Burgraviate of Ghent

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The burgraviate of Ghent was the most powerful and respected of the similar offices in Northern France and the Netherlands, especially since Ghent was the second largest trading metropolis in Northern Europe after Paris in the Middle Ages. The burgrave was consequently a member of the high nobility, although the title is not even properly described: in contemporary documents he appears as castellanus, pretorurbanus, prefectue urbis, vicecomes, burggravius, borghgrave, chastellain, vicomte etc.

In 1006, Count Baldwin IV of Flanders seized the city of Valenciennes , triggering a war with King Henry II , which was ended with a peace treaty in 1007, by Baldwin Valenciennes, city and burgrave of Ghent, Walcheren and the Zeeland islands (the so-called Reichs Flanders ) from the later Emperor Heinrich II. Hereditary burgraves have been attested in Ghent since then.

In addition to the office in Ghent, the burgrave was also one of the main commanders of the Flemish army. However, the last burgrave who also held the office, Hugo von Zotteghem, sided with the French in the battle of the Spurs in 1302 against the Count of Flanders and thus his sovereign - like his predecessor in the battle of Bouvines in 1214 . The burgrave, who had been grappling with a count's Bailli for supremacy in the city since the first half of the 12th century , now finally lost his position of power.

Burgraves of Ghent

House Ghent

  • Lambert I, burgrave of Ghent around 1010-1031 / 34
  • Folkard I., whose son, 1031 / 34–73 attests
  • Lambert II, his son, 1071 Burgrave of Ghent
  • Wenemar I, probably his son, Burgrave of Ghent in 1088/1118
  • Siger I, his son, burgrave of Ghent in 1114/22
  • Alice, his daughter, heiress of the Burgraviate of Ghent;
  • ∞ I Hugo von Encre, 1139 Burgrave of Ghent
  • ∞ II Steppo van Viggezele

House Viggezele

  • Siger II., Son of Alice and Steppo, 1139 burgrave of Ghent
  • Siger III, whose son, Burgrave of Ghent, testifies to 1190/1227
  • Hugo II, † 1232, his son, Burgrave of Ghent
  • Hugo III., † 1264/65, his son, Burgrave of Ghent
  • Hugo IV, whose son, Burgrave of Ghent, testifies in 1261/88
  • Maria, his daughter, Countess of Ghent; ∞ Gerhard II (V.) of Zotteghem, † before 1319, burgrave of Ghent

House Enghien

  • Gerhard II (V.) of Zotteghem, † before 1319, burgrave of Ghent; ∞ Maria, Countess of Ghent
  • Marie, † 1318, his daughter, Countess of Ghent; ∞ Hugues IV d'Antoing, Seigneur d ' Épinoy
  • Hugo I of Zotteghem, † 1320, whose brother, Burgrave of Ghent,
  • Hugo II of Zotteghem, his son, Burgrave of Ghent

House Antoing

House Melun

  • Hugues de Melun, † before 1410, Burgrave of Ghent, son of Jean II. De Melun and Isabeau d'Antoing
  • Marie, † 1410, his daughter, Countess of Ghent
  • Jean IV. De Melun , † 1484, whose brother, 1410 Burgrave of Ghent,
  • Jean V. de Melun, † 1513, his son, 1484 Burgrave of Ghent
  • Hugues, † 1524, his son, Burgrave of Ghent
  • Jean VI., † 1551, his son, 1524 Burgrave of Ghent
  • Maximilien, † 1572/76, his son, 1551 Burgrave of Ghent
  • Robert, † 1585, descendant of Jeans V, 1572 Burgrave of Ghent, 1579 Marquis de Roubaix
  • Marie, † 1634, his sister, heiress of the burgraviate of Ghent; ∞ Lamoral, Prince of Ligne, † 1624
  • Guillaume, † 1635, her nephew
  • Charles Alexandre Albert, † 1675, his son, Burgrave of Ghent
  • Alexandre, his son, burgrave of Ghent in 1675
  • Gabriel, † 1739, his brother, Burgrave of Ghent
  • Louise Elisabeth, † 1755, his daughter, castle countess of Ghent; ∞ Jean Alexander Théodose de Melun, † 1738, Comte de Melun, her cousin #
  • Louise Elisabeth, * 1738, their daughter; ∞ Philippe Prince de Ghistelles, Marquis de Saint-Floris

literature