Baldwin of Béthune facts for kids

Baldwin of Béthune (born around 1158 – died 1212) was a French knight and crusader. He came from the important House of Béthune in a region called Artois. Baldwin was a close friend to several English kings. When he married Hawise of Aumale, he became the Count of Aumale and gained many lands in England.

Who Was Baldwin?

Baldwin was the third son of Robert V of Béthune. His father was the Lord of Béthune and also the "advocate" (a kind of protector) for the Abbey of Saint Vaast near Arras. His mother was Alice.

Baldwin had several brothers:

• Robert VI of Béthune, who took over their father's roles.
• William II of Béthune, who became Lord of Béthune after Robert.
• John of Béthune, who became a Bishop (a high-ranking church leader).
• Conon of Béthune, who was a poet, a crusader, and later a leader in the Latin Empire of Constantinople.

Baldwin was likely born in Béthune, probably just before 1160.

Baldwin's Life and Adventures

Baldwin spent his life as a knight, serving kings. Interestingly, he didn't serve the kings of France, his home country, but rather the English kings, who were often their rivals!

Early Royal Service

When he was still a teenager in 1170, Baldwin was already at the court of Henry the Young King. He was good friends with William Marshal, a very famous knight.

In 1180, Baldwin was a "knight banneret" at a big international tournament in Lagny-sur-Marne. This meant he was a knight important enough to lead his own group of knights under his own banner. He led the team from Flanders, while William Marshal led the English team.

Around 1187, Baldwin received his first piece of land in England. Later, when Richard I of England became king, he gave Baldwin even more land. This land gave him money and, more importantly, made him a feudal landowner, which added to his status as a knight.

The Third Crusade and Richard's Capture

In 1191, Baldwin joined King Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart) on the Third Crusade to Palestine. His father, Robert, was also on the crusade and died there.

When King Richard decided to travel home secretly in 1192, Baldwin went with him. A big storm blew their ship off course, and they landed near Aquileia. Richard, still disguised, was captured by his Austrian enemies near Vienna.

Baldwin bravely offered himself as a hostage for Richard. He worked for months to arrange Richard's ransom (a payment to free a prisoner). He even used a lot of his own money. The Duke of Austria, Leopold V, wanted money and two princesses, including Richard's niece, Eleanor. In December 1194, Baldwin was sent with the princesses to Vienna. He was told that if he didn't arrive with them, he would be killed. Luckily, the Duke died before they arrived, and the threat was gone.

Marriage and Later Life

In 1195, Baldwin married Hawise of Aumale. She was a very wealthy heiress (a woman who inherits a lot of land and money). Through her, Baldwin gained huge amounts of land and the title of Count of Aumale. However, the lands of Aumale itself were lost to the French in 1196.

In 1197, Baldwin was one of the English representatives who helped elect Richard's nephew, Otto IV of Germany, as the Holy Roman Emperor.

When John became king in 1199, Baldwin was initially part of his close group. He helped guarantee a peace treaty with the French king, Philip, in 1200. After that, he seemed to spend more time managing his and his wife's large estates in England.

Baldwin died on October 13 or 14, 1212, probably at Hawise's house in Yorkshire. He was buried at Meaux Abbey. After his death, his wife Hawise paid the king a large sum of money to keep her lands and avoid having to marry a fourth time.

Baldwin had also become the protector of the Abbey of Chocques after his father died in 1199. Because of his generous gifts, the monks prayed for him daily and held a special mass every year on the day he died.

Family Life

King Henry II had promised both Baldwin and William Marshal that he would help them marry rich heiresses. In 1189, Henry was arranging a marriage for Baldwin, but then the king died. His son, King Richard, gave that heiress to someone else, promising Baldwin he would find him someone even better.

Richard kept his promise in 1194, after he returned from the crusade and captivity. He gave Baldwin Hawise of Aumale, who had been widowed twice before. Their wedding was held in a cathedral in Sées in Lower Normandy. King Richard even paid for the wedding party and their trip to England!

Baldwin and Hawise soon had a daughter named Alice, probably after Baldwin's mother. When Alice was still a child, she was engaged in 1203 to William Marshal the younger (the son of Baldwin's friend, William Marshal). The agreement said that Alice would bring all of Baldwin's lands in England to her husband. Sadly, Alice died in her teenage years without having any children, not long after her father.

Baldwin also had a son, also named Baldwin. It's not clear if he was from an early marriage or if he was illegitimate. This son settled in England and later became Lord of Adrianople in the Latin Empire of Constantinople.

Lands Baldwin Owned

Here are some of the lands Baldwin owned in his own right, not through his wife:

In England

• In Bedfordshire: Luton.
• In Berkshire: Wantage.
• In Hampshire: Ovington, Polhampton, Upper Clatford.
• In Hertfordshire: Rushden.
• In Kent: Brabourne, Kemsing, Sutton Valence.
• In Norfolk: Foulsham.
• In Northamptonshire: Greens Norton, Wollaston.
• In Somerset: Haselbury Plucknett.
• In Worcestershire: Severn Stoke.
• In Yorkshire: Hedon (which he might have owned with his wife).

In France

• Chocques
• Eecke
• Lapugnoy
• Westrozebeke
• St Pierre Mesnil and St Sauveur

Ancestors of Baldwin