Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Count of Hainaut and Count of Flanders / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baldwin VI (c. 1030 – 17 July 1070), also known as Baldwin the Good, was Count of Hainaut from 1051 to 1070 (as Baldwin I) and Count of Flanders from 1067 to 1070.
Baldwin VI | |
---|---|
Count of Flanders and Hainaut | |
Born | c. 1030 |
Died | (1070-07-17)17 July 1070 |
Noble family | Flanders |
Spouse(s) | Richilde, Countess of Hainaut |
Issue | |
Father | Baldwin V, Count of Flanders |
Mother | Adela of France |
Baldwin was the eldest son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela, a daughter of King Robert II of France[1][2] and Constance of Arles.[3] His father arranged his marriage, under threat of arms, to Richilde, the widow of Herman of Mons and heir of Hainaut.[4] As Hainaut was a part of the Holy Roman Empire this enraged Emperor Henry III, who had not been consulted, causing him to wage war on the two Baldwins but was not successful.[4] Between 1050 and 1054 Count Lambert II of Lens fought alongside the Baldwins against Henry III finding that this alliance best protected his interests.[lower-alpha 1][5]
Baldwin VI died on 17 July 1070.[1] Baldwin had constructed the church of St. Peter's of Hasnon, placed monks there and designated it as his burial place.[6] His early death left Flanders and Hainaut in the hands of his young son, Arnulf III, with Richilde as regent.[7] Arnulf III was killed at the Battle of Cassel in 1071.[8] Baldwin VI's younger son, Count Baldwin II of Hainaut,[1] could not claim Flanders from Baldwin VI's brother, Robert I.[9]