Thierry, Count of Flanders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theoderic
Count of Flanders
Seal effigy
Spouse(s)	Margaret of Clermont (or Swanhilde) Sibylla of Anjou
Issue
Laurette Philip I, Count of Flanders Matthew of Alsace Margaret I, Countess of Flanders Gertrude of Flanders, Countess of Savoy Matilda Peter
Noble family	Alsace
Father	Theoderic II, Duke of Lorraine
Mother	Gertrude of Flanders
Born	c. 1099
Died	17 January 1168(1168-01-17) (aged 68–69)
Burial	Abbey of Watten

Theoderic (also known as Thierry of Alsace) was a powerful ruler in the Middle Ages. He was the fifteenth count of Flanders from 1128 to 1168.

Theoderic was famous for his strong commitment to the Crusades. He traveled to the Middle East and Africa four times. These trips included joining the Second Crusade and fighting in Egypt.

Becoming Count of Flanders

Theoderic was the youngest son of Duke Theoderic II, Duke of Lorraine and Gertrude. His mother was the daughter of Count Robert I of Flanders.

Claiming the Title

In 1127, Theoderic's cousin, Charles the Good, was murdered. Theoderic then claimed the title of Count of Flanders. However, another cousin, William Clito, became count instead. William had the support of King Louis VI of France.

Winning Support

William Clito's way of ruling made him unpopular in Flanders. He did not respect the local people's wishes. By the end of 1127, important cities like Bruges, Ghent, Lille, and Saint-Omer supported Theoderic. His supporters were from the Holy Roman Empire side of Flanders.

Battles and Victory

King Louis VI of France tried to stop Theoderic. He had a church leader, Raymond of Martigné, ban Theoderic from the church. Louis VI then attacked Lille, but he had to leave. This happened because Henry I of England started supporting Theoderic.

Theoderic was defeated in a battle at Axspoele. He had to escape to Bruges. Then he fled Bruges and went to Aalst. There, William Clito, Godfrey I of Leuven, and Louis VI surrounded the city.

Just as Aalst was about to fall, William Clito died on July 27, 1128. This left Theoderic as the only person claiming to be count.

Establishing His Rule

Theoderic set up his government in Ghent. All the Flemish cities recognized him as their count. King Henry I of England also supported him. Theoderic later promised to be loyal to King Louis VI of France. This helped him get the French king's support against Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut. Baldwin IV had also tried to claim Flanders.

Journeys to the Holy Land

Theoderic made four trips to the Holy Land. These were like pilgrimages and crusades.

First Journey and Marriage

In 1132, Theoderic's first wife, Suanhilde, died. She left him with only one daughter. In 1139, he traveled to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. There, he married Sibylla of Anjou. She was the daughter of King Fulk of Jerusalem. This marriage was very important and gave him more power.

During this trip, Theoderic led a successful fight against Caesarea Phillippi. He also fought alongside his new father-in-law in an attack on Gilead. He soon returned to Flanders to stop a rebellion.

The Second Crusade

Theoderic joined the Second Crusade in 1147. He led his army across the Maeander River in Anatolia. He also fought in the Battle of Attalya in 1148.

After reaching the Holy Land, he joined a meeting called the Council of Acre. At this meeting, the leaders decided to attack Damascus. This decision turned out to be a mistake.

Theoderic took part in the Siege of Damascus. He wanted to rule Damascus if it was captured. However, the local crusader leaders preferred one of their own, Guy I Brisebarre. This disagreement caused problems during the siege. Many people at the time blamed Theoderic for the failure of the Second Crusade.

Return to Flanders

While Theoderic was away, Baldwin IV of Hainaut attacked Flanders. Theoderic's wife, Sibylla, fought back strongly. She had Hainaut attacked in return. A peace agreement was made.

When Theoderic returned in 1150, he got revenge on Baldwin IV. He had help from Henry I, Count of Namur and Henry II of Leez, a bishop. To make peace, Theoderic gave his daughter Marguerite in marriage to Baldwin IV's son. This son later became Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut.

Later Journeys to the Holy Land

In 1156, Theoderic arranged for his oldest son to marry Elizabeth of Vermandois. She was the daughter and heir of Raoul I of Vermandois.

Later in 1156, Theoderic went back to the Holy Land with his wife, Sibylla. He helped King Baldwin III of Jerusalem attack Shaizar in 1157. But the fortress was not captured. This was because Theoderic and another leader, Raynald of Châtillon, argued over who would get it.

Theoderic returned to Flanders in 1159 without Sibylla. She stayed behind to become a nun. Their son Philip had been ruling Flanders while they were away. Philip continued to rule with his father.

In 1164, Theoderic went to the Holy Land one last time. He traveled with King Amalric I to Antioch and Tripoli. He came home in 1166. He chose a date palm as his special symbol.

His Death

Theoderic died on January 17, 1168. He was buried in the Abbey of Watten. This abbey is between Saint-Omer and Gravelines.

His time as count was mostly peaceful and fair. The way Flanders was governed became much better during his rule. There was also a lot of growth in farming and business. Flanders grew bigger under Theoderic's leadership.

Family Life

Theoderic had children from two marriages.

First Marriage

His first wife, Margaret of Clermont (also called Swanhilde), died in 1132. They had one daughter:

• Laurette of Flanders: She married four times. She later became a nun and died in 1170.

Second Marriage

Theoderic then married Sibylla of Anjou. She was the daughter of Fulk V of Anjou. Their children were:

• Philip of Flanders (died 1191)
• Matthew of Alsace (died 1173): He married Countess Marie I of Boulogne.
• Margaret I of Flanders (died 1194): She married twice. Her second husband was Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut.
• Gertrude of Flanders (died 1186): She married Humbert III of Savoy.
• Matilda of Flanders: She became an abbess (leader of a group of nuns).
• Peter of Flanders (died 1176): He became the Bishop of Cambrai.

Sources

• Baldwin, Marsall W. (1969). "The Latin States under Baldwin III and Amalric I, 1143–1174; The Decline and Fall of Jerusalem, 1174–1189". In Setton, Kenneth M.. A History of the Crusades, Volume I: The First Hundred Years (Second ed.). Madison, Milwaukee, and London: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 528–561, 590–621. ISBN 0-299-04834-9. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/History.CrusOne.
• Cécile and José Douxchamps, Nos dynastes médiévaux, Wepion-Namur 1996, ed. José Douxchamps, ISBN: 2-9600078-1-6
• Georges-Henri Dumont, Histoire de la Belgique, Histoire/le cri, Brusells 1977, ISBN: 2-87106-182-3
• Galbert of Bruges
• 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
• Steven Runciman, A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem, Cambridge University Press, 1952.