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Robert de Flanders I



Preferred Parents:
Mother: Adélaïde DE FRANCE, b. environ 1009   d. 8 NOV 1079

Family 1: Gertrud von Sachsen,    b. 1034 in Schweinfurt, Bayern, Allemagne    d. 4 AUG 1113 in Veurne, West Flanders, Belgium
  1. Gertrude de Flanders, b. um 1054 in Flanders, Belgium     d. 23 JAN 1115 in Châtenois, Jura, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
  2. Robert de Flandres II, b. ABT 1065 in North Holland, Netherlands     d. 5 OCT 1111 in Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France
  3. Adela of Flanders , b. 1066 in Flandre, Belgium     d. APR 1115 in Apulia, Italy
  4. Philip van Vlaanderen, of Loo, b. ABT 1067 in Vlaams Gewest, Vlaanderen, Belgien     d. 1158 in Vlaams Gewest, Vlaanderen, Belgium
Sources:
  1. Title: Dirk III, Dirk IV, Floris I, and Dirk V, Counts of Holland, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/HOLLAND.htm#DirkIIIdied1039A [See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/121694962;
    Note: Dirk III, Dirk IV, Floris I, and Dirk V, Counts of Holland, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/HOLLAND.htm#DirkIIIdied1039A [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Dirk III, Dirk IV, Floris I, and Dirk V, Counts of Holland, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/HOLLAND.htm#DirkIIIdied1039A [See document in the Memories section]
  2. Title: Robert I, Count of Flanders, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FLANDERS,%20HAINAUT.htm#RobertIdied1093A [See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141471266;
    Note: Robert I, Count of Flanders, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FLANDERS,%20HAINAUT.htm#RobertIdied1093A [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Robert I, Count of Flanders, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FLANDERS,%20HAINAUT.htm#RobertIdied1093A [See document in the Memories section]
  3. Title: Lambert I and II and Henry II and III, Counts of Louvain, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BRABANT,%20LOUVAIN.htm#LambertIILouvaindiedafterSep1062 [See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141586714;
    Note: Lambert I and II and Henry II and III, Counts of Louvain, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BRABANT,%20LOUVAIN.htm#LambertIILouvaindiedafterSep1062 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Lambert I and II and Henry II and III, Counts of Louvain, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BRABANT,%20LOUVAIN.htm#LambertIILouvaindiedafterSep1062 [See document in the Memories section]
  4. Title: Denstoredanske Robert I Friseren
    Publication: Name: http://denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/Tyskland,_%C3%98strig,_Schweiz_og_Liechtenstein/Tyskland_962-1250/Robert_1._Friseren;
    Note: Robert 1. Friseren, ca. 1030-93, greve af Flandern 1071-93, far til Edel, Knud 4. den Helliges dronning. Robert var yngre søn af Baudouin 5. (1035-76) og Adéla, datter af Robert den Fromme af Frankrig. Efter sit ægteskab med Gertrud Billung, enke efter Floris 1. af Holland, blev Robert værge for hendes mindreårige søn, grev Dirk 5. af Holland (1061-91). Efter broderen Baudouin 6.s død i 1070 fortrængte han Baudouins enke og den mindreårige arving, Arnulf 3., og konsoliderede sin besiddelse af Flandern i Slaget ved Cassel nær Dunkerque i 1071. Gertruds datter, Bertha, blev gift med Filip 1. af Frankrig, formentlig som et led i fredsafslutningen. Gennem nogle år fik Robert stor indflydelse på fransk politik gennem sin steddatter, som blev mor til Ludvig 6. Robert var fjende af Vilhelm 1. Erobreren, som var gift med hans søster Matilda, og planlagde sammen med Knud den Hellige en invasion i England i 1085; invasionen blev dog ikke til noget. I 1086-90 var Robert på pilgrimsfærd til Jerusalem og besøgte på hjemvejen kejser Alexios 1. Komnenos i Konstantinopel. Han blev vel modtaget og lovede at sende kejseren 500 riddere. Anna Komnena, Alexios' historieskrivende datter, fortæller at de omtrent 500 udvalgte riddere faktisk kom. I 1093 gjorde han Brugge til sin hovedstad. Han efterfulgtes af sin søn, Robert 2. af Flandern, en af lederne af det første korstog.
  5. Title: Counts of Flanders in A History of Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day, Pgs. 60-63 [See document in the Memories section]
    Author: A History of Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day, Pgs. 60-63
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141042841;
    Note: Counts of Flanders in A History of Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day, Pgs. 60-63 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Counts of Flanders in A History of Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day, Pgs. 60-63 [See document in the Memories section]
  6. Title: Britannica Robert-I-count-of-Flanders
    Publication: Name: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-I-count-of-Flanders;
    Note: Robert I, also called Robert the Frisian, French Robert le Frison, Dutch Robrecht de Fries, (born c. 1013—died October 13, 1093, Kassel [Germany]), count of Flanders (1071–93), second son of Count Baldwin V. In 1063 he married Gertrude and became guardian of her son, who had inherited Frisia east of the Scheldt River. Upon this marriage, Robert’s father also invested him with Imperial Flanders, including the islands of Frisia west of the Scheldt. He thus in his own right and that of his stepson became ruler of all of Frisia (Zeeland) and was known among his Flemish countrymen as Robert the Frisian. His right to Imperial Flanders, however, was disputed by his elder brother, Baldwin VI, who had succeeded to the countship of Flanders. War broke out between the two brothers, and Baldwin was killed in battle in 1070. Robert then claimed the tutelage of Baldwin’s children and obtained the support of the German emperor Henry IV, while Richilde, Baldwin’s widow, appealed to Philip I of France. The contest was decided at Ravenshoven, near Kassel, on February 22, 1071, where Robert was victorious. Richilde was taken prisoner, and her eldest son, Arnulf III, was slain. Robert obtained from Philip I the investiture of Crown Flanders and from Henry IV the fiefs that formed Imperial Flanders. Robert the Frisian led a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the late 1080s. In 1090, on his return, he took temporary service in the army of the Byzantine emperor Alexius I, in his war against the Seljuq Turks. Robert’s pilgrimage and service with the Byzantine emperor established a pattern followed later in the First Crusade (1096–99).
  7. Title: Heinrich II, Count of Louvain, in The American Genealogist, Volume XXV, No. 4, pgs. 225, 226 and 227 [See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141644184;
    Note: Heinrich II, Count of Louvain, in The American Genealogist, Volume XXV, No. 4, pgs. 225, 226 and 227 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Heinrich II, Count of Louvain, in The American Genealogist, Volume XXV, No. 4, pgs. 225, 226 and 227 [See document in the Memories section]
  8. Title: Guillaume, Comte de Bourgogne et Comte de Macon, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDY%20Kingdom.htm#GuillaumeIdied1087A [See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/120604867;
    Note: Guillaume, Comte de Bourgogne et Comte de Macon, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDY%20Kingdom.htm#GuillaumeIdied1087A [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Guillaume, Comte de Bourgogne et Comte de Macon, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDY%20Kingdom.htm#GuillaumeIdied1087A [See document in the Memories section]
  9. Title: Bernhard I and Bernhard II, Dukes of Saxony, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SAXONY.htm#BernhardIdied1011B {See document in the Memories section]
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/119817362;
    Note: Bernhard I and Bernhard II, Dukes of Saxony, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SAXONY.htm#BernhardIdied1011B {See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Bernhard I and Bernhard II, Dukes of Saxony, in the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy ~http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SAXONY.htm#BernhardIdied1011B {See document in the Memories section]
  10. Title: en,Wikipedia Robert I, Count of Flanders
    Author: Robert I Count of Flanders Reign 1071 - 1093 Predecessor Arnulf III Successor Robert II Born c. 1035 Died 13 October 1093 Spouse Gertrude of Saxony Issue Robert II, Count of Flanders Adela Gertrude House House of Flanders Father Baldwin V of Flanders Mother Adela of France
    Publication: Name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_I,_Count_of_Flanders;
    Note: Count of Flanders and the younger brother of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders. He usurped the countship after defeating his nephew Arnulf III and his allies, which included King Philip I of France, count Eustace of Boulogne and the counts of Saint-Pol and Ardres at the Battle of Cassel.[1] He subsequently made peace with Philip, who became his stepson-in-law, but remained hostile to his sister Matilda and brother-in-law, King William I of England (and Duke of Normandy). Early life: Robert was the younger son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela, a daughter of King Robert II of France.[2] His elder brother, Baldwin VI, succeeded their father as count of Flanders in 1067, and his sister Matilda had married William the Conqueror, then duke of Normandy and later king of England in 1051/2.[3] Regent of Holland: Robert's marriage to Gertrude of Saxony, dowager countess of Holland, in 1063 was not arranged by his father but nonetheless agreed to.[3] His nickname 'the Frisian' was obtained, apparently, when he acted as regent for his stepson, Count Dirk V of Holland[3] Robert and Gertrude had six children: Robert, who became count of Flanders[2] Adela († 1115), who became queen of Denmark,[2] Gertrude, who became duchess of Lorraine,[2] Philip,[2] Ogiva, who became abbess of Messines,[2] and Baldwin († bef. 1080).[2] Robert twice swore a renunciation to his claims to Flanders. The first was at Audenarde (between 1063 and 1067), in presence of his father Baldwin V. He received a significant monetary compensation.[1][4] The second was made at Bruges (1069/70) in presence of his brother Baldwin VI.[1] On his deathbed in 1070, Baldwin VI left Flanders and Hainaut to his elder son, Arnulf III,[1][a] Richilde, Arnulf's mother, was to be regent until Arnulf came of age.[5] Count of Flanders: Despite the oath, Robert disputed the succession of his nephew Arnulf III upon Baldwin VI's death. He recruited supporters in the Maritime Flanders and Ghent, and finally entered the latter with the intent of taking Flanders for himself.[1] Richilde appealed to King Philip I of France who summoned Robert to appear before him.[6] Robert refused and continued his war with Richilde at which point Philip I amassed an army which he brought to Flanders.[7] Among his allies were the counts of Boulogne, Saint-Pol and Ardres.[1] His army was also accompanied by Norman troops, probably sent by Robert's sister, Queen Matilda, and led by William FitzOsborn. [b][5][1] Both forces did battle on Cassel on 22 June 1071.[5] King Philip fled together with Godfrey, bishop of Paris, both Robert and Richilde were captured but Robert was ultimately victorious. Among the dead were Arnulf III (according to some sources killed by Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester[8] ) and William FitzOsborn.[6] As a result of the battle Robert claimed the countship of Flanders.,[6] and Richilde's son Baldwin became count of Hainaut, where he continued to instigate hostilities against Robert.[6][4] King Philip gathered some forces at Montreuil-sur-Mer, invaded Flanders and burned the town of Saint-Omer. However, count Robert eventually negotiated a peace agreement, later consolidated by the marriage of his stepdaughter, Bertha of Holland to the king.[9] As a part of their negotiations Corbie, an important trade center, which had been ceded by Arnulf III in order to secure the king's help, was returned to royal control.[1] From then on, and until the repudiation of Bertha in 1092 (in order for king Philip I to marry Bertrade of Montfort), Flanders and France remained in very friendly terms, both of them having the new Anglo-Norman realm as a main enemy.[1][6] After the battle of Cassel, Richilde and Baldwin continued the war against Robert. To obtain funds, they enfeoffed Hainaut to the bishopric of Liege and counted with the support of Godfrey IV, Duke of Lower Lorraine.[1] Close to forest of Broqueroye, Robert inflicted heavy losses on the forces of Hainaut. Later, Baldwin obtained a victory at Wavrechain. After this, the war with Hainaut ended, with Robert as the unchallenged ruler of Flanders. Flanders became a refuge for William the Conqueror's enemies, including Edgar Ætheling in 1075[10] and his rebellious son Robert Curthose in 1078/79.[11][c][9] In 1075, Robert let the Danish fleet of king Sweyn II of Denmark use Flanders harbors in their intended expedition against England.[1] In 1080, Robert married his daughter Adela to Canute IV of Denmark on his accession to the throne. In 1085 Robert and Canute planned a massive naval attack on England. The threat was big enough for William to hire mercenaries and lay waste to some coastal districts in order to difficult the supplying of an invading army.[12] However, the rebellion of Canute's brother Olaf delayed the expedition,[13][14] and finally Canute's assassination put a definitive end to the plan.[9] Even before becoming count of Flanders, Robert was engaged in continued hostilities in Holland, defending the rights of his stepson Dirk V against Godfrey IV and William I (bishop of Utrecht). In 1076, the deaths of Godfrey at Vlaardingen and later of William, allowed Robert and Dirk to go on the offensive. They won an important battle at Yselmond, even capturing the new bishop. Conrad.[15] The victory changed the course of the hostilities, allowing Dirk and future counts to reconquer the territories of the county of Holland they had lost in the past.[1] Relationship with the Church: The relationship between Robert and Pope Gregory VII was marked by the conflict between the latter and the bishops of Therouanne. Since Robert did not take action against bishop Drogo, he was excommunicated (around 1077) by bishop Raynard of Langres and papal legate Hubert. Gregory was not pleased with the excommunication, since he could not afford another enemy in his conflict with Henry IV. He instructed his legate Hugh of Die to investigate the matter and lift the excommunication if it had been not canonical. The excommunication was probably lifted at some point after September 1079. Trouble continued under Drogo's successors, Hubert and Lambert, as Robert refused to intervene against them. Gregory threatened Robert with a new excommunication, but the threat was not carried out.[1][16][17][18] During the papacy of Urban II the Flemish clergy complained about the exactions imposed by Robert at a provincial council in Rheims (around 1092). A delegation composed of Arnulf (provost of Saint Omer), Jean (abbot of Saint Bertin), Gerard (abbot of Ham) and Bernard (provost of Watten) threatened Robert with an interdict in case the exactions did not end. Robert complied and returned the goods he had confiscated.[1] Later years and pilgrimage to Jerusalem: Taking a considerable armed escort Robert the Frisian made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1086 and on the return trip home spent time assisting the Byzantine Emperor (Alexios I Komnenos) against the Seljuq Turks.[19] In one battle Robert and three of his companions rode ahead of the main army charging the forces under the command of Kerbogha, whose forces the Christians scattered completely.[20] Robert died 13 October 1093.[2] Notes: a. The version of Gislebert on Mons, according to which Baldwin partitioned his inheritance, leaving Flanders to Arnulf and Hainaut to his younger son Baldwin, is not corroborated by charter evidence. The same is true for Ghislebert's claim that Baldwin VI further entrusted Robert, his brother, with the safeguard of Arnulf III. b. FitzOsborn's motives for being at the battle of Cassel vary considerably depending on which chronicler one reads. Robert of Torigni states he went at the request of Queen Matilda, William of Malmesbury claims he was in love with Richilde while William of Jumièges says he went on his own accord. Heather Tanner comments (Families, Friends, and Allies: Boulogne and Politics in Northern France and England c.879—1160 (Brill, 2004), pp. 103–4 & Esp. n. 138) that FitzOsborn was one of William the Conqueror's advisors who would not likely leave England without the king's consent making Robert of Torigni's explanation the more likely. The Conqueror was Arnulf III's uncle so his, or Queen Matilda's sending a Norman contingent would make sense. However, both Orderic Vitalis and Robert de Torigny mention that he was accompanied by a very small contingent (ten knights according to Orderic), making some scholars infer that FitzOsborn went to fulfill King William's feudal obligations to Phillip. c. The relationships between England and Flanders, and between Normandy and Flanders prior to 1066 are complex and the fact that Flanders harbored fugitives from both England and Normandy did not improve the situation, yet they were not always unfriendly either; there were certainly conflicting loyalties. See: Lesley Abrams, 'England, Normandy and Scandinavia', Companion to the Anglo-Norman World, Ed. C. Harper-Bill, E. van Houts (Boydell Press, 2002), 43—62. Philip Grierson contended (in his 'Relations between England and Flanders...' TRHS, XXIII (1941) 71—113) that there were no close relationships between England and Flanders prior to the Norman Conquest. Renée Nip (in 'Political Relations Between England and Flanders', Anglo-Norman Studies 21 (1999), 145—168) adds that the Norman Conquest of England, even though many Flemings participated and the fact a marriage alliance between Normandy and Flanders existed, did not improve relationships between England and Flanders. Later commercial interests would change the situation significantly. See also, David Bates, Normandy and its Neighbours, 900—1250: Essays for David Bates, Ed. David Crouch, Kathleen Thompson (Brepols, 2011). Please read the full text in Memories en.Wikipedia Robert I, Count of Flanders
  11. Title: Counts of Flanders in Flemish Relics; Architectural, Legendary, and Pictorial, pgs. 19-22 [See document in the Memories section]
    Author: Flemish Relics; Architectural, Legendary, and Pictorial, pgs. 19-22
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141043826;
    Note: Counts of Flanders in Flemish Relics; Architectural, Legendary, and Pictorial, pgs. 19-22 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Counts of Flanders in Flemish Relics; Architectural, Legendary, and Pictorial, pgs. 19-22 [See document in the Memories section]
  12. Title: Baudouin II, Comte de Hainaut, and Ida de Louvain in Boudouin V, Comte de Hainaut 1150-1195, pg. 60-61 [See document in the Memories section]
    Author: Boudouin V, Comte de Hainaut 1150-1195, pg. 60-61
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141642360;
    Note: Baudouin II, Comte de Hainaut, and Ida de Louvain in Boudouin V, Comte de Hainaut 1150-1195, pg. 60-61 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Baudouin II, Comte de Hainaut, and Ida de Louvain in Boudouin V, Comte de Hainaut 1150-1195, pg. 60-61 [See document in the Memories section]
  13. Title: Baudouin I, II and III, Comtes de Hainaut in Table Generale, Alphabetique et Analytique, pg. 92 and 93 [See document in the Memories section]
    Author: Table Generale, Alphabetique et Analytique, pg. 92 and 93
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141835851;
    Note: Baudouin I, II and III, Comtes de Hainaut in Table Generale, Alphabetique et Analytique, pg. 92 and 93 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Baudouin I, II and III, Comtes de Hainaut in Table Generale, Alphabetique et Analytique, pg. 92 and 93 [See document in the Memories section]
  14. Title: Counts of Flanders from Baldwin V to Baldwin VII in The Story of Bruges, pg. 83 [See document in the Memories section]
    Author: The Story of Bruges, pg. 83
    Publication: Name: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/141095435;
    Note: Counts of Flanders from Baldwin V to Baldwin VII in The Story of Bruges, pg. 83 [See document in the Memories section]
    Page: Counts of Flanders from Baldwin V to Baldwin VII in The Story of Bruges, pg. 83 [See document in the Memories section]

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