Philip I of Namur facts for kids
Philip I (born 1175, died 9 October 1212), also known as Philip the Noble, was an important ruler in the Middle Ages. He was the margrave of Namur from 1195 until he passed away. A margrave was a type of count who ruled a border area, often with more power. Philip was the second son of Count Baldwin V of Hainault and Countess Margaret I of Flanders. His grandmother was Alice of Namur.
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Becoming Margrave of Namur
Philip's father, Baldwin V, worked hard to make Namur an independent territory. In 1190, he fought a war against his uncle, Count Henry IV of Luxembourg, to achieve this. Later, in 1194, the Emperor Henry VI officially recognized Namur as a special territory called a margraviate.
When Baldwin V died, he wanted Philip to inherit Namur. However, Count Theobald I of Bar disagreed. Theobald was married to Ermesinda of Luxembourg, who was Henry of Luxembourg's daughter. Theobald believed Namur should belong to his wife.
The War for Namur
Because of this disagreement, Theobald attacked Philip. He even surrounded Philip in the city of Namur. This conflict lasted for three years. Finally, a peace agreement was signed on 26 July 1199. This agreement, called the Treaty of Dinant, officially recognized Philip as the rightful ruler of Namur.
Philip's Role as Regent
Philip had an older brother, Count Baldwin IX of Flanders. Baldwin IX decided to go on a big journey called the Fourth Crusade. While his brother was away, Philip became the regent of Hainault. This meant he was in charge of ruling Hainault until Baldwin returned. Philip also became the guardian for Baldwin's two daughters, Joanna and Margaret. He was responsible for their care and protection.
A Difficult Meeting with the King
Sadly, Philip's brother Baldwin was captured during the Fourth Crusade. After this, King Philip Augustus of France called Philip to a meeting. At this meeting, Philip was forced to make some difficult promises. He had to promise loyalty to the King of France. He also had to give Baldwin's daughters, Joanna and Margaret, into the King's care. This meant the King of France would decide their future.
As part of these demands, Philip was also forced to marry Marie. She was the daughter of King Philip Augustus and Agnes of Merania.
Philip's Peaceful Reign
In Namur, Philip was known as a peaceful and religious ruler. He cared about making life better for his people. He worked to improve society and often helped settle arguments between different lords. He was a mediator, meaning he helped people find solutions to their disagreements.
Philip died on 9 October 1212, in Valenciennes. He passed away from a sickness called dysentery. Before his death, he chose his twin sister, Yolande, to be his heir and rule after him.
