Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut
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Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut (c. 1031 – 15 March 1086).
Since the county of Hainaut would pass to the Counts of Flanders through marriage to her, she has often been mistakenly recorded a daughter of Regnier V of Mons
, who was actually her father-in-law.
She was married firstly to Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut, son of Reginar V, count of Mons and Mathilde of Verdun, circa 1043. They served as co-rulers in Mons and Hainaut from 1039 to 1051.
Soon after the death of Herman, Richilde married Baldwin
, eldest son of Baldwin V of Flanders
. At that point she started preparing for the unification of Hainaut and Flanders under the rule of the children of her second marriage. The two children of her first marriage were placed into the Church. Her daughter Gertrude became a nun and her son Robert (who was apparently physically disabled) became a clergyman and eventually Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne.
Her husband Baldwin became count of Flanders (as Baldwin VI) in 1067, and they ruled both Flanders and Hainaut until his death in 1070. After his death their son Arnulf
became count of Flanders, but he was challenged by Baldwin's younger brother Robert the Frisian
. Despite help from Philip I of France
her forces were defeated at the Battle of Cassel
, Arnulf was captured and soon died, and King Philip invested Robert with the county of Flanders.
Richilde and her younger son Baldwin
still had Hainaut, and made subsequent unsuccessful attempts to recover Flanders.
Richilde married Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut. They had two cildren:
Richilde secondly married Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
. They were the parents of:
Baldwin VI died on July 17, 1070. Richilde served as Regent
for their son Arnulf III.
In 1071 Richilde thirdly married to William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
(c. 1025-1071).
Since the county of Hainaut would pass to the Counts of Flanders through marriage to her, she has often been mistakenly recorded a daughter of Regnier V of Mons
Reginar V, Count of Mons
Reginar V, Count of Mons was the eldest son of Reginar IV, Count of Mons and Hedwige of France. His maternal grandparents were Hugh Capet of France and Adelaide of Aquitaine.-History and Family:He succeeded his father as Count of Mons in 1013...
, who was actually her father-in-law.
She was married firstly to Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut, son of Reginar V, count of Mons and Mathilde of Verdun, circa 1043. They served as co-rulers in Mons and Hainaut from 1039 to 1051.
Soon after the death of Herman, Richilde married Baldwin
Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Baldwin VI of Flanders was briefly Count of Flanders, from 1067 to 1070. He was also count of Hainaut from 1051 to 1070....
, eldest son of Baldwin V of Flanders
Baldwin V, Count of Flanders
Baldwin V of Flanders was Count of Flanders from 1035 until his death.He was the son of Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders, who died in 1035.-History:...
. At that point she started preparing for the unification of Hainaut and Flanders under the rule of the children of her second marriage. The two children of her first marriage were placed into the Church. Her daughter Gertrude became a nun and her son Robert (who was apparently physically disabled) became a clergyman and eventually Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne.
Her husband Baldwin became count of Flanders (as Baldwin VI) in 1067, and they ruled both Flanders and Hainaut until his death in 1070. After his death their son Arnulf
Arnulf III, Count of Flanders
Arnulf III was Count of Flanders and Count of Hainaut, as Arnulf I from 1070 to his death.He was the eldest son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.-History and Family:...
became count of Flanders, but he was challenged by Baldwin's younger brother Robert the Frisian
Robert I, Count of Flanders
thumb|Robert I of FlandersRobert I of Flanders , known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to 1092.-History:...
. Despite help from Philip I of France
Philip I of France
Philip I , called the Amorous, was King of France from 1060 to his death. His reign, like that of most of the early Direct Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time...
her forces were defeated at the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1071)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on 22 February 1071 between Robert I of Flanders and his nephew, Arnulf III . The battle was a victory for Robert I of Flanders, Arnulf III was killed in the battle....
, Arnulf was captured and soon died, and King Philip invested Robert with the county of Flanders.
Richilde and her younger son Baldwin
Baldwin II, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin II of Mons was count of Hainaut from 1071 to his death. He was the younger son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.-History:...
still had Hainaut, and made subsequent unsuccessful attempts to recover Flanders.
Family
It is not known who Richilde's parents were.Richilde married Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut. They had two cildren:
- Roger (? - 1093) Said to have been disabled ("claudum ab utero"). Bishop of Chalon-sur-Marne.
- Daughter - possibly named Agnes - who became a nun.
Richilde secondly married Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Baldwin VI of Flanders was briefly Count of Flanders, from 1067 to 1070. He was also count of Hainaut from 1051 to 1070....
. They were the parents of:
- Arnulf III, Count of FlandersArnulf III, Count of FlandersArnulf III was Count of Flanders and Count of Hainaut, as Arnulf I from 1070 to his death.He was the eldest son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.-History and Family:...
(c. 1055 - February 22, 1071). - Baldwin II, Count of HainautBaldwin II, Count of HainautBaldwin II of Mons was count of Hainaut from 1071 to his death. He was the younger son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.-History:...
(c. 1056 - 1098).
Baldwin VI died on July 17, 1070. Richilde served as Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for their son Arnulf III.
In 1071 Richilde thirdly married to William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
(c. 1025-1071).