Ferdinand, Count of Flanders

Ferdinand
jure uxoris Count of Flanders
Reign	1212–1233
Predecessor	Joan
Successor	Joan
Co-ruler	Joan
Born	23 February 1187 Coimbra, Kingdom of Portugal
Died	27 July 1233 (aged 46) Noyon, France
Burial	Marquette near Lille, France
Spouse	Joan, Countess of Flanders
House	House of Burgundy
Father	Sancho I of Portugal
Mother	Dulce of Aragon
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Ferdinand (24 March 1188 – 27 July 1233; Portuguese: Fernando, French and Dutch: Ferrand) reigned as jure uxoris Count of Flanders and Hainaut from his marriage to Countess Joan, celebrated in Paris in 1212, until his death. He was born in Coimbra, and he was an Infante of Portugal as the fourth son of King Sancho I of Portugal and Dulce of Aragon.

While on their way to Flanders, Ferdinand and Joan were captured by Joan's first cousin Louis, eldest son of Philip II of France and Joan's aunt Isabella. Louis' aim was to acquire his dead mother's dowry, a large piece of Flemish territory including Artois, which Joan's father had taken back by force after Isabella's death.

Released after this concession, Joan and Ferdinand soon joined the old allies of her father, King John of England and Emperor Otto IV, in an alliance against France. They were decisively defeated at Bouvines in July 1214, where Ferdinand was taken prisoner.

Count Ferdinand imprisoned after the Battle of Bouvines

Ferdinand was to remain in French hands for the next 12 years, while Joan ruled alone. He was released in 1226, by the French regent, Blanche of Castile, after the accession of her son Louis IX of France.^[1]

Ferdinand died in Noyon on 27 July 1233.^[2] His and Joan's only child, a daughter named Maria, died childless, and their counties eventually passed to Joan's younger sister, Margaret II.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Ferdinand, Count of Flanders

16. Henry of Burgundy               8. Henry, Count of Portugal                       4. Afonso I of Portugal                             18. Alfonso VI of León and Castile               9. Theresa, Countess of Portugal                       19. Jimena Muñoz               2. Sancho I of Portugal                                   20. Humbert II, Count of Savoy               10. Amadeus III, Count of Savoy                       21. Gisela of Burgundy               5. Maud of Savoy                             22. Guigues III of Albon               11. Mahaut of Albon                       23. Matilda               1. Ferdinand, Count of Flanders                                         24. Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona               12. Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona                       25. Maud of Apulia               6. Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona                             26. Gilbert I, Count of Gévaudan               13. Douce I, Countess of Provence                       27. Gerberga, Countess of Provence               3. Dulce of Aragon                                   28. Sancho Ramírez of Navarre and Aragon               14. Ramiro II of Aragon                       29. Felicia of Roucy               7. Petronila of Aragon                             30. William IX, Duke of Aquitaine               15. Agnes of Aquitaine                       31. Philippa, Countess of Toulouse

Notes

1. Weiler et al 2007, p. 53.
2. Eugene L. Cox, The Eagles of Savoy:The House of Savoy in Thirteenth century Europe, (Princeton University Press, 1974), 56.

References

• Weiler, B, Burton, J, Schofield, P and Stöber, K (2007). Thirteenth century England: Proceedings of the Gregynog Conference, 2007. The Boydell Press.