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• Ghent

The Expansion of Flanders Under Baldwin IV ("the Bearded") and the Seizure of Ghent (1005)

During the early 11th century, Flanders, a powerful vassal state of the Capetian Duchy of Burgundy, embarked on a period of territorial expansion under Count Baldwin IV ("the Bearded"). One of his earliest and most significant gains was the capture of Ghent in 1005, securing a crucial strategic and economic stronghold.

Flanders’ Position Within the Capetian Realm

• Though formally a vassal of the Capetian monarchy, Flanders enjoyed significant autonomy, owing to its wealth, military strength, and political ties to the Holy Roman Empire.
• The House of Flanders was a dominant force in northern France and the Low Countries, frequently engaging in territorial disputes and strategic alliances to expand its holdings.

The Capture of Ghent (1005)

• In 1005, Baldwin IV expanded his control eastward, seizing Ghent, a vital trade and river port city at the confluence of the Scheldt and Lys rivers.
• Ghent’s location made it one of the most important economic centers in northern Europe, allowing Flanders to control trade routes and further develop its textile industry.
• This expansion strengthened Flanders’ influence in the region, bringing it into closer conflict with both the Capetian monarchy and the Holy Roman Empire, which also had interests in the Low Countries.

Baldwin IV’s Continued Expansion

• Following the capture of Ghent, Baldwin IV continued to extend Flemish control southward and eastward, further consolidating his territorial power.
• His reign marked the foundation of Flanders’ later dominance as one of the wealthiest and most politically independent regions in medieval Europe.

Legacy

The capture of Ghent in 1005 was a turning point in the rise of Flanders as a commercial and military power. It secured Baldwin IV’s position as a formidable ruler, setting the stage for Flanders’ increasing independence from Capetian France and its growing role in European trade and politics.

The Flemish Succession Crisis: Robert the Frisian vs. Richilde and Arnulf III (1067–1071)

Following the death of Baldwin VI of Flanders in 1070, a succession crisis erupted, pitting Robert the Frisian, Baldwin’s younger brother, against Richilde of Hainaut, Baldwin’s widow and regent for their young son, Arnulf III. The conflict would draw in France, Normandy, and other regional powers, culminating in a major battle for control of Flanders.

Robert the Frisian’s Background and Early Career

• Robert was the younger son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adèle of France, making him the brother of Baldwin VI and the brother-in-law of William the Conqueror through their sister, Queen Matilda of England.
• In 1063, Robert had married Gertrude of Saxony, the widow of Floris I, Count of Holland, becoming stepfather to Dirk V, Count of Holland.
• His nickname, "the Frisian," stemmed from his role as regent for Dirk V, as Holland was then commonly referred to as Frisia.

Baldwin VI’s Succession Plan and Robert’s Betrayal (1067–1070)

• On his deathbed in 1067, Baldwin VI entrusted Flanders to his son, Arnulf III, with Hainaut assigned to his younger son, Baldwin II.
• Baldwin also made Robert the guardian of Arnulf, expecting him to protect his young nephew’s inheritance.
• However, Robert soon betrayed this agreement, rejecting his oath of homage and invading Ghent in 1070, declaring himself Count of Flanders.

Richilde Appeals to France and Normandy (1070–1071)

• Richilde of Hainaut, Arnulf’s mother, sought aid from King Philip I of France, who summoned Robert to appear before him.
• Robert refused, instead continuing his military campaign to claim Flanders for himself.
• In response, Philip I led an army into Flanders, aiming to restore Arnulf III’s rule.
• Richilde secured further military support from Normandy, with Queen Matilda (Robert’s sister) sending Norman knights to support Philip I and Arnulf III.
• The Norman forces were led by William FitzOsbern, a trusted ally of William the Conqueror, who had also accepted a marriage proposal from Richilde.

The War for Flanders: The Road to Cassel (1071)

• The confrontation between Robert and Richilde’s forces, now backed by France and Normandy, would culminate in the Battle of Cassel (1071).
• Count Eustace II of Boulogne and other pro-Capetian nobles also joined Arnulf’s side, making this a significant war over Flemish succession.
• The outcome of the battle would determine the future ruler of Flanders, deciding whether Baldwin VI’s son or his brother Robert would control the county.

The Flemish succession war (1070–1071) was one of the most significant power struggles of 11th-century France, shaping the political future of Flanders and its relationship with both France and Normandy.

The Flemish Succession Crisis and the Rise of Thierry of Alsace (1127–1128 CE)

Following the assassination of Count Charles the Good in 1127, Thierry of Alsace laid claim to the County of Flanders as the grandson of Robert I of Flanders. However, his rival William Clito, the son of Robert Curthose and grandson of William the Conqueror, was installed as Count of Flanders with the backing of King Louis VI of France.

Despite William Clito’s Capetian support, his rule quickly became unpopular, as his policies threatened the autonomy of Flanders. By the end of 1127, major Flemish cities, including Bruges, Ghent, Lille, and Saint-Omer, had declared their support for Thierry, escalating the conflict into a full-fledged succession war.

Early Battles and Thierry’s Struggles (1127–1128)

• Thierry’s support came primarily from the Imperial faction in Flanders, aligning himself with Emperor Lothair II rather than the Capetians.
• Upon arriving in Flanders, Thierry immediately engaged William Clito in battle, seeking to secure control over the contested county.
• In retaliation, Louis VI of France had Thierry excommunicated by Archbishop Raymond of Martigné of Reims, branding him a rebel against Capetian rule.
• Louis VI then personally besieged Lille, attempting to crush Thierry’s rebellion, but was forced to withdrawwhen King Henry I of England, William’s uncle, switched his support to Thierry.

Despite these victories, Thierry suffered major defeats at Tielt and Oostkamp, forcing him to retreat to Bruges, his main stronghold. When Bruges also became untenable, he fled to Aalst, where he was soon besieged by William Clito, Godfrey I of Leuven, and Louis VI.

The Sudden Death of William Clito (July 27, 1128)

• With Aalst on the verge of capture, Thierry’s prospects seemed bleak, and it appeared that Capetian control over Flanders was imminent.
• However, William Clito suddenly died on July 27, 1128, reportedly from a wound sustained during the siege.
• His unexpected death left Thierry as the only remaining viable claimant to the county.

Thierry of Alsace Becomes Count of Flanders

With William Clito gone, Capetian ambitions in Flanders collapsed. Thierry was able to secure control over the county, establishing his rule as Count of Flanders and ending the Capetian-backed resistance.

Significance of the Flemish Succession War

• Thierry’s victory reinforced Flemish autonomy, ensuring that Flanders remained independent from direct Capetian rule.
• Louis VI’s attempt to expand Capetian influence into Flanders had failed, marking a setback for Capetian ambitions in northern France.
• Henry I of England’s intervention proved decisive, further demonstrating the ongoing Anglo-French rivalry over influence in Flanders and Normandy.
• Thierry’s long reign (1128–1168) would see Flanders emerge as a powerful economic and political force in medieval Europe, playing a crucial role in the trade networks of the North Sea and the Low Countries.

The Flemish succession crisis (1127–1128) had transformed into a broader struggle between Capetian France and Imperial-supported Flemish independence, ultimately ensuring Flanders remained free of direct French rule for decades to come.

Consolidation of Thierry of Alsace’s Rule and the Flemish Conflict with Liège and Namur (1128 CE)

Following the death of William Clito in July 1128, Thierry of Alsace solidified his claim to Flanders, establishing his government in Ghent. Despite his Imperial-backed victory, Flanders remained unstable, with ongoing conflicts in Liège and Namur.

Godfrey of Leuven’s War Against Liège and Namur

• Godfrey I, Duke of Lower Lorraine, continued his military campaigns against the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the County of Namur.
• As a key ally of the Capetians, Godfrey had previously supported William Clito’s claim to Flanders and remained opposed to Thierry’s rule.
• His war in the Meuse valley, which had begun before Clito’s death, continued as an independent regional conflict, shaping the balance of power in Lotharingia and northern France.

Thierry of Alsace Secures Power in Flanders

• Thierry established his rule in Ghent, one of the most economically and politically important cities in Flanders.
• He was recognized as Count of Flanders by the major Flemish cities, including Bruges, Lille, and Saint-Omer, confirming his legitimacy.

Anglo-Flemish Relations: Henry I’s Support for Thierry

• King Henry I of England, having previously supported William Clito, now shifted his allegiance to Thierry.
• Henry ordered his Flemish vassals in England to swear fealty to Thierry, reinforcing his political legitimacy and military backing.
• This Anglo-Flemish alliance secured English influence in Flanders, an economically vital trade partner.

Impact and Consequences

• Thierry’s recognition across Flanders marked the end of the immediate succession crisis following Charles the Good’s assassination.
• The continued fighting in Liège and Namur meant that Imperial-backed and Capetian-backed factions remained at odds, fueling ongoing regional instability.
• Henry I’s endorsement further strengthened Anglo-Flemish ties, ensuring that England retained influence over the Flemish trade economy.

Though Thierry had successfully secured his rule, Flanders remained entangled in the broader power struggles of France, the Empire, and England, setting the stage for future political realignments.

Baldwin IX of Flanders and the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204)

In 1202, Count Baldwin IX of Flanders took up the cross and departed on the Fourth Crusade, leaving his young daughter as his heir. His absence created a power vacuum in Flanders, which Philip II of France eagerly sought to exploit, furthering Capetian influence in the region.

Baldwin’s Departure and Its Consequences

• Baldwin left behind only a small child as heir, making Flanders politically vulnerable.
• With no strong leadership, Philip II of France began asserting influence over the county, seeing an opportunity to expand Capetian power into Flemish territory.
• This situation foreshadowed future conflicts over Flanders, as local nobles and foreign rulers vied for control of the strategically vital region.

Baldwin’s Fate on Crusade

• After the sack of Constantinople in 1204, Baldwin was elected the first Latin Emperor of Constantinople, ruling as Baldwin I of the Latin Empire.
• However, his reign in the East was short-lived—in 1205, he was captured by the Bulgarians and subsequently disappeared, presumed executed.
• His death left Flanders without an adult male ruler, deepening the crisis over the county’s fate.

Philip II’s Opportunism and Flemish Resistance

• With Baldwin gone, Philip II intensified his attempts to bring Flanders under Capetian control.
• However, the Flemish nobility and merchant class were fiercely independent, resisting French domination.
• This would lead to ongoing struggles for Flemish autonomy, culminating in major conflicts like the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.

Baldwin IX’s departure on the Fourth Crusade in 1202 and his death in the East ultimately weakened Flanders, allowing Philip II to extend French influence into the region and setting the stage for future battles over Flemish independence.

Henry of Ghent and the Debate on Usury and Annuities (1276)

Henry of Ghent (Henricus Gandavensis), a prominent theologian and philosopher, was born in the district of Mude, near Ghent, possibly to an Italian family known as Bonicolli (Goethals in Dutch). The exact origins of his surnamehave been widely debated, but what remains undisputed is his intellectual influence in the late 13th century.

Education and Academic Career

• Henry studied at Ghent before continuing his education in Cologne under Albertus Magnus, one of the greatest Scholastic thinkers of his time.
• After obtaining his doctorate, he returned to Ghent, where he is believed to have been the first to publicly lecture on philosophy and theology in the city.
• He later became an important teacher in Paris, engaging in intellectual disputes with both Thomists and Scotists, setting himself apart with his unique philosophical and theological positions.

The Debate on Annuities and Usury (1276)

• In 1276, Henry of Ghent became the last major theologian to publicly consider annuities as a form of usury, meaning that they constituted illicit financial gain under Church doctrine.
• The medieval Church prohibited usury, defining it as the practice of charging interest on loans, which was considered morally and theologically unjustifiable.
• However, the concept of renten emission—a financial mechanism involving the sale of annuities (renten) as a source of public finance—was emerging as a solution for urban and princely governments needing to raise funds without direct taxation.

Impact of Henry’s Position and the Expansion of Public Finance

• Henry’s stance marked the final stage of the Scholastic debate on annuities and their relationship to usury.
• After his argument failed to gain broad support, renten (annuities) were no longer considered usurious by most theologians, effectively paving the way for their expansion.
• This shift allowed public authorities in northwestern Europe to issue annuities to finance civic projects, military campaigns, and other government expenses.
• The development of renten emission became a cornerstone of public finance, influencing early European banking and state borrowing practices.

Henry of Ghent’s Legacy

• Though best known for his philosophical disputes with Thomists and Scotists, Henry’s involvement in the usury debate had lasting economic consequences.
• His rigid stance on annuities contrasted with the eventual acceptance of financial instruments that would shape the economic history of late medieval and early modern Europe.

While his theological position lost ground, the renten system he opposed flourished, influencing the development of public finance in Flanders, the Low Countries, and beyond.