Robert II of Flanders

The course of its life

Being the oldest son of Robert Ier, this last associates it with the government as of 1077, probably definitively to sit the branch junior by Baudouinides of Flanders on the county. It is him which ensures the regency of the county at the time of the pilgrimage of his/her father in Holy Land (1085 - 1091).

In 1096, it answers the call to the First crusade launched by the pope Urbain II, and follows Godefroid de Bouillon, after having organized the council of regency of the county. It is with Hugues de Vermandois, Raymond of St-Gilles, Robert Courteheuse, Baudouin II of Hainaut, Bohémond de Tarente and its nephew Tancrède, one of the main leaders of the crusade. It takes part in the seat of Nicée, the catch of Antioche in October 1097 and the Prise of Jerusalem, the July 15th 1099. In 1101, it refuses the royalty on the Holy City and returns to Flanders with the duke of Normandy, bringing back an invaluable relic, the arm of Saint Georges, offered by the emperor Alexis Ier Comnène; it is the abbey church of Anchin which receives it. In same time is built the Saint-Andrew monastery in Betferkerke close to Bruges. Its crusade, shelled many plunderings, is worth to him its nickname of Robert of Jerusalem .

During this absence, the emperor Henri IV had tried to seize the imperial Flanders. In reaction, Robert supports the commune of Cambrai revolted against the emperor and its partisan, the bishop Gaulcher (Walcher), and seizes some castles. Peace is signed in 1102 and Robert pays homage for the imperial Flanders to him. But as of 1105, the new emperor, Henri V, walk on the Flanders, supported by the count de Hainaut Baudouin III and the Dutchmen. They fail in front of Douai and a new peace is signed, by which the possession of Douai is recognized with the count de Flandre, like that of the city of Cambric and its châtellenie.

The king of England Henri I {{er}} refusing to pay the drafts of the annual rent granted to the count de Flandre in exchange of a help which was brought to him, Robert, in good Vassal, is combined to the king de France Louis VI and attacks the Normandy. In diversion, Thibaud II of Champagne, brother-in-law of Henri Ier, draws up the French barons against their king; Robert walks then on Meaux. It close to this city that it finds death, is drowned in the Marne after the collapse of a bridge at the time of the passage of its cavalry. Of the three wire which it had had of Clemence or Clementine of Burgundy, sister of the Pape Calixte II, only the elder one, Baudouin VII had survived childhood.

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