William of Ypres
Encyclopedia
William of Ypres styled count of Flanders, was King Stephen of England
's chief lieutenant during the English civil wars of 1139–54 (known as the Anarchy
). He commanded a contingent of Flemish soldiers.
He claimed the county of Flanders upon the death of Charles the Good on 2 March 1127/28.
Though no proof exists of his creation as Earl of Kent
by King Stephen, chroniclers describe him as "possessing the county" and "having Kent in his custody". He exercised the same powers over this county as other earls over theirs; though he never adopted the comital style.
He founded the Cisterian house of Boxley
circa 1146.
and Gertrude of Saxony
. He was a claimant in 1119 to the title of Count of Flanders
but lost the claim to Charles the Good; and again in 1127, when he lost to William Clito. The chronicle of Galbert of Bruges
attributes his failure to his illegitimate birth. He sought the title again the following year (1128) after William Clito's death, but lost to Thierry of Alsace, who banished him from Flanders in 1133.
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
's chief lieutenant during the English civil wars of 1139–54 (known as the Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
). He commanded a contingent of Flemish soldiers.
He claimed the county of Flanders upon the death of Charles the Good on 2 March 1127/28.
Though no proof exists of his creation as Earl of Kent
Earl of Kent
The peerage title Earl of Kent has been created eight times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.See also Kingdom of Kent, Duke of Kent.-Earls of Kent, first creation :*Godwin, Earl of Wessex...
by King Stephen, chroniclers describe him as "possessing the county" and "having Kent in his custody". He exercised the same powers over this county as other earls over theirs; though he never adopted the comital style.
He founded the Cisterian house of Boxley
Boxley Abbey
Boxley Abbey in Boxley, Kent, England was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1143-46 by William Ypres, Earl of Kent, and colonised by monks from Clairvaux Abbey in France. Some of its ruins survive, some four miles north-east of Maidstone.- Notable events :...
circa 1146.
Family
He was an illegitimate son of Philip of Loo, son of Robert I, Count of FlandersRobert I, Count of Flanders
thumb|Robert I of FlandersRobert I of Flanders , known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to 1092.-History:...
and Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony , also known as Gertrude Billung, was the daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika of Schweinfurt. She married Floris I, Count of Holland c. 1050, and upon his death, her son Dirk V became Count of Holland...
. He was a claimant in 1119 to the title of Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
but lost the claim to Charles the Good; and again in 1127, when he lost to William Clito. The chronicle of Galbert of Bruges
Galbert of Bruges
Galbert of Bruges was a Flemish cleric and chronicler. Administrator and notary to Count Charles the Good, he is known for his Latin account De multro, traditione et occisione gloriosi Karoli comitis Flandriarum of the Count's murder in 1127...
attributes his failure to his illegitimate birth. He sought the title again the following year (1128) after William Clito's death, but lost to Thierry of Alsace, who banished him from Flanders in 1133.
Further reading
- James Bruce Ross (translator), The Murder of Charles the Good, 2nd edition 2005