Thierry, Count of Flanders
Encyclopedia
Thierry of Alsace (c. 1099 – January 17, 1168), in Flanders known as Diederik van den Elzas, was count of Flanders
from 1128 to 1168. He was the youngest son of Duke Thierry II of Lorraine
and Gertrude of Flanders (daughter of Robert I of Flanders
). With a record of four campaigns in the Levant and Africa (including participation in the Second Crusade
, the failed 1157–1158 siege of the Syria
n city Shaizar
, and the 1164 invasion of Egypt
), he had a rare and distinguished record of commitment to crusading.
in 1127, Thierry claimed the county of Flanders as grandson of Robert I, but William Clito
became count instead with the support of King Louis VI of France
. William's politics and attitude towards the autonomy of Flanders made him unpopular, and by the end of the year Bruges
, Ghent
, Lille
, and Saint-Omer
recognized Thierry as a rival count. Thierry's supporters came from the Imperial
faction of Flanders, and upon his arrival he engaged in battle against William.
Louis VI had Raymond of Martigné, the Archbishop of Reims
, excommunicate him, and Louis himself then besieged Lille, but was forced to retire when Henry I of England
, William's uncle, transferred his support to Thierry. However, Thierry was defeated at Tielt
and Oostkamp
and fled to Brugge. He was forced to flee Brugge as well, and went to Aalst
, where he was soon under siege from William, Godfrey I of Leuven, and Louis VI. The city was about to be captured when William was found dead on July 27, 1128, leaving Thierry as the only claimant to the county.
Thierry set up his government in Ghent and was recognized by all the Flemish cities as well as King Henry, who had his Flemish lords in England swear fealty to him. Thierry himself swore homage to Louis VI after 1132, in order to gain the French king's support against Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut
, who had advanced his own claim on Flanders.
In 1132 his wife, Suanhilde, died, leaving only a daughter. In 1139 then went on pilgrimage to the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem
, and married Sibylla of Anjou
, daughter of King Fulk of Jerusalem
and widow of William Clito; a very prestigious marriage.
This was the first of Thierry's four pilgrimages to the Holy Land
. While there he also led a victorious expedition against Caesarea Phillippi
, and fought alongside his father-in-law in an invasion of Gilead
. He soon returned to Flanders to put down a revolt in the Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, ruled at the time by Godfrey III of Leuven
.
Thierry went on crusade a second time in 1147 during the Second Crusade
. He led the crossing of the Maeander River in Anatolia
and fought at the Battla of Attalya in 1148, and after arriving in the crusader Kingdom he participated in the Council of Acre
, where the ill-fated decision to attack Damascus
was made.
He participated in the Siege of Damascus
, led by his wife's half-brother Baldwin III of Jerusalem
, and with the support of Baldwin, Louis VII of France
, and Conrad III of Germany
, he lay claim to Damascus; the native crusader barons preferred one of their own nobles, Guy Brisebarre, lord of Beirut
, but in any case the siege was a failure and all parties returned home.
During his absence, Baldwin IV of Hainaut invaded Flanders and pillaged Artois
; Sibylla reacted strongly and had Hainaut
pillaged in response. The Archbishop of Reims intervened and a treaty was signed. When Thierry returned in 1150, he took vengeance on Baldwin IV at Bouchain
, with the aid of Henry I, Count of Namur and Henry II of Leez
, Bishop of Liège. In the subsequent peace negotiations, Thierry gave his daughter Marguerite
in marriage to Baldwin IV's son, the future Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
.
In 1156 Thierry had his eldest son married to Elizabeth of Vermandois, daughter and heiress of Raoul I of Vermandois
. In 1156 he returned to the Holy Land, this time with his wife accompanying him. He participated in Baldwin III's siege of Shaizar
, but the fortress remained in Muslim hands when a dispute arose between Thierry and Raynald of Châtillon
over who would possess it should it be captured. He returned to Flanders 1159 without Sibylla, who remained behind to become a nun at the convent of St. Lazarus in Bethany
. Their son Philip had ruled the county in their absence, and he remained co-count after Thierry's return.
In 1164 Thierry returned once more to the Holy Land. He accompanied King Amalric I
, another half-brother of Sibylla, to Antioch
and Tripoli
. He returned home in 1166, and adopted a date palm
as his seal, with a crown of laurel
s on the reverse.
He died on February 4, 1168, and was buried in the Abbey of Watten
, between Saint-Omer and Gravelines
. His rule had been moderate and peaceful; the highly developed administration of the county in later centuries first began during these years. There had also been great economic and agricultural development, and new commercial enterprises were established; Flanders' greatest territorial expansion occurred under Thierry.
Thierry secondly married Sibylla of Anjou
, daughter of Fulk V of Anjou and Ermengarde of Maine
, and former bride of William Clito
. Their children were:
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
from 1128 to 1168. He was the youngest son of Duke Thierry II of Lorraine
Thierry II, Duke of Lorraine
Theodoric II , called the Valiant, was the duke of Lorraine from 1070 to his death. He was the son and successor of Gerhard and Hedwige de Namur...
and Gertrude of Flanders (daughter of Robert I of Flanders
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:...
). With a record of four campaigns in the Levant and Africa (including participation in the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
, the failed 1157–1158 siege of the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n city Shaizar
Shaizar
Shaizar, Shayzar or Saijar was a medieval town and fortress in Syria, ruled by the Banu Munqidh dynasty, which played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades.- Early history :...
, and the 1164 invasion of Egypt
Crusader invasions of Egypt
The Crusader invasion of Egypt was a series of campaigns undertaken by the Kingdom of Jerusalem to strengthen its position in the Levant by taking advantage of the weakness of Fatimid Egypt....
), he had a rare and distinguished record of commitment to crusading.
Life
After the murder of his cousin Charles the GoodCharles I, Count of Flanders
Blessed Charles the Good was Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127. He is most remembered for his murder and its aftermath.-History:...
in 1127, Thierry claimed the county of Flanders as grandson of Robert I, but William Clito
William Clito
William Clito was the son of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, by his marriage with Sibylla of Conversano...
became count instead with the support of King Louis VI of France
Louis VI of France
Louis VI , called the Fat , was King of France from 1108 until his death . Chronicles called him "roi de Saint-Denis".-Reign:...
. William's politics and attitude towards the autonomy of Flanders made him unpopular, and by the end of the year Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, and Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
recognized Thierry as a rival count. Thierry's supporters came from the Imperial
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
faction of Flanders, and upon his arrival he engaged in battle against William.
Louis VI had Raymond of Martigné, the Archbishop of Reims
Archbishop of Reims
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
, excommunicate him, and Louis himself then besieged Lille, but was forced to retire when Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, William's uncle, transferred his support to Thierry. However, Thierry was defeated at Tielt
Tielt
Tielt is a Belgian municipality in the province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Tielt proper and the towns of Aarsele, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.-History:Some traces of Gallo-Roman occupation have been found in this area...
and Oostkamp
Oostkamp
Oostkamp is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Hertsberge, Oostkamp proper, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme. On January 1, 2006 Oostkamp had a total population of 21,796...
and fled to Brugge. He was forced to flee Brugge as well, and went to Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
, where he was soon under siege from William, Godfrey I of Leuven, and Louis VI. The city was about to be captured when William was found dead on July 27, 1128, leaving Thierry as the only claimant to the county.
Thierry set up his government in Ghent and was recognized by all the Flemish cities as well as King Henry, who had his Flemish lords in England swear fealty to him. Thierry himself swore homage to Louis VI after 1132, in order to gain the French king's support against Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin IV was count of Hainaut from 1120 to his death. He was the son of Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut, and Yolande de Wassenberg.-History:...
, who had advanced his own claim on Flanders.
In 1132 his wife, Suanhilde, died, leaving only a daughter. In 1139 then went on pilgrimage to the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
, and married Sibylla of Anjou
Sibylla of Anjou
Sibylla of Anjou was a daughter of Fulk V of Anjou and Ermengarde of Maine, and wife of William Clito and Thierry, Count of Flanders....
, daughter of King Fulk of Jerusalem
Fulk of Jerusalem
Fulk , also known as Fulk the Younger, was Count of Anjou from 1109 to 1129, and King of Jerusalem from 1131 to his death...
and widow of William Clito; a very prestigious marriage.
This was the first of Thierry's four pilgrimages to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. While there he also led a victorious expedition against Caesarea Phillippi
Caesarea Phillippi
Caesarea Philippi was an ancient Roman city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon . The city is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, and Mark. The city was located within the region known as the "Panion" . Named after the deity associated with the grotto and shrines close to the spring...
, and fought alongside his father-in-law in an invasion of Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
. He soon returned to Flanders to put down a revolt in the Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, ruled at the time by Godfrey III of Leuven
Godfrey III of Leuven
Godfrey III was count of Leuven , landgrave of Brabant, margrave of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine from 1142 to his death.He was the son of Godfrey II and Lutgarde of Sulzbach...
.
Thierry went on crusade a second time in 1147 during the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
. He led the crossing of the Maeander River in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and fought at the Battla of Attalya in 1148, and after arriving in the crusader Kingdom he participated in the Council of Acre
Council of Acre
The Council of Acre met at Palmarea, near Acre, a major city of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, on 24 June 1148. The Haute Cour of Jerusalem met with recently-arrived crusaders from Europe, to decide on the best target for the crusade. The Second Crusade had been called after the fall of Edessa...
, where the ill-fated decision to attack Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
was made.
He participated in the Siege of Damascus
Siege of Damascus
The Siege of Damascus took place over four days in July 1148, during the Second Crusade. It ended in a decisive crusader defeat and led to the disintegration of the crusade. The two main Christian forces that marched to the Holy Land in response to Pope Eugenius III and Bernard of Clairvaux's call...
, led by his wife's half-brother Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Baldwin III was king of Jerusalem from 1143 to 1163. He was the eldest son of Melisende and Fulk of Jerusalem, and the grandson of Baldwin II of Jerusalem.-Succession:...
, and with the support of Baldwin, Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
, and Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
, he lay claim to Damascus; the native crusader barons preferred one of their own nobles, Guy Brisebarre, lord of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, but in any case the siege was a failure and all parties returned home.
During his absence, Baldwin IV of Hainaut invaded Flanders and pillaged Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
; Sibylla reacted strongly and had Hainaut
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
pillaged in response. The Archbishop of Reims intervened and a treaty was signed. When Thierry returned in 1150, he took vengeance on Baldwin IV at Bouchain
Bouchain
Bouchain is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies halfway between Cambrai and Valenciennes. Bouchain is a former part of the County of Hainaut.-Heraldry:-References:* Halesworth and Eitorf are twinned with Bouchain....
, with the aid of Henry I, Count of Namur and Henry II of Leez
Henry II of Leez
Henry II of Leez was prince-bishop of Liège from 1145 until his death. He supported the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in his quarrel with Pope Adrian IV and Pope Alexander III. In April 1164 he gave the episcopal consecration to Antipope Paschal III.-References:...
, Bishop of Liège. In the subsequent peace negotiations, Thierry gave his daughter Marguerite
Margaret I, Countess of Flanders
Margaret I of Flanders was countess of Flanders from 1191 to her death.-History:She was the daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou, and the heiress of her childless brother, Philip of Flanders.-Family:...
in marriage to Baldwin IV's son, the future Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin V of Hainaut was count of Hainaut , count of Flanders as Baldwin VIII and margrave of Namur as Baldwin I .-History:...
.
In 1156 Thierry had his eldest son married to Elizabeth of Vermandois, daughter and heiress of Raoul I of Vermandois
Raoul I, Count of Vermandois
Ralph I of Vermandois , Count of Vermandois. He was son of Hugh I, Count of Vermandois, and Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois and paternal grandson of Henry I of France and while his mother had been heiress to Herbert IV of Vermandois.His only paternal uncle was Philip I of France...
. In 1156 he returned to the Holy Land, this time with his wife accompanying him. He participated in Baldwin III's siege of Shaizar
Shaizar
Shaizar, Shayzar or Saijar was a medieval town and fortress in Syria, ruled by the Banu Munqidh dynasty, which played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades.- Early history :...
, but the fortress remained in Muslim hands when a dispute arose between Thierry and Raynald of Châtillon
Raynald of Chatillon
Raynald of Châtillon was a knight who served in the Second Crusade and remained in the Holy Land after its defeat...
over who would possess it should it be captured. He returned to Flanders 1159 without Sibylla, who remained behind to become a nun at the convent of St. Lazarus in Bethany
Bethany (Israel)
Bethany is recorded in the New Testament as the home of the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, as well as that of Simon the Leper...
. Their son Philip had ruled the county in their absence, and he remained co-count after Thierry's return.
In 1164 Thierry returned once more to the Holy Land. He accompanied King Amalric I
Amalric I of Jerusalem
Amalric I of Jerusalem was King of Jerusalem 1163–1174, and Count of Jaffa and Ascalon before his accession. Amalric was the second son of Melisende of Jerusalem and Fulk of Jerusalem...
, another half-brother of Sibylla, to Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
and Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
. He returned home in 1166, and adopted a date palm
Date Palm
The date palm is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf. It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with...
as his seal, with a crown of laurel
Bay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
s on the reverse.
He died on February 4, 1168, and was buried in the Abbey of Watten
Watten, Nord
-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *...
, between Saint-Omer and Gravelines
Gravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
. His rule had been moderate and peaceful; the highly developed administration of the county in later centuries first began during these years. There had also been great economic and agricultural development, and new commercial enterprises were established; Flanders' greatest territorial expansion occurred under Thierry.
Family
His first wife, Swanhilde, died in 1132, leaving only one daughter:- Laurette of Flanders, who married four times: Iwain, Count of Aalst; Henry II, Duke of Limburg; Raoul I of Vermandois, Count of Vermandois; Henry IV of LuxembourgHenry IV of LuxembourgHenry IV , called the Blind , was count of Luxembourg from 1136 and count of Namur from 1139 until his abdication in 1189. He was the son of Godfrey I of Namur and Ermesinda, daughter of Conrad I of Luxembourg.He inherited the counties of La Roche and Durbuy from his cousins Henry II of Durbuy and...
. Laurette finally retired to a nunnery, where she died in 1170.
Thierry secondly married Sibylla of Anjou
Sibylla of Anjou
Sibylla of Anjou was a daughter of Fulk V of Anjou and Ermengarde of Maine, and wife of William Clito and Thierry, Count of Flanders....
, daughter of Fulk V of Anjou and Ermengarde of Maine
Ermengarde of Maine
Ermengarde or Erembourg of Maine, also known as Erembourg de la Flèche , was Countess of Maine and the Lady of Château-du-Loir from 1110 to 1126. She was the daughter of Elias I of Maine, Count of Maine, and Mathilda of Château-du-Loire....
, and former bride of William Clito
William Clito
William Clito was the son of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, by his marriage with Sibylla of Conversano...
. Their children were:
- Philip of FlandersPhilip, Count of FlandersPhilip of Alsace was count of Flanders from 1168 to 1191. He succeeded his father Thierry of Alsace.-Count of Flanders:...
(died 1191) - Matthew of AlsaceMatthew of AlsaceMatthew of Alsace was the second son of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou. By marriage to Marie de Boulogne, he became Count of Boulogne, in 1160. They were divorced in 1170, but he continued as Count until his death....
(died 1173), married Countess Marie I of Boulogne - Margaret I of FlandersMargaret I, Countess of FlandersMargaret I of Flanders was countess of Flanders from 1191 to her death.-History:She was the daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou, and the heiress of her childless brother, Philip of Flanders.-Family:...
(died 1194), married Ralph II, count of Vermandois and Valois (died 1167), and then she married Baldwin V, Count of HainautBaldwin V, Count of HainautBaldwin V of Hainaut was count of Hainaut , count of Flanders as Baldwin VIII and margrave of Namur as Baldwin I .-History:... - Gertrude of Flanders (died 1186), married Humbert III of SavoyHumbert III of SavoyUmberto III , surnamed the Blessed, was Count of Savoy from 1148 to 1189. His parents were Amadeus III of Savoy and Mahaut of Albon, the sister of Guy IV of Dauphinois. His memorial day is March 4.According to CopeHis first wife died young; his second marriage ended in divorce...
- Matilda of Flanders, abbess of Fontevrault
- Peter of Flanders (died 1176), Bishop of Cambrai
Sources
- Galbert of BrugesGalbert of BrugesGalbert of Bruges was a Flemish cleric and chronicler. Administrator and notary to Count Charles the Good, he is known for his Latin account De multro, traditione et occisione gloriosi Karoli comitis Flandriarum of the Count's murder in 1127...
- Steven RuncimanSteven RuncimanThe Hon. Sir James Cochran Stevenson Runciman CH — known as Steven Runciman — was a British historian known for his work on the Middle Ages...
, A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem, Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 1952. - Edward Le Glay, Histoire des comtes de Flandre jusqu'à l'avènement de la Maison de Bourgogne, Comptoir des Imprimeurs-unis, Paris, 1853.
- Henri Platelle and Denis Clauzel, Histoire des provinces françaises du Nord, 2. Des principautés à l'empire de Charles Quint (900-1519), Westhoek-Editions Éditions des Beffrois, 1989; ISBN 2-87789-004-X
- Georges-Henri Dumont, Histoire de la Belgique, Histoire/le cri, Brusells 1977, ISBN 2-87106-182-3
- Cécile and José Douxchamps, Nos dynastes médiévaux, Wepion-Namur 1996, ed. José Douxchamps, ISBN 2-9600078-1-6