The Count of Hainaut (; ; ) was the ruler of the

county of Hainaut The County of Hainaut ( ; ; ; ), sometimes spelled Hainault, was a territorial lordship within the medieval Holy Roman Empire that straddled the present-day border of Belgium and France. Its most important towns included Mons, Belgium, Mons (), n ...

, a historical region in the

Low Countries The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...

(including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany). In English-language historical sources, the title is often given the older spelling Hainault.

List of counts of Hainaut

10th century

Throughout the 10th century, it is uncertain whether the region of Hainaut was ever united under one count. Separate counties may for example have existed based at the forts of Mons and

Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced ...

. *(uncertain) Reginar I (d. 915) * Sigard (fl. 902–920), also Count of Liugas *(uncertain) Reginar II (r. 920–after 932) *(uncertain) Reginar III (r. before 940–958) * Godfrey I (r. before 958–964), also Duke of Lower Lotharingia * Richar (r. 964–973), also Count of Liugas Counts of Mons *(uncertain) Renaud (r. 973) * Godfrey II "the captive" (r. 974–998) *(uncertain) Reginar IV (r. 998–1013) * Reginar V (r. 1013–1039), acquired the southern part of the Brabant province around 1024 * Herman (r. 1039–1051), married Richilde, acquired Valenciennes around 1045 or 1049 Counts and Margraves of Valenciennes *(uncertain) Amaury (fl. 953–973) *(uncertain) Werner (r. 973) * Arnulf of Valenciennes (d. 1011/1012), also probably count of Cambrai * Baldwin IV (r. 988–1035) * Baldwin V (r. 1035–1045) *(uncertain) Reginar of Hasnon (d. c. 1049), father of

Richilde, Countess of Hainaut Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut ( 1018 – 15 March 1086), was a ruling countess of Hainaut from c. 1050 until 1076, in co-regency with her husband Baldwin VI of Flanders (until 1070) and then her son Baldwin II of Hainaut. She was also ...

(1045-1048/49) * Herman (r. 1039–1051), as husband of Richilde (1048/49-1051) Under Herman and Richilde Hainaut was united in a single consolidated County of Hainaut.

House of Flanders

* Baldwin I (r. 1051–1070), also Count of Flanders * Arnulf I (r. 1070–1071), son of Baldwin VI, also Count of Flanders * Baldwin II (r. 1071–1098), son of Baldwin I * Baldwin III (r. 1098–1120), son of Baldwin II * Baldwin IV (r. 1120–1171), son of Baldin III * Baldwin V (r. 1171–1195), son of Baldwin IV, also

Count of Flanders The count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders, beginning in the 9th century. Later, the title would be held for a time, by the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain. During the French Revolution, in 1790, the c ...

from 1191 * Baldwin VI (r. 1195–1205), son of Baldwin V, also Count of Flanders and

Latin Emperor of Constantinople The Latin Emperor was the ruler of the Latin Empire, the historiographical convention for the Crusader realm, established in Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade (1204) and lasting until the city was reconquered by the Byzantine Greeks in 1 ...

* Joan (r. 1205–1244), daughter of Baldwin VI, also Countess of Flanders * Margaret I (r. 1244–1253), daughter of Baldwin VI, also Countess of Flanders, married first to Bouchard IV of Avesnes and then William of Dampierre :''The Counties of Flanders and Hainaut were claimed by Margaret's sons, the half-brothers John I of Avesnes and William III of Dampierre in the War of the Succession of Flanders and Hainault. In 1246, King Louis IX of France awards Hainaut to John, but Margaret refuses to hand over the government but was forced to do so in 1254 by John and the German anti-king William II, Count of Holland.

House of Avesnes

* John I (r. 1253–1257), son of Margaret I and Bouchard IV of Avesnes

House of Flanders

* Margaret I (r. 1257–1280), resumed control after John I's death

House of Avesnes

* John II (r. 1280–1304), son of John I, also Count of Holland * William I (r. 1304–1337), son of John II, also Count of Holland * William II (r. 1337–1345), son of William I, also Count of Holland * Margaret II (r. 1345–1356), daughter of William I, **jointly with her husband

Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV (; 1 April 1282 – 11 October 1347), called the Bavarian (, ), was King of the Romans from 1314, King of Italy from 1327, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1328 until his death in 1347. 20 October 1314 imperial election, Louis' election a ...

(d. 1347) and their son William III

House of Bavaria

* William III (r. 1345–1389), son of Margaret II and Louis IV **jointly with his brothers Louis the Brandenburger, Louis the Roman and Otto the Bavarian (1347–1349),
Stephen II of Bavaria (1347–1353) and Albert I *Margaret returned in 1350 in opposition to her son and held Hainaut until 1356. * Albert I, (Regent since 1358, ruled as count 1389–1404) * William IV (r. 1404–1417), son of Albert I * Jacqueline (r. 1417–1433), daughter of William IV :''Jacqueline was opposed by her uncle John, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing, son of Count Albert I in a war of succession. John's claims devolved upon

Philip III, Duke of Burgundy Philip III the Good (; ; 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467) ruled as Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death in 1467. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty, to which all 15th-century kings of France belonged. During his reig ...

, a nephew of William IV, whose mother had been the sister of William. In April 1433 he forced Jacqueline to abdicate from Hainaut and Holland in his favour.''

House of Burgundy

* Philip I the Good (r. 1433–1467) * Charles I the Bold (r. 1467–1477), son of Philip the Good * Mary the Rich (r. 1477–1482), daughter of Charles the Bold, jointly with her husband

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519) was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death in 1519. He was never crowned by the Pope, as the journey to Rome was blocked by the Venetians. He proclaimed hi ...

House of Habsburg

* Philip II the Handsome (r. 1482–1506), son of Mary and Maximilian * Charles II (r. 1506–1555), son of Philip, also

Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans (disambiguation), Emperor of the Romans (; ) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period (; ), was the ruler and h ...

(as Charles V) Charles II proclaimed the

Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 The Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 was an edict, promulgated by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, reorganising the Seventeen Provinces of the present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg into one indivisible territory, while retaining existing custom ...

eternally uniting Hainaut with the other lordships of the Low Countries in a personal union. When the Habsburg empire was divided among the heirs of Charles V, the

, including Hainaut, went to

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

, of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg. * Philip III (r. 1555–1598), son of Charles III, also King of Spain * Isabella Clara Eugenia (r. 1598–1621), daughter of Philip II, **jointly with her husband Albert, Archduke of Austria) * Philip IV (r. 1621–1665), grandson of Philip III, also King of Spain *

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

(r. 1665–1700), son of Philip IV, also King of Spain Between 1706 and 1714 the Low Countries were invaded by the English and the Dutch during the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish E ...

. The fief was claimed by the

House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful Dynasty, dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout ...

and the

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre in the 16th century. A br ...

. In 1714, the

Treaty of Rastatt The Treaty of Rastatt was a peace treaty between Kingdom of France, France and Archduchy of Austria, Austria that was concluded on 7 March 1714 in the Margraviate of Baden, Baden city of Rastatt to end the War of the Spanish Succession between bo ...

settled the succession and the County of Hainaut went to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. * Charles IV (r. 1714–1740), great grandson of Philip III, als Holy Roman Emperor (elect) * Mary Theresa (r. 1740–1780), daughter of Charles IV, married Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor * Joseph I (r. 1780–1790), son of Maria Theresa and Francis I, also Holy Roman Emperor * Leopold I (r. 1790–1792), son of Maria Theresa and Francis I, also Holy Roman Emperor * Francis I (r. 1792–1835), son of Leopold I, also Holy Roman Emperor The title was factually abolished in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the annexation of Flanders by France in 1795. Although, the title remained officially claimed by the descendants of Leopold I until the reign of Charles I of Austria.

Family tree (1055–1433)

Image:HainautCounts.png rect 184 144 293 184 Baldwin V, count of Flanders rect 357 143 470 184 Aelide, princess of France rect 5 210 116 239 Gertrude of Saxony rect 180 203 280 242 Robert I, count of Flanders rect 88 252 200 267 Counts of Flanders#House of Flanders rect 282 221 449 261 Baldwin I of Hainaut rect 528 228 684 256 Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut rect 167 294 251 316 Ida of Louvain rect 318 289 417 317 Baldwin II of Hainaut rect 449 283 573 322 Arnulf I of Hainaut rect 291 343 378 368 Richilde of Hainaut (1095–1118) rect 442 343 572 368 Amaury III de Montfort rect 197 380 295 405 Baldwin III of Hainaut rect 361 384 504 397 Yolande van Wassenberg rect 224 426 280 455 Gertrude of Hainaut rect 332 426 378 444 Richilde of Hainaut (12th century) rect 393 426 524 455 Gerhard of Hainaut rect 256 466 356 493 Baldwin IV of Hainaut rect 418 466 555 493 Alice of Namur rect 273 513 339 540 Yolande of Hainaut rect 149 513 235 540 Hugh IV of Saint Pol rect 376 513 421 540 Henry of Hainaut rect 447 513 508 540 Baldwin of Hainaut (1134–1147) rect 545 513 707 540 Geoffrey of Ostervant rect 403 549 467 572 Agnes of Hainaut rect 490 549 556 574 Laurette of Hainaut rect 598 549 709 574 Bouchard IV of Montmorency rect 86 573 207 612 Margaret I of Flanders rect 284 573 410 612 Baldwin V of Hainaut rect 16 630 80 657 Sybille of Hainaut rect 127 630 179 657 Eustach of Hainaut rect 212 630 257 657 Godfrey of Hainaut rect 328 630 424 672

Philip I of Namur Philip I (1175 – 9 October 1212), called the Noble, was the margrave of Namur from 1195 until his death. He was the second son of Count Baldwin V of Hainault and Countess Margaret I of Flanders. His paternal grandmother was Alice of Nam ...

rect 523 630 585 660 Isabelle of Hainaut rect 622 630 725 660 Philip II of France rect 10 675 160 716 Peter II of Courtenay rect 198 682 382 710 Yolanda of Namur rect 464 672 570 711 Henry of Constantinople rect 616 678 703 707 Maria of Bulgaria, Latin Empress rect 182 737 299 764 Mary of Champagne rect 368 729 523 768 Baldwin VI of Hainaut rect 7 785 93 826 Thomas II of Savoy rect 145 789 275 829 Joanna of Flanders rect 328 789 430 827 Infante Ferdinand, Count of Flanders rect 368 840 512 879 Margaret II of Flanders rect 90 848 250 875 Bouchard IV of Avesnes rect 579 840 875 879 William II of Dampierre rect 493 885 602 895 Counts of Flanders#House of Dampierre rect 127 895 238 935 Baldwin of Avesnes rect 258 893 306 921 Baldwin of Avesnes (died 1219) rect 313 914 428 954 John I of Avesnes rect 491 914 612 954 Adelaide of Holland rect 74 967 166 1006 Joanna of Flines rect 190 967 267 1006 Bouchard of Metz rect 337 967 404 1006 Guy of Avesnes rect 426 967 515 1006 William of Cambrai rect 540 967 704 1006 Floris of Zeeland rect 239 1016 359 1056 John II of Hainaut rect 423 1027 1034 1053 Philippine of Luxembourg rect 37 1073 110 1113 John of Ostervant rect 126 1073 170 1098 Joanna of Hainaut (nun at Fontenelles) rect 204 1073 278 1113 Henry of Hainaut rect 156 1121 220 1148 Mary of Avesnes rect 8 1121 85 1148 Louis I of Bourbon rect 316 1073 362 1098 Isabelle of Hainaut (died 1305) rect 395 1073 448 1098 Raoul of Clermont rect 447 1116 490 1141 Alice of Hainaut rect 308 1116 391 1141 Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk rect 498 1073 552 1098 Margaret of Hainaut rect 603 1073 688 1098 Robert II of Artois rect 498 1109 609 1152 Margaret of Soissons rect 653 1111 730 1153 John of Beaumont rect 224 1165 365 1204 William I of Hainaut rect 424 1174 519 1200 Joan of Valois (1294–1352) rect 12 1226 110 1239 Robert of Namur (1323–1391) rect 156 1221 219 1247 Isabelle of Hainaut (1323–1361) rect 291 1221 335 1247 John of Hainaut (died 1316) rect 346 1221 409 1247 Louis of Hainaut (1325–1328) rect 445 1221 489 1247 Agnes of Hainaut (died 1327) rect 475 1260 537 1285 Joanna of Hainaut rect 516 1221 579 1247 Philippa of Hainaut rect 630 1221 721 1247

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

rect 590 1260 670 1285 William V of Julich rect 192 1262 329 1302 William II of Hainaut rect 3 1262 139 1302 Joanna, Duchess of Brabant rect 139 1310 263 1352

rect 353 1313 499 1354 Margaret II of Hainaut rect 25 1367 117 1396 Ulrich of Württemberg (died 1388) rect 154 1367 217 1396 Elizabeth of Bavaria (1329–1402) rect 269 1367 334 1396 Anna of Bavaria rect 356 1367 470 1410 Otto V, Duke of Bavaria rect 473 1407 540 1433 Beatrice of Bavaria rect 594 1407 674 1433 Eric XII of Sweden rect 546 1367 609 1393 Margaret of Bavaria (1325–1374) rect 639 1367 733 1390 Gerhard of Hohenlohe rect 175 1402 333 1444 William I, Duke of Bavaria rect 12 1409 123 1437 Matilda of Lancaster rect 268 1450 429 1490 Albrecht I of Wittelsbach rect 111 1459 212 1486 Margaret of Brieg rect 486 1464 594 1489 Margaret of Cleves rect 89 1504 151 1530 Albert II, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing rect 132 1541 235 1581 John of Bavaria-Straubing rect 7 1541 76 1582 Elisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg rect 284 1505 348 1530 Catherine of Wittelsbach rect 393 1507 472 1532 William I of Gelders and Jülich rect 451 1549 516 1573

Margaret of Bavaria Margaret of Bavaria (1363 – 23 January 1424, Dijon) was List of Burgundian royal consorts, Duchess of Burgundy by marriage to John the Fearless. She was the regent of the Burgundian Low Countries during the absence of her spouse in 1404–1419 ...

rect 567 1550 669 1575 John the Fearless rect 490 1507 555 1529 Joanna of Bavaria rect 594 1503 735 1530 Wenzel IV of Bohemia rect 225 1595 324 1620 William VI of Hainaut rect 389 1595 514 1620 Margaret of Burgundy (1374–1441) rect 267 1643 450 1685 Jacqueline of Holland rect 11 1627 204 1650 John, Dauphin of France (1398–1417) rect 6 1659 204 1685 John IV, Duke of Brabant rect 536 1627 709 1650 Humphrey of Gloucester rect 505 1660 734 1685 Frank van Borsselen

Modern usage

House of Belgium

In the

Kingdom of Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southe ...

, the title of Count of Hainaut was traditionally given to the eldest son of the Belgian

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

, who was himself styled as Duke of Brabant. In 2001, with the birth of Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (now Duchess of Brabant), heir and elder daughter of Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (now Philippe, King of the Belgians), it was decided not to feminize and award her the title of Countess of Hainaut, but to abolish the title. * Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant (1859–1865), son of

Leopold II of Belgium Leopold II (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909) was the second king of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, and the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908. Born in Brussels as the second but eldest-surviving son of King Leo ...

Baudouin I of Belgium Baudouin (; 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993) was King of the Belgians from 17 July 1951 until his death in 1993. He was the last Belgian king to be sovereign of the Belgian Congo, Congo, before it became independent in 1960 and became the Demo ...

(1930–1934), son of

Leopold III of Belgium Leopold III (3 November 1901 – 25 September 1983) was King of the Belgians from 23 February 1934 until his abdication on 16 July 1951. At the outbreak of World War II, Leopold tried to maintain Belgian neutrality, but after the Battle of Belgi ...

List of counts of Hainaut

10th century

House of Flanders

House of Avesnes

House of Flanders

House of Avesnes

House of Bavaria

House of Burgundy

House of Habsburg

Family tree (1055–1433)

Modern usage

House of Belgium

See also