Richilde, Countess of Hainaut

Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut (c. 1031 – 15 March 1086).

Since the county of Hainaut would pass to the Counts of Flanders through marriage to her, she has often been mistakenly recorded a daughter of Regnier V of Mons, who was actually her father-in-law.

She was married firstly to Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut, son of Reginar V, count of Mons and Mathilde of Verdun, circa 1043. They served as co-rulers in Mons and Hainaut from 1039 to 1051.

Soon after the death of Herman, Richilde married Baldwin, eldest son of Baldwin V of Flanders. At that point she started preparing for the unification of Hainaut and Flanders under the rule of the children of her second marriage. The two children of her first marriage were placed into the Church. Her daughter Gertrude became a nun and her son Robert (who was apparently physically disabled) became a clergyman and eventually Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne.

Her husband Baldwin became count of Flanders (as Baldwin VI) in 1067, and they ruled both Flanders and Hainaut until his death in 1070. After his death their son Arnulf became count of Flanders, but he was challenged by Baldwin's younger brother Robert the Frisian. Despite help from Philip I of France her forces were defeated at the Battle of Cassel, Arnulf was captured and soon died, and King Philip invested Robert with the county of Flanders.

Richilde and her younger son Baldwin still had Hainaut, and made subsequent unsuccessful attempts to recover Flanders.

Family

It is not known who Richilde's parents were.

Richilde married Herman of Mons, count of Hainaut. They had two cildren:

• Roger (? – 1093) Said to have been disabled ("claudum ab utero"). Bishop of Chalon-sur-Marne.
• Daughter - possibly named Agnes - who became a nun.

Richilde secondly married Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders. They were the parents of:

• Arnulf III, Count of Flanders (c. 1055 – February 22, 1071).
• Baldwin II, Count of Hainaut (c. 1056–1098).

Baldwin VI died on July 17, 1070. Richilde served as Regent for their son Arnulf III.

In 1071 Richilde thirdly married to William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (c. 1025–1071).

References

• Nicholas, Karen S. (1999). "Countesses as Rulers in Flanders". In Theodore Evergates. Aristocratic Women in Medieval France. pp. 111–137. 
• Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Page 222. ISBN 1-55778-420-5
• The Family History of Robert Brian Stewart
• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Line 163-23.

Preceded by Regnier V of Mons	Count of Hainaut 1039–1051	Succeeded by Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Preceded by Adela of France, Countess of Flanders	Countess consort of Flanders 1067–1070	Succeeded by Gertrude of Saxony