Matilda of Béthune (died 8 November 1264), was a noblewoman from
Artois
Artois ( ; ; nl, Artesië; English adjective: ''Artesian'') is a region of northern France. Its territory covers an area of about 4,000 km2 and it has a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras (Dutch: ''Atrecht'') ...
who became countess of
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
by marriage to
Guy, Count of Flanders
Guy of Dampierre (french: Gui de Dampierre; nl, Gwijde van Dampierre) ( – 7 March 1305, Compiègne) was the Count of Flanders (1251–1305) and Marquis of Namur (1264–1305). He was a prisoner of the French when his Flemings defeated th ...
, and heiress to her father's titles as
Lady
The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...
of
Béthune
Béthune ( ; archaic and ''Bethwyn'' historically in English) is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.
Geography
Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated south-east of Calais, ...
, of
Dendermonde
Dendermonde (; french: Termonde, ) is a city in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-b ...
, of
Richebourg and of
Warneton
Warneton (; nl, Waasten) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille.
Bounding communes and places
*Warneton, Belgium (part of Comines-Warneton)
* Comines, east
*Quesnoy-sur-Deûle ...
, as well as
Advocatess of the
Abbey of Saint Vaast at
Arras
Arras ( , ; pcd, Aro; historical nl, Atrecht ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, which forms part of the regions of France, region of Hauts-de-France; before the regions of France#Reform and mergers of ...
. She was the mother of
Robert, Count of Flanders, known as Robert of Béthune after his mother.
Life
Matilda, also referred to as Mathilde or Mahaut, was born about 1230, the first child of
Robert VII, Lord of the castle and town of Béthune and Advocate of the Abbey of Saint-Vaast at Arras, who was a major landowner and one of the twelve peers of Flanders. Her mother was Elizabeth, widow of Nicholas I, Lord of
Condé, and daughter of Arnulf IV, last Lord of Morialmé. Robert and Elizabeth had two further daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah.
Countess
About the age of 16, Matilda was engaged to
Guy of Dampierre
Guy of Dampierre (french: Gui de Dampierre; nl, Gwijde van Dampierre) ( – 7 March 1305, Compiègne) was the Count of Flanders (1251–1305) and Marquis of Namur (1264–1305). He was a prisoner of the French when his Flemings defeated the ...
, who was made co-ruler of Flanders by his widowed mother
Margaret II, Countess of Flanders
Margaret, often called Margaret of Constantinople (1202 – 10 February 1280), ruled as Countess of Flanders during 1244–1278 and Countess of Hainaut during 1244–1253 and 1257–1280. She was the younger daughter of Baldwin IX, Count of ...
alongside her and his elder brother
William III of Dampierre
William III (1224 – 6 June 1251) was the lord of Dampierre from 1231 and count of Flanders from 1247 until his death. He was the son of William II of Dampierre and Margaret II of Flanders.
Margaret inherited Flanders and Hainault in 1244 ...
, who died in 1251. In recognition of this important match for his eldest daughter, Robert of Béthune endowed her with the major part of his lands and titles.
[
In October 1245, she still under age and unmarried, he made her heir to the ancient lands of his ancestors outside Béthune, the Pays de l'Alleu in which he held power of life and death. The marriage contract was signed on 2 February 1246 and the wedding then took place in Béthune. On 24 June 1248 Robert and Elizabeth wrote a letter to Guy and Matilda confirming that the two would inherit his lands and titles, which happened shortly after when news reached France of Robert's death.][
Matilda then became Lady of Béthune, of Dendermonde, of Richebourg, and of Warneton, as well as Advocatess of the Abbey of Saint Vaast at Arras. By marriage, Guy called himself Lord of these holdings and Advocate, which he was doing by October 1249.][
]
Death and legacy
Matilda died on 8 November 1264 and was buried in a tomb of black marble in the Chapel of Saint Hubert
Hubertus or Hubert ( 656 – 30 May 727 A.D.) was a Christian saint who became the first bishop of Liège in 708 A.D. He is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians and metalworkers. Known as the "Apostle of the Ardennes", he w ...
within the abbey church
A church, church building or church house is a building used for Christian worship services and other Christian religious activities. The earliest identified Christian church is a house church founded between 233 and 256. From the 11th thro ...
of Flines-lez-Raches
Flines-lez-Raches (, literally ''Flines near Raches'') is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
It was once the site of Flines Abbey.
Population
Heraldry
See also
*Communes of the Nord department
The following is a list of ...
, her husband being placed beside her later. He remarried in 1265 and had eight more children.[
]
Issue
In their 15 years together, she and Guy had eight children:[
* Mary (d. 1297) married:
*# in 1266 William of Jülich (d. 16 March 1278), son of ]William IV, Count of Jülich
William IV, Count of Jülich (c. 1210 – 16 March 1278) was the son and heir of William III of Jülich and Mathilde of Limburg, daughter of Waleran III, Duke of Limburg.Walther Möller, ''Stammtafeln westdeutscher Adelsgeschlechter im Mittelalter ...
. Their son William of Jülich
William of Jülich, called the Younger (Dutch: ''Willem van Gulik de Jongere''; died August 18, 1304), was one of the Flemish noblemen that opposed the annexation policies of the French king Philip IV, together with Pieter de Coninck.
He was al ...
, known as William the Younger, died in 1304 in the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle (or Pevelenberg) was fought on 18 August 1304 between the French and the Flemish. The French were led by their king, Philip IV.
Prelude
The French king wanted revenge for the defeat in Battle of the Golden Sp ...
.
*# in 1285 Simon II of Châteauvillain
Châteauvillain () is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.
Geography
The Aujon flows north-northwestward through the western part of the commune and crosses the village.
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Marne dep ...
(d. 28 June 1305), Lord of Arc-en-Barrois
Arc-en-Barrois is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The 18th-century French metallurgist and Encyclopédiste Étienne Jean Bouchu (1714–1773) died in Arc-en-Barrois.
Geography
The Aujon f ...
and Brémur-et-Vaurois, with whom she had eight children.
* Robert III (1249–1322), who succeeded as Count of Flanders.
* William (after 1249 – 1311), Lord of Dendermonde and Richebourg, married in 1286 Alice, daughter of Ralph II of Clermont and had children.
* John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Secon ...
(1250 – 4 October 1290), was made Bishop of Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand Es ...
and then Bishop of Liège
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
.
* Baldwin (1252–1296).
* Margaret
Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian.
Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...
(c. 1253 – 3 July 1285), married in 1273 John I, Duke of Brabant
John I of Brabant, also called John the Victorious (1252/12533 May 1294) was Duke of Brabant (1267–1294), Lothier and Limburg (1288–1294). During the 13th century, John I was venerated as a folk hero. He has been painted as the perfect model o ...
and had four children, including John II, Duke of Brabant
John II (27 September 1275 – 27 October 1312), also called John the Peaceful, was Duke of Brabant, Lothier and Limburg (1294–1312). He was the son of John I of Brabant and Margaret of Flanders.
John II succeeded his father in 1294 ...
.
* Beatrice (c. 1260 – 5 April 1291), married Floris V, Count of Holland
Floris V (24 June 1254 – 27 June 1296) reigned as Count of Holland and Zeeland from 1256 until 1296. His life was documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, modern ...
and was the mother of John I, Count of Holland
John I (1284 – 10 November 1299) was Count of Holland and son of Count Floris V. John inherited the county in 1296 after the murder of his father.
Shortly after his birth, after negotiations between Floris and King Edward I of England in Apr ...
.
* Philip
Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...
(c. 1263 – November 1318), Count of Teano
Teano ( Teanese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, northwest of Caserta on the main line to Rome from Naples. It stands at the southeast foot of an extinct volcano, Rocca Monfina. Its St. Clement's ...
, married:
*# in 1284 Matilda (d. 1303), Countess of Chieti
Chieti (, ; , nap, label= Abruzzese, Chjïétë, ; gr, Θεάτη, Theátē; lat, Theate, ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Central Italy, east by northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region. ...
, daughter of Ralph of Courtenay, Count of Teano and Loreto.
*# c. 1305 Petronella (d. c. 1335), daughter of Geoffrey of Milly, who had three children.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathilda of Bethune
13th-century births
Year of birth uncertain
1263 deaths
French countesses
Countesses of Flanders
13th-century French people
13th-century women from the county of Flanders
13th-century French women