Marguerite of Constantinople

Marguerite II of Flanders (°v. 1202 † 1280) or Marguerite de Hainaut or Marguerite of Constantinople , countess of Flanders and of Hainaut of 1244 with 1280. It was the girl junior by the count Baudouin IX, count de Flandre and of Hainaut, then Latin Empereur of Constantinople and Marie de Champagne (°1174 † 1204). Marguerite is the sister of the countess, Jeanne of Flanders (°1188 † 1244)

In 1202 Baudouin, takes part in the Fourth crusade, and Marie joined it later two years, trustful Marguerite still baby and her Jeanne sister, with the good care of their uncle Philippe de Namur, bishop of Liege. The mother of Jeanne dies in 1205, and her father, the following year. Philippe de Namur who ensures regency his greater profit, entrusts the two girls to king de France, Philippe-Auguste. This one in its turn concedes their guard with Enguerrand III of Coucy.

In 1212 Marguerite Marie with Bouchard d' Avesnes (1182-1244), baillif of the Hainaut and under Deacon of the Church of Laon. Concerning the share of succession of Marguerite, the two sisters tear, Jeanne trying to dissolve the marriage, pleading which it was inadmissible. Without much with instruction of the facts, the pope Innocent III is satisfied to condemn the marriage, without formally to cancel it.

Bourchard and Marguerite continue to carry out their family life, having two children. Such an amount of and so that their conflicts with Jeanne develops. Bouchard is captured and imprisoned in 1219. It is released in 1221, in the condition which the couple separates and which Bouchard obtains the discharge of the pope. While it was in Rome, Jeanne convinces Marguerite of remarier, this time at Guillaume II of Dampierre, noble of Champagne.

This situation was the cause of a real scandal, because the Marguerite was in fact probably bigamist, and in violation of the rules of the Church. The conflicts concerning the validity of the two marriages and the legitimacy of the children, disturb the policy of the Saint Empire during decades.

With died of Jeanne, in 1244, Marguerite becomes countess of Flanders and Hainaut, succeeding his/her sister.

In 1246 the King Louis IX of France, referee the death taxes, giving the Flanders to the children of Dampierre, and Hainaut with the children of Avesnes. This would seem to have settled the question, but in 1253 of new problems emerge. Jean the oldest son, of Avesnes not being satisfied with its fate, convinces Guillaume II, count de Hollande, his brother-in-law, to seize Hainaut and the areas of Flanders which are within the limits of the empire. A civil war is followed from there, which finishes when the forces of Avesnes are demolished with the battle of Walcheren and imprisoned Dampierre.

Marriages as children

She married in first weddings in 1212 Bouchard d' Avesnes (1182 † 1244), lord of Avesnes, baillif de Hainaut. They had:

Baudouin († 1219)
Jean (1218 † 1257),
Baudoin d' Avesnes (1219 † 1295), lord of Beaumont

Obliged to separate from its husband in 1221, Marguerite remarie in 1223 with Guillaume II (1196 † 1231) lord of Dampierre. They had:

Guillaume III (1224 † 1251), count de Flandre and lord of Courtrai
GUI of Dampierre (1225 † 1305), count de Flandre and margrave de Namur
Jean I († 1258), lord of Dampierre, Viscount of Troyes and Champagne constable
Jeanne, married in 1239 with Hugues III of Rethel († 1243), count de Rethel, then in 1243 with Thiébaud II († 1291), count de Bar

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