Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders

Baldwin VII (1093 – 17 July 1119) was Count of Flanders from 1111 to 1119.

Baldwin was the son of Count Robert II of Flanders and Clementia of Burgundy.<ref name="aristocracy">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="kinship">Template:Cite book</ref> He succeeded his father as count when he died on 5 October 1111.<ref name="anglo-normans">Template:Cite book</ref>

Reign

Baldwin succeeded his father as count when he died on 5 October 1111.<ref name="anglo-normans"/> He was under the influence of his powerful mother Clementia of Burgundy. He tried to assert independence from her, but she still remained influential behind the scenes.<ref name="aristocracy"/> Baldwin was an impetuous and impulsive young man, extremely hostile towards Henry I of England.<ref name="anglo-normans"/><ref name="aristocracy"/> The inexperienced new count solicited the advice of his cousin, Charles the Good, who was several years older. It was Baldwin who arranged the marriage of Charles to the heiress of the County of Amiens, Margaret of Clermont, in 1118. Baldwin invaded Normandy in 1118 and raided many towns.<ref name="hyde chronicle">Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1105, Baldwin married Hawise of Brittany (also called Havide), daughter of Duke Alan IV of Brittany. The groom was twelve and the bride nine. The union, in all probability, was never consummated. They were divorced in 1110. Baldwin did not remarry. Baldwin and Hawise had no known issue. Template:Citation needed

Death

He died after being wounded in 1118,<ref name="anglo-normans"/><ref name="capetians"/> hit on the head by a lance<ref name="capetians">Template:Cite book</ref> at the Battle of Bures-en-Bray, where he was fighting Henry I of England, on behalf of Louis VI of France.<ref name="bastards">Template:Cite book</ref> When he was dying in 1119<ref name="bastards"/> at Eu,<ref name="anglo-normans"/><ref name="anglorum">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="capetians"/> Baldwin declared his cousin Charles his heir.<ref name="aristocracy"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="capetians"/> he died on 17 June 1119.<ref name="hyde chronicle"/> Charles became the new count of Flanders after his death.<ref name="kinship"/><ref name="aristocracy"/>

References

• www.genealogie-mittelalter.de
• Bram Brutsaert: Boudewijn VII Hapkin, een Witte Ridder uit de 12de eeuw, graaf van Vlaanderen (1111–1119). Dissertation 2003–2004 in the University of Louvain, see online: Deel I. Prins Boudewijn (1093–1111)