Guillaume d\' Ypres

Guillaume d' Ypres (towards 1104 - January 24th, 1162, 1164 or 1165, Saint-Pierre abbey of Lo), was Burgrave of Ypres and Lo, and 1st Count de Kent. He was an unhappy applicant with the succession of the Comté of Flanders, as well as a captain of mercenaries for the king Etienne of England during the civil war for the Crown of England.

He was the legitimated son of Philippe d' Ypres and his concubine, the lady of Lo, and the grandson of Robert I {{er}} († 1093), Count de Flandre. He married a cousin, girl of Godefroid Ier of Leuwen and sister of Adélaïde of Leuwen, Queen of England.

Its life in Flanders

Succession in the county of Flanders (1119)

Baudouin VII of Flanders dies in 1119 without descent. Guillaume is favorite among the applicants with the succession, because it is the last male descendant living of Robert Ist. It is constant in that by the mother of Baudouin VII, Clémence of Burgundy, which is also his/her aunt, and by Godefroid Ier of Leuwen, his father-in-law.

But Guillaume has the disadvantage to be a legitimated son, contrary to Charles of Denmark (Charles the Good) , wire of Knut IV of Denmark and Adèle of Flanders.

In 1119, Charles the Good is recognized by the States convened like successor of Baudouin VII. He becomes indeed count the June 19th, but its catch of crown is nevertheless highly disputed. Charles overcomes all his rivals one by one. Guillaume, captive fact, is persuaded by some seigniories and an amount of money.

Succession in the county of Flanders (1127-1128)

Before the murder of Charles the Good, many Flemings wanted to deposit and choose Guillaume in the place. After the death of Charles, Guillaume is regarded as the natural successor with County of Flanders. But the king of France Louis VI opposes to him his own brother-in-law Guillaume Cliton, grandson of Mathilde of Flanders and great-grandson of Baudouin V of Flanders.

With died of Guillaume Cliton, in 1128, Thierry of Alsace which fought conquers the county of Flanders. In 1133, Thierry banishes Guillaume d' Ypres from Flanders because he plots to take the county to him. Its possessions are confiscated. He will recover later his rights of burgrave of Lo.

Its life in England

The civil war

Banished his native soils, Guillaume emigrates at the court of England. In 1135, he becomes captain of mercenaries to the service of the king Etienne of England. He recruits the famous Brabançons in Flanders.

During the civil war which opposes Etienne to Mathilde Emperesse, he is recognized like one of the able military chiefs fighting for Etienne, and becomes his friend and confidant.

He acquires a reputation of violent and pitiless man, in particular starting from the countryside of Etienne in Normandy in 1137, during which its troops of mercenaries frighten the aristocracy Norman.

He takes part in campaigns in the duchy of Normandy, with the battles of Lincoln during which its troops are put in escape and Etienne is captured. With the Battle of Winchester, a few months later, Guillaume became the military chief of the party of always imprisoned Etienne. He directs the troops loyal supporters and puts in rout the troops of the Emperesse. Following this battle, Guillaume captures Robert de Gloucester, captain of the troops of Mathilde, which makes it possible to exchange it against Etienne.

County of Kent

Guillaume d' Ypres receives the title of Count de Kent in thanks of his services in 1141. This title will be taken again to him in 1156-1157 by the successor of Etienne to the throne of England, Henri II. In 1148, he is mediator in a conflict opposing the king Etienne to the Archevêque of Canterbury Théobald of the Nozzle.

He had the permission to base the abbey of Sainte-Marie with Boxley in 1146, to affirm his authority on the county of Kent. It was colonized by the monks Cisterciens of Clairvaux.

It is withdrawn in the abbey of Saint-Pierre de Lo, where it dies on January 24th of the year 1162,1164 or 1165. It would have become gradually blind as from the Forties.

The career of Guillaume d' Ypres brings an obvious contradiction to the supposed chivalrous standards of the time. It fought openly for its own profit, but was shown more qualified and especially more honest than its counterparts, the feudal barons.

See too

English Civil war (1135-1154)

Sources

Dictionary of the Middle Ages, Chronic vol. IX p. 146.
of England, reigns of Etienne, on the Projet Gutenberg.
Chronic of England, reigns of Henri II, on the Projet Gutenberg.

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