The Granting of Béthune and the Inheritance…
May 1305 CE
The Granting of Béthune and the Inheritance of Mahaut of Artois (1304)
Following the French victories over the Flemish in 1304, Béthune, the first of the Flemish cities to surrender, was granted to Mahaut, Countess of Artois. Mahaut was the only daughter and eldest child of Robert II, Count of Artois, and Amicie de Courtenay.
Mahaut’s Inheritance and the Disputed Succession of Artois
- In 1291, Mahaut married Otto IV, Count of Burgundy, and took the name Mahaut de Chalon.
- She bore three children, including two daughters who would later be used for dynastic alliances with the French royal family.
- The succession to the County of Artois became contested when her younger brother, Philip of Artois, died prematurely in 1298.
- At the death of her father, Robert II of Artois, in 1302, Mahaut inherited the County of Artois, rather than her nephew Robert III of Artois.
- This inheritance was based on "proximity of blood", a legal principle favoring the closest direct descendant over a more distant male heir.
- However, Robert III of Artois would later contest this inheritance, leading to a long-running legal and political dispute that culminated in the 1330s.
Securing Mahaut’s Loyalty Through Dynastic Marriages
To ensure Mahaut’s continued loyalty to the French Crown, Philip IV of France arranged strategic betrothals for two of her daughters:
- Jeanne of Burgundy was betrothed to Philip IV’s second son, Philippe, Count of Poitiers, who would later become Philip V of France.
- Blanche of Burgundy was betrothed to Philip IV’s third son, the future Charles IV of France.
These dynastic marriages strengthened Mahaut’s position at the French court, aligning Artois and Burgundy with the Capetian dynasty.
Legacy and Political Influence
- Mahaut remained a powerful and politically astute figure, maneuvering successfully at the French court even as her nephew continued to challenge her claim to Artois.
- Her daughters’ marriages further intertwined her lineage with the French royal house, solidifying the Burgundian connection to the Capetians.
- The disputed inheritance of Artois would continue to resonate in French and Burgundian politics, leading to further dynastic struggles in the 14th century.
Mahaut’s inheritance of Artois and Béthune was a key political event, reinforcing Capetian control in northern France while setting the stage for later disputes over Burgundian and Artois territories.
Locations
Groups
Topics
Commodities
Subjects
Regions
West Europe
View →Subregions
