Robert III (1249 – 17 September 1322), also called Robert of Béthune and nicknamed The Lion of Flanders (De Leeuw van Vlaanderen), was the Count of Nevers from 1273 and Count of Flanders from 1305 until his death.
Robert was the oldest son of Guy of Dampierre[1] from his first marriage with Matilda of Béthune.[2] His father essentially transferred the reign of Flanders to him in November 1299, during his war with Philip IV of France. Both father and son were taken into captivity in May 1300, and Robert was not released until 1305.
Robert of Béthune gained military fame in Italy, when he fought at the side of his father-in-law, Charles I of Sicily (1265–1268) against the last Hohenstaufens, Manfred and Conradin. Together with his father he took part in 1270 in the Eighth Crusade, led by Saint Louis. After his return from the Crusade he continued to be a loyal aid for his father, politically and militarily, in the fight against the attempts of the French King Philip IV the Fair to add Flanders to the French crown lands.
Guy of Dampierre broke all feudal bonds with the French king (on 20 January 1297) mainly under his influence. When the resistance seemed hopeless Robert allowed himself to be taken prisoner, together with his father and his brother William of Crèvecoeur, and taken to the French King (May 1300). Shortly before that he had become the de facto ruler of Flanders. He was locked in the castle of Chinon. Contrary to popular belief, and the romantic portrayal by Hendrik Conscience in his novel about these events (The Lion of Flanders), he did not take part in the Battle of the Golden Spurs.[3]
In July 1305, after his father had died in captivity, he was allowed to return to his county. The execution of the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge would mark the rule of Count Robert. Initially, he achieved some success in moving the countryside and the cities to fulfill their duties. However, in April 1310 he started to radically resist the French, with support of his subjects and his family. Both diplomatically and militarily he managed to make a stand against the French king. In December 1318, King Edward II of England sent nobles to mediate between Count Robert and William I, Count of Hainaut, in order to ease the passage of trade.[4] When Robert marched to Lille in 1319 the militia from Ghent refused to cross the Leie with him. When his grandson Louis I of Nevers pressured him as well, Robert gave up the battle and went to Paris in 1320 to restore feudal bonds with the French King.
But even after that, he would hamper the execution of the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge to the point of being excommunicated.[5] Robert died in 1322 and was succeeded by his grandson, Louis, Count of Nevers.
He was buried in Flanders in Saint Martin's Cathedral in Ypres, as was his explicit wish to be buried on Flemish soil. His body was only allowed to be transferred to the abbey of Flines (near Douai) when Lille and Douai were again part of the County of Flanders. His first wife and his father were also buried in this abbey.
Familyedit
Robert (left) depicted with his three immediate successors: grandson Louis I, great-grandson Louis II, and great-great-granddaughter Margaret III with her husband Philip of Burgundy
Robert (d. 1331),[7] Count of Marle, married c. 1323 Joan of Brittany (1296 - 24 March 1363), Lady of Nogent-le-Rotrou, daughter of Arthur II, Duke of Brittany. Their children were:
Earp, Lawrence (1996). Guillaume de Machaut: A Guide to Research. Garland Publishing.
Fegley, Randall (2002). The Golden Spurs of Kortrijk: How the Knights of France Fell to the Foot Soldiers of Flanders in 1302. McFarland & Co.
Leson, Richard A. (2011). "Heraldry and Identity in the Psalter-Hours of Jeanne of Flanders (Manchester, John Rylands Library, MS LAT. 117)". Studies in Iconography. 32.
Lucas, Henry S. (1946). "The Low Countries and the Disputed Imperial Election of 1314". Speculum. 21 (1 (Jan.)).
Maxwell, H.C. (1895). "Close Rolls, Edward II: December 1318 Pages 117-119 Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward II: Volume 3, 1318-1323. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London,". British History Online. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
Morganstern, Anne McGee (2000). Gothic Tombs of Kinship in France, the Low Countries, and England. The Pennsylvania State University Press.
Pollock, M. A. (2015). Scotland, England and France After the Loss of Normandy, 1204-1296: "Auld Amitie". The Boydell Press.
TeBrake, William H. (1993). A Plague of Insurrection: Popular Politics and Peasant Revolt in Flanders, 1323-1328. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Verbruggen, J.F. (2002). Devries, Keely (ed.). The Battle of the Golden Spurs. Translated by Ferguson, D.R.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert III, Count of Flanders.
robert, count, flanders, lion, flanders, redirects, here, 1838, novel, hendrik, conscience, lion, flanders, novel, cyclist, fiorenzo, magni, robert, 1249, september, 1322, also, called, robert, béthune, nicknamed, lion, flanders, leeuw, vlaanderen, count, neve. The Lion of Flanders redirects here For the 1838 novel by Hendrik Conscience see The Lion of Flanders novel For the cyclist see Fiorenzo Magni Robert III 1249 17 September 1322 also called Robert of Bethune and nicknamed The Lion of Flanders De Leeuw van Vlaanderen was the Count of Nevers from 1273 and Count of Flanders from 1305 until his death Robert IIIRobert s effigy on his sealBorn1249Died 1322 09 17 17 September 1322YpresNoble familyHouse of DampierreSpouse s Blanche of SicilyYolande II Countess of NeversIssueLouis I Count of NeversFatherGuy of DampierreMotherMatilda of Bethune Contents 1 History 2 Family 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksHistory editRobert was the oldest son of Guy of Dampierre 1 from his first marriage with Matilda of Bethune 2 His father essentially transferred the reign of Flanders to him in November 1299 during his war with Philip IV of France Both father and son were taken into captivity in May 1300 and Robert was not released until 1305 Robert of Bethune gained military fame in Italy when he fought at the side of his father in law Charles I of Sicily 1265 1268 against the last Hohenstaufens Manfred and Conradin Together with his father he took part in 1270 in the Eighth Crusade led by Saint Louis After his return from the Crusade he continued to be a loyal aid for his father politically and militarily in the fight against the attempts of the French King Philip IV the Fair to add Flanders to the French crown lands Guy of Dampierre broke all feudal bonds with the French king on 20 January 1297 mainly under his influence When the resistance seemed hopeless Robert allowed himself to be taken prisoner together with his father and his brother William of Crevecoeur and taken to the French King May 1300 Shortly before that he had become the de facto ruler of Flanders He was locked in the castle of Chinon Contrary to popular belief and the romantic portrayal by Hendrik Conscience in his novel about these events The Lion of Flanders he did not take part in the Battle of the Golden Spurs 3 In July 1305 after his father had died in captivity he was allowed to return to his county The execution of the Treaty of Athis sur Orge would mark the rule of Count Robert Initially he achieved some success in moving the countryside and the cities to fulfill their duties However in April 1310 he started to radically resist the French with support of his subjects and his family Both diplomatically and militarily he managed to make a stand against the French king In December 1318 King Edward II of England sent nobles to mediate between Count Robert and William I Count of Hainaut in order to ease the passage of trade 4 When Robert marched to Lille in 1319 the militia from Ghent refused to cross the Leie with him When his grandson Louis I of Nevers pressured him as well Robert gave up the battle and went to Paris in 1320 to restore feudal bonds with the French King But even after that he would hamper the execution of the Treaty of Athis sur Orge to the point of being excommunicated 5 Robert died in 1322 and was succeeded by his grandson Louis Count of Nevers He was buried in Flanders in Saint Martin s Cathedral in Ypres as was his explicit wish to be buried on Flemish soil His body was only allowed to be transferred to the abbey of Flines near Douai when Lille and Douai were again part of the County of Flanders His first wife and his father were also buried in this abbey Family edit nbsp Robert left depicted with his three immediate successors grandson Louis I great grandson Louis II and great great granddaughter Margaret III with her husband Philip of BurgundyRobert married twice His first wife was Blanche d 1269 1 daughter of Charles I of Sicily and Beatrice of Provence in 1265 They had one son Charles who died young His second wife was Yolande II Countess of Nevers d 11 June 1280 1 daughter of Odo Count of Nevers in c 1271 They had five children Louis b 1272 d 24 July 1322 Paris Count of Nevers 6 married December 1290 Joan Countess of Rethel d aft 12 March 1328 Their son was Louis I of Flanders Robert d 1331 7 Count of Marle married c 1323 Joan of Brittany 1296 24 March 1363 Lady of Nogent le Rotrou daughter of Arthur II Duke of Brittany Their children were John Seigneur of Cassel d 1332 Yolande c 1320 1395 married Henry IV of Bar in 1340 8 dd Jeanne d 15 October 1333 married 1288 Enguerrand IV Lord of Coucy d 1310 Viscount of Meaux 9 Yolande d 1313 married c 1287 Walter II of Enghien fr d 1309 Matilda married c 1314 Matthias of Lorraine d c 1330 Lord of Warsberg References edit a b c Fegley 2002 p 104 Pollock 2015 p 185 Verbruggen 2002 p 19 Maxwell 1895 Lucas 1946 p 83 Morganstern 2000 p 57 TeBrake 1993 p 36 Earp 1996 p 29 Leson 2011 p 155 Sources editEarp Lawrence 1996 Guillaume de Machaut A Guide to Research Garland Publishing Fegley Randall 2002 The Golden Spurs of Kortrijk How the Knights of France Fell to the Foot Soldiers of Flanders in 1302 McFarland amp Co Leson Richard A 2011 Heraldry and Identity in the Psalter Hours of Jeanne of Flanders Manchester John Rylands Library MS LAT 117 Studies in Iconography 32 Lucas Henry S 1946 The Low Countries and the Disputed Imperial Election of 1314 Speculum 21 1 Jan Maxwell H C 1895 Close Rolls Edward II December 1318 Pages 117 119 Calendar of Close Rolls Edward II Volume 3 1318 1323 Originally published by Her Majesty s Stationery Office London British History Online Retrieved 20 August 2020 Morganstern Anne McGee 2000 Gothic Tombs of Kinship in France the Low Countries and England The Pennsylvania State University Press Pollock M A 2015 Scotland England and France After the Loss of Normandy 1204 1296 Auld Amitie The Boydell Press TeBrake William H 1993 A Plague of Insurrection Popular Politics and Peasant Revolt in Flanders 1323 1328 University of Pennsylvania Press Verbruggen J F 2002 Devries Keely ed The Battle of the Golden Spurs Translated by Ferguson D R External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert III Count of Flanders Count Robert III of FlandersRobert III Count of FlandersHouse of DampierreBorn 1249 Died 17 September 1322Preceded byYolande II Count of Nevers1272 1280with Yolande II Succeeded byLouis IPreceded byGuy Count of Flanders1305 1322 Succeeded byLouis I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert III Count of Flanders amp oldid 1170659756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
