mathilde"[674]. The Istoria of Saba Malaspina records that one "ex filiabus" [of Charles I King of Sicily by his first wife] married "filio comitis Flandriæ"[675]. An anonymous chronicle of the kings of France, written [1286/1314], records that "[le] filz au conte de Flandres...Robert...avouez de Béthune" married "[la] file à ce conte Charlle"[676]. The testament of "Beatrix…Regina Sicilie, Ducatus Apuliæ et Principatus Capuæ, Andegavensis, Provinciæ et Forcalquerii Comitissa" is dated "die Mercurii in crastino Beatorum Peteri et Pauli Apostolorum" in 1266, with bequests to "…filiam nostram Blancham maritatam Roberto Flandrensi…"[677]. She died in childbirth.
m secondly (Mar 1272) as her second husband, YOLANDE de Bourgogne Ctss de Nevers, d'Auxerre et de Tonnerre, widow of JEAN “Tristan” de France Comte de Valois, daughter of EUDES de Bourgogne Comte de Nevers, d'Auxerre et de Tonnerre & his wife Mathilde Bourbon [Dampierre] Dame de Bourbon, Ctss de Nevers, d'Auxerre et de Tonnerre ([1248/49]-2 Jun 1280, bur Nevers, église Saint-François). The Genealogia Comitum Flandriæ names "Yolendem filiam Odonis comitis Nivernensis et viduam Iohannis filii Ludovici regis Francie" as second wife of "Robertus primogenitus Guidonis", specifying that her husband obtained the county of Nevers by this marriage[678]. The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon names "Yolandem filiam Odonis comites Nivernensis et viduam Iohannis filii Ludovici…regis Francie" as [second] wife of "Robertus primogenitus Guidonis et Mathilde"[679].
Robert III & his first wife BLANCHE d’Anjou had two children:
1. CHARLES de Flandre ([1266]-1277, aged 11). He is named in the Chronicle of Gent which says "he did not long survive"[680]. Betrothed (1272) to ISABELLE de Bourgogne, daughter of HUGUES IV Duke of Burgundy & his second wife Béatrice de Champagne (-Chambly Aug 1323, bur Paris église des Grands Augustins).
2. child (Jan 1269-). No reference has been found to this child, but he/she must have existed, however briefly, if it is correct that Robert III's first wife died in childbirth "before 10 Jan 1269". Assuming that Robert III's first child Charles was indeed 11 years old when he died in 1277, he could not have been the child in question.
Robert III & his second wife YOLANDE de Bourgogne Ctss de Nevershad five children:
3. LOUIS de Flandre (-Paris 24 Jul 1322, bur Paris, Frères Mineurs). The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon names "Robertus primogenitus Guydonis, Ludovicus filius"[681]. The Chronicle attributed to Jean Desnouelles names "Loys" as older son of "Robers...[et] se femme qui fu fille le duc de Bourgongne et fu contesse de Nevers", adding that he inherited the county of Nevers[682]. He succeeded his mother in 1280 as Comte de Nevers. He succeeded in 1290 as Comte de Rethel, by right of his wife. He was opposed to all concessions to France. Philippe IV King of France confiscated Nevers and Rethel, and Louis was jailed in 1311. He escaped and took refuge in Imperial Flanders[683]. He allied himself with Hainaut and prepared to invade Flanders against the French in 1315 but his army was stopped by torrential rains[684]. The Continuation of the Chronicle of Jean de Saint-Victor records the death in 1322 in Paris of "le conte de Nevers", after his release from prison, and his burial "chiez les frères Meneurs à Paris l´endemain de la Magdalène"[685]. m (Dec 1290) JEANNE Ctss de Rethel, daughter and heiress of HUGUES [IV] Comte de Rethel & his third wife Isabelle de Grandpré (-[1325]). The Continuation of the Chronicle of Jean de Saint-Victor specifies that the wife of "le conte de Nevers" returned "à son hyretage de Retest" after the death of her husband and received half the county of Nevers as her dower[686]. Louis & his wife had two children:
a) JEANNE de Flandre ([1295]-Sep 1374). She was famed for her gallant defence of Hennebont during her husband's captivity. She accompanied King Edward III to England in Feb 1343, living in exile at Tickhill Castle, Yorkshire, maybe insane. m (Mar 1329) JEAN de Bretagne Comte de Montfort-l’Amaury, son of ARTHUR II Duke of Brittany & his second wife Yolande de Dreux Ctss de Montfort l'Amuary (1293-Château d'Hennebont 26 Sep 1345, bur Quimperlé, église de la Sainte-Croix, later transferred to the couvent des Jacobins). He succeeded in 1341 as JEAN IV Duke of Brittany.
b) LOUIS de Flandre ([1304]-killed in battle Crécy 25 Aug 1346, bur Bruges). The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon names "Ludovicus filius Ludovici comitis Nivernensis primogeniti Roberti"[687]. He succeeded his father in 1322 as Comte de Nevers et de Rethel, Seigneur de Malines. He succeeded his grandfather in 1322 as LOUIS I Count of Flanders.
- see below.
Louis had one illegitimate child by an unknown mistress:
c) ISABELLE bâtarde de Flandre (-1357/65). Dame de Someghem. m firstly SIMON de Mirabel Seigneur de Perwes (-1346). m secondly ARNOUT van Huerle Heer van Rumen.
4. ROBERT de Flandre (-1331). The Chronicle attributed to Jean Desnouelles names "Robers...de Cassel" as younger son of "Robers...[et] se femme qui fu fille le duc de Bourgongne et fu contesse de Nevers"[688]. Comte de Marle, Seigneur de Cassel et de Warneton, Baron d'Alluye et de Montmirail. He claimed greater rights in the succession from his father who was obliged to compensate him with an income of 10,000 livres secured in Imperial Flanders[689]. He persuaded his father to arrest his brother Louis in 1320, but the latter escaped and died in exile. Robert provoked a rebellion in Bruges and, after the death of his father, tried to raise support to exclude his nephew from the succession[690]. m ([21 Sep 1323]) JEANNE de Bretagne Dame de Nogent-le-Rotrou, daughter of ARTHUR II Duke of Brittany & his second wife Yolande de Dreux Ctss de Montfort l'Amuary (1296-Ypres 24 Mar 1364). "Domina Johanna de Britannia domina de Casleto, dicti domini…relicta" founded an anniversary for "dominus Robertus de Flandria dominus quondam de Casleto" at Warneton abbey by charter dated 1333[691]. Robert & his wife had two children:
a) YOLANDE de Flandre (château d'Alluyes, Eure-et-Loir 15 Sep 1326 or 1331-château de Nieppe dit de La Motte-au-Bois, Hazebrouck, Nord 12 Dec 1395, bur Bar-le-Duc, église collégiale Saint-Maxe). She succeeded her brother as Dame de Cassel, Dunkerque, Warneton, Bourbourg, Bergues, Gravelines, Nieppe, Bornem [all in Flanders], and Alluyes, Authon, La Bazoche, Brou and Montmirail [all in Perche]. After the death of her first husband, she governed the county of Bar in the name of her son until he was declared of age 27 Jul 1357. Her son gave her the Seigneurie de la Puisaye. She succeeded her mother 1363 as Dame de la baronnie de Nogent-le-Rotrou. Betrothed (Papal dispensation Avignon 14 Mar 1335) to her first cousin, LOUIS "de Mâle" de Flandre, son of LOUIS I Count of Flanders & his wife Marguerite de France (Maldegem/Mâle near Bruges 25 Nov 1330-9 Jan 1383 or Lille or St Omer 9 Nov 1384). He succeeded his father in 1346 as LOUIS II Count of Flanders. m firstly (dispensation Rome 24 Jun 1339, 1340) HENRI IV Comte de Bar, son of EDOUARD I Comte de Bar & his wife Marie de Bourgogne (-Paris, l'hôtel de Cassel 7 or 24 Dec 1344, bur Bar-le-Duc, église collégiale Saint-Maxe). m secondly (13 Jun 1353) Infante don FELIPE de Navarra Comte de Longueville, son of FELIPE III King of Navarre Comte d'Evreux & his wife Juana II Queen of Navarre (-Vernon, Eure 29 Aug 1363, bur Notre Dame d'Evreux).
b) JEAN de Flandre (-after 1331). He succeeded his father in 1331 as Seigneur de Cassel.
5. JEANNE de Flandre (-1333). She became abbess of Sauvoir near Laon after her husband died[692]. m (May 1288) as his second wife, ENGUERRAND [IV] Seigneur de Coucy Vicomte de Meaux, son of ENGUERRAND [III] Seigneur de Coucy & his third wife Marie de Montmirail (-1310).
6. YOLANDE de Flandre (-Jan 1313). Her parentage is confirmed by the Istoria of Marino Sanudo Torsello which records that "[il figlio]…[del] conte de Brenna" had one daughter who married "al signor d´Angloin" who the son "della figlia del conte di Fiandra"[693]. m (contract 24 Jul 1287) GAUTHIER [II] Seigneur d'Enghien, son of GAUTHIER [I] Seigneur d'Enghien & his third wife Marie de Rethel ([1267]-1310).
7. MATHILDE de Flandre (-after 13 Jan 1331). The Continuation of the Chronicle of Jean de Saint-Victor records that "monseigneur Mathieu, frère du duc de Loherainne" married "la suer du dit Robert" [referring to Robert, son of Robert III Count of Flanders][694]. m (contract 7 Mar 1314) MATHIEU de Lorraine Seigneur de Varsberg et de Darney, son of THIBAUT II Duke of Lorraine & his wife Isabelle de Rumigny (-1330).
LOUIS de Flandre, son of LOUIS de Flandre Comte de Nevers et de Rethel & his wife Jeanne Ctss de Rethel ([1304]-killed in battle Crécy 25 Aug 1346, bur Bruges, St Donat). He succeeded his grandfather in 1322 as LOUIS I Count of Flanders.
m (contract 21 Jun 1320, 22 Jul 1320) MARGUERITE de France, daughter of PHILIPPE V King of France & his wife Jeanne I Ctss Palatine de Bourgogne & d'Artois (1309-Paris 9 May 1382, bur église de l'Abbaye royale de Saint-Denis). The Continuatio of the Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis records the marriage "in die Magdalenæ" in 1320 of "comes Flandrie...filium" and "unam de filiabus regis"[699]. Her marriage was arranged under the Treaty of Paris 5 May 1320, which reaffirmed the loyalty of her future husband's grandfather to the French crown[700]. Ctss d'Artois 1361.
Louis I & his wife had one child:
1. LOUIS de Flandre (Maldegem/Mâle near Bruges 25 Nov 1330 ??? fils de LOUIS I 1322-1346 ça ne colle pas +-9 Jan 1383 or Lille or St Omer 9 Nov 1384). The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon names "Ludovicus…filius fuit Ludovicus dictus de Male"[701]. He succeeded his father in 1346 as LOUIS II “de Mâle” Count of Flanders, Comte de Nevers et de Rethel, Comte Palatin de Bourgogne, Comte d'Artois.
- see below. ???
Louis I had nine illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:
2. BOUDEWIJN . 1351. m firstly CATHERINE van der Bisse, daughter of ---. m secondly CATHERINE de Bailleul, daughter of ---. Boudewijn & his first wife had two children:
a) GEERTRUID . 1365.
b) WILLEM .
Boudewijn & his second wife had two children:
c) LODEWIJK .
d) GELEIJN .
3. ROBERT (-1360).
4. MARIA . m (1351) OLIVIER van Poelvoorde .
5. RUFLARD .
6. CATHERINE (-1421). m firstly PIETER Boudins, bailly of Bruges. m secondly CORNELIS van de Eeckhoute (-1426).
7. LANCELOT .
8. PERCEVAL .
9. TRISTRAIN . Heer van Tempel.
10. GWIJDE (-[1396]). Heer van Wendelghem. m ---, daughter of PIETER van de Zijpe & his wife ---. Gwijde & his wife had four children:
a) LODEWIJK (-after 1396). m AGNES, daughter of ---.
b) MARGARETHA (-1411). m firstly (1396) TRISTRAIN van Messem . m secondly (1397) as his second wife, LOUIS van Temseke (-1439).
c) CLARA . m firstly GILLIS Christiaans (-1396). m secondly JORIS Braderix .
d) GWIJDE (-after 1396). m CATHERINE, daughter of GILLIS Christiaans & his wife ---. Gwijde & his wife had one child:
i) MARGARETHA (-1448). Nun at Bruges.
LOUIS de Flandre, son of LOUIS I Count of Flanders & his wife Marguerite de France Ctss d'Artois (Maldeghem/Mâle, near Bruges 25 Nov 1330-Saint-Omer 30 Jan 1383, bur Lille Saint-Pierre). He succeeded his father in 1346 as LOUIS II “de Mâle” Count of Flanders, Comte de Nevers et de Rethel, Comte Palatin de Bourgogne, Comte d'Artois. After his brother-in-law Wenzel I Comte de Luxembourg, Duke of Brabant, initiated negotiations with his brother concerning the latter's eventual inheritance of the childless Wenzel's properties, Count Louis occupied Mechelen and Duke Wenzel was forced to flee to Limburg. The dispute was settled by the peace of Ath under which Mechelen and Antwerp were transferred to Flanders, and Count Louis was granted the right to bear the title Duke of Brabant[703].
m (Saint-Quentin 6 Jun 1347) MARGUERITE de Brabant, daughter of JEAN III Duke of Brabant & his wife Marie d'Evreux (9 Feb 1323-1368, bur Lille Saint-Pierre). The Oude Kronik van Brabant names "Johannam, Margaretam comitissam Flandrie, et Mariam coniugem Reynaldi Grossi ducis Ghelrie secundi" as the three daughters of "Johannes tertius" and his wife "Mariam filiam Ludowici comitis Eboracensis"[704].
Louis II & his wife had one child:
1. MARGUERITE de Flandre (Mâle near Bruges 1350, chr 13 Apr 1350-Arras 16 Mar 1405, bur Lille, église Saint-Pierre). The Iohannis de Thilrode Chronicon records the marriage of "filiam comitis nostri Ludovici de Male Margaretam" and "Philippus filius regis Francie"[705]. She succeeded her father in 1383 as MARGUERITE III Ctss of Flanders, Ctss d'Artois, Ctss de Nevers and Rethel, Ctss Palatine of Burgundy. Dss of Brabant and Limburg, Markgravine of Antwerp, Dame de Malines 1404. m firstly (Papal dispensation 31 Jan 1356, contract Paris 21 Mar 1357, Arras, église Saint-Vaast 14 May 1357, not consummated) PHILIPPE I "de Rouvres" Duke of Burgundy, son of PHILIPPE "Monsieur" de Bourgogne [Capet], Comte d'Artois, Comte Palatin de Bourgogne, Comte d'Auvergne et de Boulogne & Jeanne I Ctss d'Auvergne et de Boulogne (château de Rouvres, Côte d'Or end Aug 1346-château de Rouvres 21 Nov 1361, bur Abbaye de Cîteaux). Betrothed (19 Oct 1364) to EDMUND of Langley, son of EDWARD III King of England & his wife Philippa de Hainaut (Abbot’s Langley, Hertfordshire 5 Jun 1341-King’s Langley, Hertfordshire 1 Aug 1402, bur King’s Langley, Church of the Dominican Friars). This betrothal was arranged under the Treaty of Dover 19 Oct 1364, but the French persuaded Pope Urban V to refuse a dispensation on grounds of consanguinity[706]. m secondly (by proxy 12 Apr 1369, in person Gent 19 Jun 1369) PHILIPPE II "le Hardi" Duke of Burgundy, son of JEAN II "le Bon" King of France & his first wife Bonne de Luxembourg (Pontoise 15 Jan 1342-Hall 27 Apr 1404, bur Dijon).
Louis II had fifteen illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:
2. LOUIS "le Haze" (-killed in battle Nicopolis 28 Sep 1396). m --- de Landas, daughter of ---. Louis & his wife had two children:
a) [707]RENAUD . 1397.
b) daughter . m (1419) ---.
3. LOUIS "Friese" (-killed in battle Nicopolis 28 Sep 1396). m as her second husband, MARIA van Ghistelles, widow of JEAN de Halewyn, daughter of ROGER van Ghistelles & his wife --- (-after 1431).
- HEEREN van PRAET[708].
4. JEAN "Sans Terre" (-killed in battle Nicopolis 28 Sep 1396). Seigneur de Drinckham. m ([1388]) WILHELMINE van Nevele, daughter of WILLEM van Nevele & his wife Wilhelmine de Halewyn.
- HEEREN van DRINCKAM en WISSAERT[709].
5. ROBERT (-21 Jan 1434). Seigneur d'Everdinghe et de Vlamertinghe. m (1419) as her second marriage, ANASTASIE d'Oultre Vicomtesse d'Ypres, widow of ELUARD Seigneur de Poulques, daughter of BAUDOUIN d'Oultre & his wife Anastasia van Moorslede (-Ypres 22 Sep 1455). Robert & his wife had one child:
a) KARL (-1491). m KATHARINA van Werdeghem (-2 Mar 1485). Karl & his wife had one child:
i) daughter . m OMER de Craene .
6. VICTOR (-1442). Seigneur d'Urselle. A Burgundian admiral. m (15 Sep 1420) as her second husband, JOHANNA van Gavre, widow of PIERRE d'Aumont, daughter of ARNOUT [VI] van Gavre Baron van Schornisse & his wife ---. Victor had two illegitimate children by ALIX van Boyeghem, daughter of ---:
a) LOUIS . m JACQUELINE de Wilde (-Apr 1482). Louis & his wife had two children:
i) JOSSE (-young).
ii) MARGARETA . m firstly LOUIS van Baenst . m secondly ADRIAN van Schouteten .
b) JAN .
Victor had one illegitimate child by GERTRUD van Lindekens, daughter of ---:
c) ADAM .
7. PETER (-1376).
8. RENNEKIN . 1394.
9. GENNEKIN . 1394.
10. MARGUERITE (-28 Apr 1415). m firstly (23 Dec 1373) FLORIS van Maldeghem (-10 Nov 1374). m secondly HECTOR van Voorhoute [Werchoute]. m thirdly ([1391]) SIGER van Gent .
11. JEANNE . m THIERRY de Hondeschote (-killed in battle Agincourt 25 Oct 1415).
12. BEATRIX . m ROBERT Tencke le Marechal. 1374/1384.
13. MARGUERITE (-1388). m ROBERT Seigneur de Wavrin et de Lillers (-killed in battle Agincourt 25 Oct 1415).
14. MARGUERITE . Abbess of Peteghem 1414.
15. CATHERINE . m (1390) ---.
16. CATHERINE . Nun.