Philip I, Count of Flanders facts for kids

Philip I (born 1143 – died 1 August 1191) was often called Philip of Alsace. He was the count of Flanders from 1168 to 1191. During his time as count, Flanders became very rich. Philip also joined two crusades, which were religious wars. He died from an illness while in the Holy Land.

Philip's Early Life and Rule in Flanders

Philip was born in 1143. His father was Thierry, Count of Flanders, and his mother was Sibylla of Anjou. Philip started ruling when he was only 14 years old, in 1157. He was a co-ruler with his father. His father had gone to the Kingdom of Jerusalem after fighting in the Second Crusade.

Philip was a strong leader. He defeated Count Floris III of Holland. Floris was captured in Bruges and stayed in prison until 1167. He was set free only after he agreed that Flanders had power over Zeeland. Philip also gained back the lands of Waasland and Quatre-Métiers for Flanders.

Philip's First Marriage and New Lands

In 1159, Philip married Elisabeth. She was the older daughter of Count Ralph I of Vermandois. Elisabeth and Philip inherited the County of Vermandois in 1167. This happened when Elisabeth's brother, Ralph II, gave up his title.

This inheritance made Flanders much larger. It stretched its power further south than ever before. This change greatly affected the balance of power in northern France.

How Philip Governed Flanders

Philip was a smart ruler. He had a trusted advisor named Robert d'Aire. Robert was almost like a prime minister. Together, they set up a very good system for managing the government. Philip also had excellent relationships with other countries.

He helped settle arguments between King Louis VII of France and King Henry II of England. He also helped Henry II and Thomas Becket solve their disagreements. Philip also arranged for his sister Margaret to marry Count Baldwin V of Hainaut.

Philip and Elisabeth did not have any children. When his brothers, Matthew and Peter of Alsace, died in 1177, Philip chose Margaret and Baldwin as his heirs. This meant they would inherit his lands after him.

Philip's First Journey to the Holy Land

In 1177, Philip went to the Holy Land. He hoped to join a planned attack on Egypt. The crusaders had teamed up with the Byzantine Empire for this attack. A large Byzantine fleet was waiting at Acre when Philip arrived on August 2, 1177.

Philip had other ideas, though. He and King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem were cousins. Baldwin IV was sick with leprosy and had no children. He offered Philip the chance to rule the Kingdom of Jerusalem as his closest male relative there. Philip refused this offer. He also refused to lead the army. He said he was only there as a pilgrim, a religious traveler.

Instead, Baldwin appointed Raynald of Châtillon to lead. Philip would help him. Philip wanted his own knights to marry Baldwin's sisters, Sibylla and Isabella. But this did not happen. Sibylla's husband had just died, and she was pregnant. It was thought improper to marry her off so soon.

Philip left Jerusalem in October 1177. He went north to fight for the Principality of Antioch. He took part in a failed attack on Harim before going back home. Meanwhile, the plan to attack Egypt with the Byzantines was canceled. In November, Baldwin IV and Raynald defeated Saladin at the Battle of Montgisard.

Conflict with France

Philip returned from the Holy Land in 1179. King Louis VII of France was sick and named Philip as the guardian of his young son, Philip II. A year later, Philip of Alsace arranged for his young protégé, Philip II, to marry his niece, Isabelle of Hainaut.

As a wedding gift, Philip gave Isabelle the County of Artois and other Flemish lands. This made Baldwin V, Isabelle's father, very unhappy. When Louis VII died, Philip II started to rule on his own. A war began in 1180. Areas like Picardy and Île-de-France were badly damaged. King Philip II avoided a direct battle and gained the upper hand.

Baldwin V, who was Philip of Alsace's brother-in-law, joined the war in 1184. He sided with King Philip II to protect his daughter Isabelle's interests. King Philip II encouraged the disagreement between Count Philip and Baldwin. He even made Baldwin his representative in talks with Count Philip.

Philip's wife, Elisabeth, died in 1183. King Philip II then took control of the province of Vermandois. He claimed it for Elisabeth's sister, Eleonore. Philip then married again to Matilda. She was the daughter of Afonso I, the first King of Portugal. Philip gave Matilda many important Flemish towns as a gift. This seemed to be another insult to Baldwin V.

Philip feared being surrounded by the lands of France and County of Hainaut. So, he signed a peace treaty with King Philip II and Count Baldwin V on March 10, 1186. He agreed to give Vermandois to the king. However, he was allowed to keep the title Count of Vermandois for the rest of his life.

Philip's Second Journey to the Holy Land

In 1190, Philip decided to join another crusade. He went to Palestine with other Flemish fighters. When he arrived at the Siege of Acre, he caught a widespread illness. He died on August 1, 1191.

His wife, Theresa, brought his body back to Flanders. She had been ruling Flanders while he was away. Philip was buried in Clairvaux Abbey. Since he had no children with Countess Matilda, his sister Margaret I and brother-in-law Baldwin VIII became the new rulers.

Philip did have an illegitimate son named Thierry. Thierry later joined the Fourth Crusade. He married the daughter of Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus.

Philip's Lasting Impact

Philip's rule marked a change in how power worked. For the first time, a King of France had power over a Count of Flanders. Even with a costly war, Flanders continued to grow economically. Many new town charters were signed during Philip's time. By the end of his rule, Flanders was very rich and successful.

Philip might have supported the writer Chrétien de Troyes. Chrétien wrote his last story, Perceval, the Story of the Grail, during this time. In the beginning of the book, Chrétien praises Philip greatly. He says Philip gave him the book that inspired "the best tale ever told in a royal court." The story was started before Philip died, but it was never finished.

Images for kids

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  Statue of Philip at the Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges

Preceded by Thierry	Count of Flanders 1168–1191	Succeeded by Margaret I
Preceded by Ralph II	Count of Vermandois 1167–1183 with Elisabeth	Succeeded by Eleanor