Margaret I, Countess of Burgundy

Margaret I Countess Palatine of Burgundy Countess of Artois Reign 1361–1382 Predecessor Philip of Rouvres Successor Louis of Male Born 1310 Died 9 May 1382 Spouse Louis I, Count of Flanders Issue Louis II, Count of Flanders House Capet Father Philip V of France Mother Joan II, Countess of Burgundy

Margaret I (1310 – 9 May 1382), Countess Palatine of Burgundy and Artois, reigned from 1361 and 1382. By marriage, she was also countess of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel.

Early life

Margaret was born in 1310, the second daughter of Countess Joan II of Burgundy and the future King Philip V of France. Her father ascended the throne in 1316, following the death of her infant first cousin King John I. Margaret was married to Louis I, Count of Flanders. Her husband was dependent on her father in suppressing the rebellion of Nicolaas Zannekin. King Philip died in 1322, and the crown was inherited by her uncle, King Charles IV.

Margaret's mother, Joan II, succeeded her own mother, Mahaut, as Countess of Artois in 1329. Margaret's elder sister Joan, inherited the counties of Artois and Burgundy when their mother died in 1330. Her husband was killed in the Battle of Crécy on 26 August 1346. He and Margaret had one son, Louis II, Count of Flanders, who succeeded his father and for whom she acted as a regent in the beginning of his reign. In 1355, the younger Louis claimed the Duchy of Brabant in right of his wife, but Duchess Joanna, managed to keep her possessions.

Personal rule

In 1357, Margaret's granddaughter, Margaret , then seven years old, was married to Philip I, Duke of Burgundy, grandson and heir of Margaret's sister. They were childless and, upon his death in 1361, Margaret inherited Artois and Burgundy.

In 1369, the younger Margaret married Philip the Bold, youngest son of King John. According to Guizot, whilst Margaret I favoured the marriage of her granddaughter to Philip the Bold, the girl's father, Louis of Flanders, and the Flemish communes, preferring England to France, were unwilling to arrange the marriage. Reputedly, Margaret, vexed at the ill will of the count her son, had one day said to him, as she tore open her dress before his eyes, "Since you will not yield to your mother's wishes, I will cut off these breasts which gave suck to you, to you and to no other, and will throw them to the dogs to devour." Louis, persuaded, agreed to the marriage.

The unrest in coastal Low Countries escalated to open rebellions in Margaret's last years. A revolt in Ghent was put down by joint operation of Margaret's son and grandson-in-law. However, after the Battle of Beverhoutsveld, Louis II was expelled from Flanders by the Flemings under Philip van Artevelde. A French army (and Philip the Bold) came to help them regain Flanders, and the revolting Flemings were decisively defeated at the Battle of Roosebeke, the year in which Margaret died. However, the citizens of Ghent continued to resist with English aid, and it was left to her granddaughter and grandson-in-law to subdue the town.

Countess Margaret died in 1382. Her counties were inherited by her only son Louis, Count of Flanders, who died two years later. In 1384, all her possessions, together with Flanders and the rest of Louis' inheritance, went to her only surviving grandchild, Margaret III and II.

Ancestors

Ancestors of Margaret I, Countess of Burgundy

16. Louis IX of France               8. Philip III of France                       17. Margaret of Provence               4. Philip IV of France                             18. James I of Aragon               9. Isabella of Aragon                       19. Violant of Hungary               2. Philip V of France                                   20. Theobald I of Navarre               10. Henry I of Navarre                       21. Margaret of Bourbon               5. Joan I of Navarre                             22. Robert I of Artois               11. Blanche of Artois                       23. Matilda of Brabant               1. Margaret I, Countess of Burgundy                                         24. John, Count of Chalon               12. Hugh III, Count of Burgundy                       25. Mahaud of Burgundy               6. Otto IV, Count of Burgundy                             26. Otto I, Duke of Merania               13. Adelaide, Countess of Burgundy                       27. Beatrice II, Countess of Burgundy               3. Joan II, Countess of Burgundy                                   28. Robert I, Count of Artois               14. Robert II, Count of Artois                       29. Matilda of Brabant               7. Mahaut, Countess of Artois                             30. Peter of Courtenay, Lord of Conches               15. Amicie de Courtenay                       31. Perronelle de Joigny