In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, two rival houses dominated the Low Countries. The House of Dampierre ruled Flanders while the House of Avesnes ruled Hainaut and later Holland and Zeeland as well. Unfortunately for all involved these two houses were fierce rivals and entangled in a blood feud. Let’s go back to the 13th Century to explore the origins of the Dampierre-Avesnes feud.
As I’ve been doing more research for this show I’ve been running into more topics that I want to cover but which are slightly outside the scope of the show. I hope to use these Supplemental Episodes to help fill in the world of the Grand Dukes of the West and to provide context for some of the events to come. Let me know what you think of the format.
Time Period Covered: 1204 – 1280
Notable People: Margaret of Constantinople Countess of Flanders, Bouchard of Avesnes, William of Dampierre, William II of Dampierre, Guy of Dampierre, John of Avesnes, King Philip II Augustus, King Louis IX, Joan of Constantinople Countess of Flanders, Ferrand of Portugal
Notable Events/Developments: The Fourth Crusade, The Battle of Bouvines, War of the Flemish Succession
Sources
Medieval Flanders by David Nicholas
A History of the Low Countries by Paul Arbalaster
Lotharingia by Simon Winder
The Fair Face of Flanders by Patricia Carson
Cambridge Medieval History Vol 5
Epistolae: Medieval Women’s Letters
Grand Dukes of the West 